Abstract: A self-standing container for holding and pre-soaking a cooking plank in a soaking liquid includes flexible walls forming a bag-like container with a chamber to receive the plank and the liquid. The container includes a deployable standing structure to enable the container to be placed in an upright position to conserve counter space. The container with a plank and liquid may be packaged for retail sale and later reuse.

Abstract: A device for supporting and flavoring a food during cooking, such as grilling, baking or roasting, including a packaging structure with an interior; and a wooden plank removably located within the packaging structure interior; wherein the wooden plank includes a quantity of liquid such as water, broth or juice. The wooden plank is made of a food-safe wood, such as but not limited to oak wood, maple wood, pine wood, cedar wood, alder wood, cherry wood, hickory wood or ash wood. The wooden plank is pre-soaked in the liquid, such that the wooden plank smolders during the cooking process, thereby smoking the food. The pre-soaked wooden plank is packaged, so that is will not dry out substantially before use by the user.

Abstract: An improved food slice stacker is coupled to a meat slicer to automatically stack the slices from the slicer. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a sprocket roller with axially spaced sets of sprocket teeth and a pulley roller with a plurality of axially spaced pulley members. The pulley members are aligned with the sets of sprocket teeth. A plurality of slice transport chains respectively engage the sets of sprocket teeth and the pulley members. The sprocket roller is motorized to enable the chains to transport food slices. The pulley roller is monolithically formed of a friction-free material to provide smooth surfaces that reduce retention of food particles thereon during washing.

Abstract: A grilling plank assembly includes a substantially liquid impervious bag, a grilling plank positioned within the bag, a soaking liquid positioned within the bag of a quantity to substantially immerse the plank therein, and the bag having a rupturable seal to secure the plank and liquid therein and to enable selective opening to remove the plank therefrom and thereafter resealing of the bag. The bag may be provided with more than one planks, with separator devices separating the planks within the bag.

Abstract: An improved food slice stacker is coupled to a meat slicer to automatically stack the slices from the slicer. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a sprocket roller with axially spaced sets of sprocket teeth and a pulley roller with a plurality of axially spaced pulley members. The pulley members are aligned with the sets of sprocket teeth. A plurality of slice transport chains respectively engage the sets of sprocket teeth and the pulley members. The sprocket roller is motorized to enable the chains to transport food slices. The pulley roller is monolithically formed of a friction-free material to provide smooth surfaces that reduce retention of food particles thereon during washing.

Abstract: A latching removable can handle includes an elongated handle, a lower retainer structure to engage a lower rim of a can, and an upper attachment mechanism to releasably engage an upper rim of the can and including latch member mounting structure. The attachment mechanism includes a single latch member directly engaged with the mounting structure which and movable between a released position and a latched position. The attachment mechanism may include a lock member movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it retains the latch member in its latched position. The lower retainer structure includes separate retainers to engage lower rims of multiple sizes of cans.

Abstract: A latching removable can handle includes an elongated handle, a lower retainer structure to engage a lower rim of a can, and an upper attachment mechanism to releasably engage an upper rim of the can and including latch member mounting structure. The attachment mechanism includes a single latch member directly engaged with the mounting structure which and movable between a released position and a latched position. The attachment mechanism may include a lock member movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it retains the latch member in its latched position.

Abstract: An improved food slice stacker that can be coupled to a meat slicer, to automatically stack the slices on food into stacks, wherein the stacker can be easily washed and sanitized to remove food particles therefrom. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a plurality endless transport chains, an integrally formed sprocket sleeve with sprocket portions that engage and drive the chains and an integrally formed pulley sleeve with a smooth surface an a plurality of pulley members that also engage the transport chains, wherein the sprocket and pulley sleeves are spaced apart from each other, and wherein the pulley sleeve engages the transport member. The pulley sleeve is integrally formed of a friction-free material so as to provide for smooth surfaces that substantially prevent retention of food particles thereon during washing.

Abstract: A latching removable can handle includes an elongated handle, a lower retainer structure to engage a lower rim of a can, and an upper attachment mechanism to releasably engage an upper rim of the can and including latch member mounting structure. The attachment mechanism includes a single latch member directly engaged with the mounting structure which and movable between a released position and a latched position. The attachment mechanism may include a lock member movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it retains the latch member in its latched position.

Abstract: An improved food slice stacker that can be coupled to a meat slicer, to automatically stack the slices on food into stacks, wherein the stacker can be easily washed and sanitized to remove food particles therefrom. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a plurality endless transport chains, an integrally formed sprocket sleeve with sprocket portions that engage and drive the chains and an integrally formed pulley sleeve with a smooth surface an a plurality of pulley members that also engage the transport chains, wherein the sprocket and pulley sleeves are spaced apart from each other, and wherein the pulley sleeve engages the transport member. The pulley sleeve is integrally formed of a friction-free material so as to provide for smooth surfaces that substantially prevent retention of food particles thereon during washing.

Abstract: A device for supporting and flavoring a food during cooking, such as grilling, baking or roasting, including a packaging structure with an interior; and a wooden plank removably located within the packaging structure interior; wherein the wooden plank includes a quantity of liquid such as water, broth or juice. The wooden plank is made of a food-safe wood, such as but not limited to oak wood, maple wood, pine wood, cedar wood, alder wood, cherry wood, hickory wood or ash wood. The wooden plank is pre-soaked in the liquid, such that the wooden plank smolders during the cooking process, thereby smoking the food. The pre-soaked wooden plank is packaged, so that is will not dry out substantially before use by the user.

Abstract: A non-metallic pop-up “doneness” indicator to indicate that a food item has reached a desired temperature, including a housing, a stem, button indicator and an actuation subassembly. Methods of manufacture are included.

Abstract: A non-metallic pop-up “doneness” indicator to indicate that a food item has reached a desired temperature, including a housing, a stem, button indicator and an actuation subassembly. Methods of manufacture are included.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel dosage unit for the sustained-release delivery of active agents as well as compositions and methods for making same.