Method for heating and subsequently supporting or displaying food

Abstract

An improved wire rack for supporting food such as chicken in a Henny Penny pressure fryer and subsequently displaying the fried food in either a single bunn pan or a double bunn pan. The improved rack is capable of being used in all three environments (fryer, single plan and double pan) largely because it has a lower rectangular peripheral edge with a shorter length and width relative to the length and width of the upper rectangular peripheral edge.A method of heating and subsequently supporting or displaying food, according to the principles of the invention, includes the steps of: placing the food on a wire rack, ( the wire rack including: a rectangular frame having a lower border rod and an upper border rod, the lower border rod defining a lower rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, and the upper border rod defining an upper rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, the upper rectangular peripheral edge having a larger circumference than the lower rectangular peripheral edge, thereby enabling the wire rack to be positioned respectively, in a stable, uncocked position, in a heating device and as a sole rack in a single rack bun pan and as one of a pair of the wire racks in a double rack bun pan, the rectangular frame further including tapered sides between the upper rectangular peripheral edge and the lower rectangular peripheral edge; and a number of support members in the form of a number of wires extending between and attached to opposed sides of the lower border rod so as to create a support surface for the food ); positioning the wire rack in a heating device, heating the food in the heating device; removing the wire rack and heated food from the heating device; and placing the wire rack in one of a single rack bun pan and a double rack bun pan, thereby subsequently supporting the food and, if desired, displaying the food.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of frying and displaying food, comprising the steps of: 
       a) placing said food on a wire rack, said wire rack including: a rectangular frame having a lower border rod and an upper border rod, said lower border rod defining a lower rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, and said upper border rod defining an upper rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, said upper rectangular peripheral edge having a larger circumference than said lower rectangular peripheral edge, thereby enabling said wire rack to be positioned respectively, in a stable, uncocked position, in a holding rack of a pressure fryer and as a sole rack in a single rack bunn  bun pan and as one of a pair of said wire racks in a double rack bunn  bun pan, said rectangular frame further including tapered sides between said upper rectangular peripheral edge and said lower rectangular peripheral edge; and a plurality of support members in the form of a plurality of wires extending between and attached to opposed sides of said lower border rod so as to create a support surface for the food;  
       b) positioning said wire rack in a holding rack of a pressure fryer;  
       c) frying said food in said pressure fryer;  
       d) removing said wire rack and fried food from said holding rack; and  
       e) placing said wire rack in one of a single rack bunn  bun pan and a double rack bunn  bun pan for displaying the fried food.  
     
     
       2. The method of claim  1  wherein the bun pan is a double rack bun pan, the method further including the step of placing a second wire rack next to said wire rack in the double rack bun pan. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim  2  wherein said second wire rack is identical to said wire rack. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim  3  wherein each of said racks is in an uncocked position. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  1  wherein said food includes chicken. 
     
     
       6. A method of frying and subsequently supporting food, comprising the steps of: 
       
         placing said food on a wire rack, said wire rack including:  
       
       
         a rectangular frame having a lower border rod and an upper border rod, said lower border rod defining a lower rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, and said upper border rod defining an upper rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, said upper rectangular peripheral edge having a larger circumference than said lower rectangular peripheral edge, thereby enabling said wire rack to be positioned respectively, in a stable, uncocked position, in a holding rack of a pressure fryer and as a sole rack in a single rack bun pan and as one of a pair of said wire racks in a double rack bun pan, said rectangular frame further including tapered sides between said upper rectangular peripheral edge and said lower rectangular peripheral edge; and  
       
       
         a plurality of support members in the form of a plurality of wires extending between and attached to opposed sides of said lower border rod so as to create a support surface for the food;  
       
       
         positioning said wire rack in a holding rack of a pressure fryer;  
       
       
         frying said food in said pressure fryer;  
       
       
         removing said wire rack and fried food from said holding rack; and  
       
       
         placing said wire rack in one of a single rack bun pan and a double rack bun pan, thereby subsequently supporting said food. 
       
     
     
       7. The method of claim  6  wherein the bun pan is a double rack bun pan, the method further including the step of placing a second wire rack next to said wire rack in the double rack bun pan. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim  7  wherein said second wire rack is identical to said wire rack. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim  8  wherein each of said racks is in an uncocked position. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim  6  wherein said food includes chicken.