Food Lid That Stretches Over Lip Of Standard Serving Pan Or Plate

Abstract

A set of reusable, highly stretchable silicone covers is disclosed, where the various sizes and shapes of the covers are designed to cover a variety of common sizes and shapes of ordinary pans, food plates, bowls, platters, trays, or other common food supports used for serving and preparing food. The food supports are separately provided by the user and normally already owned by the user. Each cover has a downward edge (a skirt) that stretches over the edges of the food support for securing the cover to the food support. Tabs extending from the edges of the cover allow the user to stretch the cover over the food support and remove the cover from the food support. The cover is easily stretchable up to 20% larger than its relaxed state so that the top surface of the cover may be 5%-20% smaller than edges of the food support.

1 . A food sealing system comprising:
 a single-piece reusable cover for a sealing a food support, the cover comprising:
 a top surface and a peripheral sealing portion, the peripheral sealing portion comprising a downward edge extending from the top surface; and 
 at least one grippable tab extending from the downward edge; 
 the cover being stretchable and formed of a material that is waterproof and airtight, 
 the top surface having dimensions that are generally proportional to dimensions of the food support but smaller so that the cover can be stretched over edges of the food support, to seal food on the food support, by pulling on the at least one tab to create an airtight seal around the food support. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising the food support sealed by the cover, the food support configured for use in preparing or serving food. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the food support is a substantially rectangular pan. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the food support is a plate or bowl. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the food support is a standard size food support not manufactured for use with the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the top surface of the cover is 5%-20% smaller than outer edges of the food support to be sealed by the cover. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the stretchability of the cover enables the downward edge of the cover to wrap around the edges of the food support to seal a variety of sizes and shapes of food supports. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cover is formed of silicone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cover is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cover is substantially circular. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cover has raised portions in its top surface that adds resistance to bending of the top surface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the raised portions comprising a web-type pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cover is stretchable up to 20% larger than its relaxed state while resuming its original relaxed state when unstretched. 
     
     
         14 . A method of sealing a food support comprising:
 providing food in a food support used for preparing or serving food, the food support having edges;   providing a single-piece reusable cover for a sealing the food support, the cover comprising:
 a top surface and a peripheral sealing portion, the peripheral sealing portion comprising a downward edge extending from the top surface; and 
 at least one grippable tab extending from the downward edge; 
 the cover being stretchable and formed of a material that is waterproof and airtight, 
 the top surface having dimensions that are generally proportional to dimensions of the food support but smaller, wherein the stretchability of the cover enables the cover to seal a variety of sizes and shapes of food supports; and 
   stretching the cover over the edges of the food support such that the downward edge of the cover wraps around the edges of the food support, to seal food on the food support, by pulling on the at least one tab to create an airtight seal around the food support.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the food support is a substantially rectangular pan. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the food support is a standard size food support not manufactured for use with the cover. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cover is stretchable up to 20% larger than its relaxed state so that the top surface of the cover may be 5%-20% smaller than edges of the food support. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cover is formed of silicone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cover is one of substantially rectangular or substantially circular. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cover has raised portions in its top surface that adds resistance to bending of the top surface.