Method and System for Storing Food Preparations

Abstract

A method and system for storing food using a plurality of containment units ( 200 ) that can be held in a storage tray ( 210 ) for temporary storage and transferred to a storage container ( 220 ) with a cap ( 222 ) attachable to the storage container ( 220 ) for an airtight seal for longer term storage on a rack ( 250 ) in a freezer. The containment unit ( 200 ) and/or the storage container ( 220 ) can be vacuum sealed. The storage container ( 220 ) and cap ( 222 ) may have windows.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food container system, comprising:
 a. a plurality of containment units, wherein each containment unit comprises:
 i. a base having a closed bottom and an open top, the open top terminating at a perimeter edge, 
 ii. a lid to cover the open top, and 
 iii. a sheath that at least partially covers one containment unit, wherein the sheath is reversibly attached to the containment unit; and 
   b. a holder configured to hold the plurality of containment units.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each containment unit comprises a valve to create a vacuum seal. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tag attachable to the base, the sheath, or the lid. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is a tray, comprising:
 a. a top surface;   b. a bottom surface opposite the top surface;   c. a perimeter edge defined by the top and bottom surfaces;   d. a plurality of cavities within the perimeter edge passing through the top and bottom surfaces, each cavity dimensioned to allow one containment unit to pass partially through its respective cavity;   e. a plurality of depressions defining pockets on the top surface of the tray, at least one depression in between two cavities;   f. a pair of handles extending from opposite ends of the perimeter edge; and   g. a pair of feet positioned below two depressions and dimensioned substantially the same as the two depressions.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the perimeter edge of each base comprises a lip, wherein a diameter of the lip of the base of each containment unit is greater than a diameter of its respective cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is a storage container, comprising:
 a. a body defined by at least one wall having an outer side and an inner side, the at least one wall having a top end and a bottom end, an opening at the top end of the body;   b. a sleeve at least partially covering the storage container; and   c. a cap attachable to the storage container.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the storage container comprises a valve to create a vacuum seal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the body of the storage container comprises at least one window that allows a user to view the containment units housed inside the body. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a divider that fits inside the storage container, wherein the divider is half-cylinder shaped with a semi-circular cross section and comprises a plurality of separators dividing the divider into a plurality of sections, each section configured to receive one containment unit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a tag attachable to the body, the sleeve, or the cap. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a rack configured to house one or more storage containers inside a refrigeration system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the rack comprises:
 a. a support stand, comprising
 i. a plurality of slits, and 
 ii. a support base; 
   b. a casing comprising a face, the face terminating at two opposing terminal ends, the terminal ends each comprising a hook to attach the casing to the support stand via two of the plurality of slits of the support stand, wherein the face comprises a plurality of slits; and   c. at least one shelf, the at least one shelf terminating at opposite ends, each end comprising a hook to connect the at least one shelf to the support stand at one end and the casing at the opposite end.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the rack is expandable to accommodate more storage containers. 
     
     
         14 . A food container system, comprising:
 a. a plurality of containment units, wherein each containment unit comprises:
 i. a base having a closed bottom and an open top, the open top terminating at a perimeter edge, the perimeter edge comprising a lip, 
 ii. a lid to cover the open top, 
 iii. a sheath that at least partially covers one containment unit, wherein each sheath is a different color, and 
 iv. a tag attachable to the base; 
   b. a tray, comprising:
 i. a top surface, 
 ii. a bottom surface opposite the top surface, 
 iii. a perimeter edge defined by the top and bottom surfaces, 
 iv. a plurality of cavities within the perimeter edge passing through the top and bottom surfaces, each cavity dimensioned to allow one containment unit to pass partially through the cavity, wherein a diameter of the lip of the base of each containment unit is greater than a diameter of each respective cavity, 
 v. a plurality of depressions on the top surface of the tray, 
 vi. a pair of handles extending from opposite ends of the perimeter edge, and 
 vii. a pair of feet positioned below two depressions and dimensioned substantially the same as the two depressions, 
   c. a storage container, comprising:
 i. a body defined by at least one wall having an outer side and an inner side, the at least one wall having a top end and a bottom end, an opening at the top end of the body, and threading at the top end adjacent the opening, 
 ii. a sleeve at least partially covering the storage container, 
 iii. a cap attachable to the storage container, 
 iv. a tag attachable to the body or the cap, and 
 v. a divider configured to fit completely inside the storage container, the divider comprising a handle, and a plurality of separators dividing the divider into a plurality of sections, each section configured to receive one containment unit; and 
   d. a rack configured to house one or more storage containers inside a refrigeration system, wherein the rack comprises:
 i. a support stand, comprising a plurality of slits and a support base, 
 ii. a casing comprising a face, the face terminating at two opposing terminal ends, the terminal ends each comprising a hook to attach the casing to the support stand via two of the plurality of slits of the support stand, wherein the face comprises a plurality of slits; and 
 iii. at least one shelf, the at least one shelf terminating at opposite ends, each end comprising a hook to connect the at least one shelf to the support stand at one end and the casing at the opposite end, wherein the rack is expandable to accommodate more storage containers. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each containment unit comprises a valve to create a vacuum seal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the storage container comprises a valve to create a vacuum seal. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the body of the storage container comprises at least one window that allows a user to view the containment units housed inside the body. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the cap comprises a second sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . A method of storing food, comprising:
 a. providing a plurality of containment units, wherein each containment unit comprises:
 i. a base having a closed bottom and an open top, the open top terminating at a perimeter edge, 
 ii. a lid to cover the open top, 
 iii. a sheath that at least partially covers one containment unit, and 
 iv. a tag attachable to the base; 
   b. providing a tray comprising a plurality of cavities;   c. placing each containment unit into one of the cavities of the tray;   d. placing food items into each of the containment units;   e. covering each containment unit with their respective lids;   f. labeling an identification tag for each containment unit;   g. freezing the plurality of containment units in a freezer;   h. once the food items are frozen, placing the containment units into a storage container; and   i. placing the storage container on a rack in the freezer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising vacuum sealing the food items in the containment unit prior to freezing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising vacuum sealing the storage container prior to placing the storage container on the rack.