Method, kit, and container for preparing a snack food

Abstract

A method for preparing a custom flavored snack food includes the provision of a quantity of a snack food that is at least partially cooked and at least one seasoning powder. The snack food is placed in a coating container with the at least one seasoning powder. The snack food is then coated with the at least one seasoning powder. The snack food coated with the at least one seasoning powder is subsequently heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form the custom flavored snack food. The method may be practiced with a kit having the snack food, the at least one seasoning powder, the coating container, and the heating container. The heating container may have a removable panel that, when removed, provides access to a heating cavity for receiving and heating the coated snack food to form the custom flavored snack food.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preparing a custom flavored snack food, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a quantity of a snack food that is at least partially cooked and at least one seasoning powder;   placing the snack food in a coating container with the at least one seasoning powder;   coating the snack food with the at least one seasoning powder; and   heating the snack food coated with the at least one seasoning powder to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form the custom flavored snack food.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snack food includes oil of a type and an amount that allows the oil to rise to the surface of the snack food and intermix with the at least one seasoning powder during the step of heating the snack food, and at least partially absorb the at least one seasoning powder into the snack food as the snack food cool after the step of heating the snack food. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oil is a non-trans fat cottonseed oil. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the snack food includes marcelled potato chips. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snack food is fully cooked prior to the step of coating the snack food with the at least one seasoning powder. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seasoning powder includes a base seasoning powder and at least one topping seasoning powder different from the base seasoning powder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating container is a bag in which the snack food is initially provided. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seasoning powder is incrementally added to the snack food and the steps of placing the snack food in the coating container with the at least one seasoning powder and coating the snack food with the at least one seasoning powder are repeated until the snack food is coated with a desired amount of the seasoning powder. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one seasoning powder is added in one-third increments during an initial and repeated steps of placing the snack food in the coating container with the at least one seasoning powder. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of coating the snack food with the at least one seasoning powder includes a shaking of the snack food and the at least one seasoning powder inside the coating container. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature is between about 300° F. and about 400° F., and the predetermined time is from about 30 seconds to about 10 minutes. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined temperature is at least about 350° F. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during the step of heating the snack food to at the predetermined temperature the snack food is covered with an oven safe covering. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the oven safe covering is an aluminum foil. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined time is between 2 minutes and 14 minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during the step of heating the snack food at the predetermined temperature the snack food is uncovered, and the predetermined time is between 2.5 minutes and 3 minutes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during the step of heating the snack food at the predetermined temperature the snack food is microwaved for between 50 second and 80 seconds. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during the step of heating the snack food at the predetermined temperature the snack food is microwaved for about 40 seconds, following by a stirring of the snack food, and following by a further microwaving for between 30 second and 50 seconds. 
     
     
         19 . The custom flavored snack food prepared according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A method for preparing custom flavored potato chips, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a quantity of potato chips that are fully cooked and contain oil, wherein the potato chips are marcelled;   providing at least one seasoning powder;   placing the potato chips in a coating container with the at least one seasoning powder;   coating the potato chips with the at least one seasoning powder; and   heating the potato chips coated with the at least one seasoning powder to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form the custom flavored snack food,   wherein the oil in the potato chips is of a type, and is present in an amount, that allows the oil to rise to the surface of the potato chips and intermix with the at least one seasoning powder during the step of heating the potato chips, and at least partially absorb the at least one seasoning powder into the potato chips as the potato chips cool after the step of heating the potato chips.