Food portioning system

Abstract

A food portioning system to more accurately and/or quickly portion food served from a food container includes a support for a container and a bracket coupled with the support. The bracket includes a scrape bar positioned above the support to level food within a serving implement. The scrape bar can also be used as a handle to carry, insert, and/or remove the food container from a steam table. The scrape bar can be adjustable relative to the support to position the scrape bar at varying heights. Such food portioning systems can be used to support a food container within a food well or on a countertop.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of portioning food within a food portioning system comprising a support and a scrape bar positioned above the support, the method comprising the steps of:
 scooping food within a container with a serving implement to fill the serving implement with scooped food; and   scraping a top surface of the serving implement along a bottom surface of the scrape bar to level the scooped food with the top surface of the serving implement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting the container within the support. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of scooping food comprises filling the serving implement above the top surface of the serving implement, wherein the step of scraping the top surface of the serving implement comprises returning the scooped food above the top surface of the serving implement to within the container. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of inserting the container within the support comprises inserting the container within an opening of the support defined by a plurality of rails of the support. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of inserting the container within the support comprises positioning a flange extending outward about a perimeter of a top portion of the container on the plurality of rails of the support. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each rail of the plurality of rails comprises a cross-section having a downward angle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of inserting the container within the support comprising positioning a bottom surface of the container on a top surface of the support. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of inserting the container within the support further comprises inserting a board on a top surface of the support and inserting the container on a top surface of the board. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of inserting the container within the support further comprises sliding the container along the support until the container abuts a backstop extending upwardly from a rear portion of the support. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transporting the food portioning system by grasping the scrape bar. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising positioning the scrape bar above the support via a bracket having at least one rod positioned between the scrape bar and the support. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the scrape bar is removably coupled with the bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising adjusting a height of the scrape bar relative to the support. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the height of the scrape bar comprises translating the scrape bar within at least two pairs of openings of a bracket positioned between the scrape bar and the support. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing at least one utensil holder for holding a utensil on the food portioning system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scrape bar comprises a decorative bar. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a pan holder extending downwardly from the support to support a bottom surface of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selectively coupling a supplementary scrape bar with the scrape bar. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising inserting more than one container within the support. 
     
     
         20 . A method of portioning food within a food portioning system comprising a support and a scrape bar positioned above the support, the method comprising the steps of:
 scooping food within a container with a serving implement to fill the serving implement scooped food;   scraping a top surface of the serving implement along a bottom surface of the scrape bar to level the scooped food with a top surface of the serving implement; and   adjusting a height of the scrape bar relative to the support.