Root Beer Float Strainer and Method of Reducing Foam

Abstract

A strainer for use with combining beverages and cold food includes a bottom section sized for insertion into a beverage container, and a side section projecting substantially vertically from the bottom section and sized for insertion into a portion of the beverage container. At least one of the bottom and side sections is liquid permeable, and the bottom section and side section are separately or collectively capable of retaining ice pieces when the strainer is in the container. A method for retaining ice in a container capable of holding a liquid includes placing a strainer capable of retaining ice in a container capable of holding a liquid, adding ice to the container such that at least some of the ice is retained by the strainer, placing a liquid in the container, and removing the strainer from the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A strainer for use with combining a beverage and a cold food, the strainer comprising:
 a bottom section sized for insertion into a beverage container; and   a side section projecting substantially vertically from the bottom section and sized for insertion into a portion of the beverage container;   wherein at least one of the bottom and side sections is liquid permeable;   wherein the bottom section and side section are separately or collectively capable of retaining ice pieces when the strainer is in the beverage container.   
     
     
         2 . The strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the side section has a surface capable of being gripped for removal of the strainer from the beverage container. 
     
     
         3 . The strainer of  claim 2 , wherein the surface of the side section includes a gripping member coupled thereto and extending above a top end of the side section. 
     
     
         4 . The strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the side section forms a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom section and the side section each define a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The strainer of  claim 5 , wherein the side section includes a bottom portion including the plurality of apertures, and a top portion that is substantially free of apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the side section generally forms an inverted cone shape. 
     
     
         8 . The strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container is a glass. 
     
     
         9 . The strainer of  claim 8 , wherein the beverage is root beer. 
     
     
         10 . The strainer of  claim 9 , wherein the cold food is ice cream. 
     
     
         11 . The strainer of  claim 10 , wherein, when the strainer is inserted into the glass and the root beer is added to the glass, at least a portion of the root beer is allowed to foam inside the strainer and the glass as at least a portion of the root beer is cooled by the ice pieces in the strainer to thereby minimize foam when the ice cream is added to the glass. 
     
     
         12 . The strainer of  claim 11 , wherein the strainer is capable of being removed from the glass any of the ice pieces remaining in the strainer after the foam is minimized. 
     
     
         13 . A system for minimizing foam in a root beer float, the system comprising:
 a beverage glass;   a strainer including a bottom section and a side section, wherein at least the bottom section and a portion of the side section are positioned in the beverage glass, and wherein at least one of the bottom and side sections is liquid permeable;   one or more pieces of ice positioned in the strainer within the beverage glass; and   root beer positioned in the beverage glass to cover at least a portion of the strainer and the ice in the strainer;   wherein at least a portion of the root beer is allowed to foam inside the strainer and the beverage glass as the root beer is cooled by the ice in the strainer to thereby minimize foam when ice cream is added to the beverage glass;   wherein, the strainer and any remaining ice is removed from the beverage glass after the foam is minimized; and   wherein the ice cream is thereafter added to the root beer in the beverage glass to form the root beer float.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the side section of the strainer forms a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom section and the side section of the strainer each define a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the side section of the strainer includes a bottom portion including the plurality of apertures, and a top portion that is substantially free of apertures. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the side section of the strainer generally forms an inverted cone shape.