Abstract: A frozen pizza and tray combination and related methods are disclosed. The combination includes a bakeable single-use disposable tray having a holding surface and a frozen pizza. The holding surface has a substantially flat cooking side and an opposite oven-engaging side. The frozen pizza includes a crust and toppings. The crust has a bottom surface positioned on and against the cooking side of the flat holding surface of the bakeable tray. The frozen pizza also includes a cut arrangement extending through a thickness of the crust and includes a cut line having uncut portions of the crust along the cut line. One method of the disclosure includes slicing the pizza with at least one cut line into individual pieces and leaving uncut portions along the cut line such that no individual piece is disconnected from a remaining portion. The sliced pizza can then be placed into a tray and frozen.

Abstract: A carton for use in microwave ovens includes a base and a removable cover. The base has a cooking surface at least partially covered with a microwave susceptor material. The base defines an aperture arrangement. In preferred embodiments, the carton is triangular-shaped with an apex region. The apex region does not have a susceptor material, and can include a microwave shield. The removable cover can function as a cover, a platform, and a tray. A packaged food product includes a food product, such as a slice of pizza, oriented within the carton. Methods of packaging and use are provided.

Abstract: A bread bowl or boule comprises a spherical edible shell. The volume of the shell provides a space, volume, or container of at least one individual serving size portion of a food material. The bowl typically comprises a spherical shell with an opening resulting from a section removed. The bowl can be manufactured by forming a bakable shell surrounding a fugitive space filling composition. Upon baking, the heat of baking results in a change of state such that the fugitive space filling material exits the interior of the bowl leaving a volume suitable for a single serving portion. The structure adapted for baking comprises an exterior dough shell and an interior fugitive section. Extruding the dough with a fugitive composition in the interior and sealing the extruded ends into a substantially rounded or spherical structure can make the production unit. In preparation, the unbaked bowl is baked leaving a spherical hollow structure.

Abstract: A container for a food product having a filling is disclosed. The food container has an interior susceptor layer to facilitate microwave cooking of the food product. The container is collapsible to facilitate transport of the food product and container prior to consumption. The food envelope has a susceptor material along the entire interior surface, or along portions thereof. The envelope may be configured so as to completely enclose the food product. The container is configured to facilitate transport and consumption of the food product at sporting events, picnics, and the like.

Abstract: An individual sized portion of a pizza food can comprise a roughly triangular portion having a crust that substantially encloses the pizza filling held within the crust. The crust is easily cooked, handled by a consumer and prevents contact between consumer and the filling during preparation and consumption. The food item is manufactured by forming a filling layer between two crust layers, sealing the perimeter of the crust into a roughly triangular portion and baking the portion at a manufacturing facility prior to shipment to a consumer. The dough and filling are formulated for convenient microwave cooking. The item can include a crispy crust, a non-toughening dough formula, a non-boil filling, an entirely sealed product envelope, a browning agent and a pizza condiment seasoning on the crust of the item.

Abstract: To facilitate baking a frozen dough product in an oven, the dough product is formed over an edible film or substrate that may have a plurality of die-cut holes. This film serves as a baking substrate and obviates the need for a baking pan. The film is formed with the dough product that adheres to the dough during pressing. The end user may thus remove the frozen dough product together with the film from a packing preform and place the dough product and film assembly on an oven rack for baking. As the dough thaws, the crust will loose its stiffness. The film however, will prevent the more pliable crust from distending through the oven rack before the dough has become baked and rigid. The film forms a support that restrains flow of the dough, while at the same time the permits the escape of gases from the bottom of the crust and ensures uniform baking. During baking, the film is absorbed into the dough product.

Abstract: An improved frozen cinnamon roll can be produced using a specific improved recipe and a significantly improved process. The cinnamon roll product can be manufactured and sold in a frozen form to a retail outlet. At the retail outlet, the frozen product can be thawed and baked to form a cinnamon roll that appears substantially equivalent to a fresh cinnamon roll prepared from basic ingredients on site. The recipe involves the use of specific ratios of ingredients that results in a frozen formulation that can be prepared frozen, thawed and baked successfully. In the process, a soft, sweet dough formulation is combined with a fat smear combined with a passivated cinnamon preparation. The soft, sweet, yeast-leavened dough is protected from deactivation by cinnamon using a preferred amount of smear in relation to the cinnamon. Further, the cinnamon is incorporated into the fat, using procedures forming a coated smear, that protect the soft, sweet dough yeast from the cinnamon materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave cooking package and tray suitable for cooking food. The package and tray comprise a laminate structure comprising a lid, susceptor layer upon a backing material, and a plurality of apertures through said laminate structure. This permits uniform cooking and browning of dough enrobed food items and venting of excess moisture to help to control heat generation under the food being cooked, as the apertures remove a portion of the susceptor material.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus for forming dough into a desired configuration. A sheet of dough travels on a continuous conveyor across a relatively rigid support surface and beneath a dough forming element. Air is forced into an upper chamber in a pneumatic cylinder to drive the dough forming element downward into contact with the dough. The dough is cut, and a portion of the cut dough is forced upward and into contact with heated protrusions on the dough forming element, which deactivate yeast in the dough. The dough forming element moves downstream together with the conveyor while the dough is being cut and formed. Air is forced into a lower chamber in the pneumatic cylinder to drive the dough forming element upward out of contact with the dough. A portion of the air forced into the lower chamber is channeled to an interface between the dough forming element and the cut and formed dough.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for containing goods. A bail member is connected to a pail in such a manner that the pail and the pail member are able to withstand a centrifugally directed impact upon the bail member. A contact portion of the bail member substantially contacts a cross support member of the pail in response to such an impact. Additonally, the pails are designed to be stacked within one another. The structure is such that the bail members do not catch on the ridges or rims of lower pails in the stack.

Abstract: An improved bakeable or fryable pizza dough is made by forming in a dough sheet a footprint of embossed or compressed zones along a grid-like set of lines wherein at the point where the grid lines would intersect the dough remains uncompressed.