Casserole for storing and cooking foodstuffs

Claim 2

A casserole for storing food and for cooking food comprising: a thick film resistor adaptable for use with an electrical source applying 85 to 110 volts of electric current and a timer electrically connected to the electrical source for applying the electric current to said film resistor in discrete on intervals, each followed by a discrete off interval during which no electrical current is applied; a heat conductive dish member for supporting food, the under surfaces of the bottom portion of the dish integrally formed with said thick film resistor, the dish having a low heat capacity so that a substantial portion of heat generated by said resistor during each of said on intervals is transferred through said dish into said food during said on intervals, the food absorbing heat transferred in the on intervals during said off intervals; a thermally insulated base member and cover surrounding said dish and resistor to thermally insulate same so that the percentage of heat loss from said casserole when the casserole is heated by the resistor is in the range of 1.15 to 2.3 BTU per minute; and electrical connectors in said insulated base member connecting said film resistor to said timer.

Claim 3

The casserole of claim 1 in which each of said discrete on intervals are 20 seconds in duration and each of said discrete off intervals are 30 seconds in duration.

Claim 4

A re-usable casserole for storing food and for cooking food in defined cooking periods comprising: a thermally insulated base member and cover member over the base member; a heat conductive steel dish to support food, the dish having lip means along its periphery to contact said base to support said dish by suspending it within said base and under said cover, the dish having a dielectric layer integrally formed with the under surface of the bottom of the dish, a film resistor integrally bonded with the dielectric layer and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy in the range of 85 to 110 volts, the resistor having a resistance of about 30 ohms for producing heat when energized by said electrical energy during said cooking periods, the dish having a weight of about 1.5 pounds per square foot and a heat capacity of about 0.5 calories per square inch per degree Centigrade to pass substantially all of the heat generated by the resistor through the dish into the food supported by the dish, the thermally insulated base and cover surrounding the dish and the heat capacity of the dish maintaining the percentage of heat loss from the casserole during said cooking period in the range of about 5 to 10 per cent; and electrical connectors in said insulated base member connecting said film resistor to said source of electrical energy.

Claim 5

A re-usable casserole for storing food and for cooking food in defined cooking periods comprising: a thermally insulated base member and cover member over the base member; a heat conductive steel dish to support food, the dish having lip means along its periphery to contact said base to support said dish by suspending it within said base and under said cover, the dish having a dielectric layer integrally formed with the under surface of the bottom of the dish, a film resistor integrally bonded with the dielectric layer and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy in the range of 85 to 110 volts, the resistor having a resistance of about 30 ohms for producing heat when energized by said electrical energy during said cooking periods, the dish having a weight of about 1.5 pounds per square foot and a heat capacity of about 0.5 calories per square inch per degree Centigrade to pass substantially all of the heat generated by the resistor through the dish into the food supported by the dish, the thermally insulated base and cover surrounding the dish and the heat capacity of the dish maintaining the percentage of heat loss from the casserole during said cooking period in the range of about 5 to 10 per cent; and electrical connectors in said insulated base member connecting said film resistor to said source of electrical energy.

Claim 6

The casserole of claim 3 in which said dish is suspended within said base in spaced relation from the bottom portion of the base and is sealed to said base by adhesive sealing means extending along said lip means of said dish.

Claim 7

The casserole of claim 3 in which said cover member comprises layers of polymeric material with a void thErebetween.

Claim 8

The cover member of claim 5 in which the void between said layers of polymeric material is filled with thermally insulating material.

Claim 9

The casserole of claim 3 in which said cover member comprises a layer of polymeric material spaced from a layer of aluminum foil.

Claim 10

A re-usable casserole for storing food and for cooking food after storage in a defined cooking period in the range of 10 to 20 minutes comprising: a thick film resistor adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy in the range of 85 to 110 volts and a timer electrically connected to the source of electrical energy for applying the electrical current to said film resistor, the electrical energy when supplied to said film resistor being applied by the timer in pulsed on intervals, each on interval followed by an off interval, the heat generated by the resistor during the on intervals applied during said defined cooking period being in the range of 211 to 223 BTU; a heat conductive metal dish containing food on the upper surface of its bottom portion, the under surface of its bottom portion being integrally formed with said resistor, the dish having a heat capacity of 0.5 calories per square inch per degree Centigrade so that a substantial amount of said BTU of heat generated by the resistor during each of said on intervals applied during said cooking period pass through said dish into said food; and a thermally insulated polymeric base member to support and surround said dish and resistor and a thermally insulated polymeric cover disposed over said dish and base to maintain the heat loss from the casserole during said cooking period at a level of about 11 to 23 BTU and further to retard heat transfer from the ambient air surrounding the casserole into the interior of the casserole when the food in the casserole is maintained in stored state and electrical connectors in said insulated base member connecting said film resistor to said timer.

Claim 11

A re-usable casserole for storing food and for cooking food after storage in a defined cooking period in the range of 10 to 20 minutes comprising: a thick film resistor adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy in the range of 85 to 110 volts and a timer electrically connected to the source of electrical energy for applying the electrical current to said film resistor, the electrical energy when supplied to said film resistor being applied by the timer in pulsed on intervals, each on interval followed by an off interval, the heat generated by the resistor during the on intervals applied during said defined cooking period being in the range of 211 to 223 BTU; a heat conductive metal dish containing food on the upper surface of its bottom portion, the under surface of its bottom portion being integrally formed with said resistor, the dish having a heat capacity of 0.5 calories per square inch per degree Centigrade so that a substantial amount of said BTU of heat generated by the resistor during each of said on intervals applied during said cooking period pass through said dish into said food; and a thermally insulated polymeric base member to support and surround said dish and resistor and a thermally insulated polymeric cover disposed over said dish and base to maintain the heat loss from the casserole during said cooking period at a level of about 11 to 23 BTU and further to retard heat transfer from the ambient air surrounding the casserole into the interior of the casserole when the food in the casserole is maintained in stored state and electrical connectors in said insulated base member connecting said film resistor to said timer.