The present invention encompasses edible carriers for foods that are soft but still hold a preformed shape. Specifically encompassed are soft shaped tortilla products that can be used to hold food fillings. Exemplary shapes and sizes are provided for the products. Also encompassed are methods of making, packaging, and using the products.

New sandwich product, particularly a fast food sandwich product that contains appreciable amounts of salad ingredients, and to a salad insert suitable for use in such sandwich product to improve the diet of the consumer. The sandwich product can include a layer of a meat or protein portion with the layer of a wrapped salad portion that are placed on or enclosed between a bread portion. The wrapped salad portion uses an edible wrapper to enclose the salad ingredients. The edible wrapper can be an edible processed wrapper such as rice paper or soy paper, or an edible natural wrapper such as a lettuce leaf or cabbage leaf, or a combination thereof. An edible humectant can be used in the source of water used for moistening a dried sheet of a rice paper for improving the resistance to drying of a moistened rice paper. Salad dressing can be injected through the outer layer of the wrapped salad portion using a needle.

New sandwich product, particularly a fast food sandwich product that contains appreciable amounts of salad ingredients, and to a salad insert suitable for use in such sandwich product to improve the diet of the consumer. The sandwich product can include a layer of a meat or protein portion with the layer of a wrapped salad portion that are placed on or enclosed between a bread portion. The wrapped salad portion uses an edible wrapper to enclose the salad ingredients. The edible wrapper can be an edible processed wrapper such as rice paper or soy paper, or an edible natural wrapper such as a lettuce leaf or cabbage leaf, or a combination thereof. An edible humectant can be used in the source of water used for moistening a dried sheet of a rice paper for improving the resistance to drying of a moistened rice paper. Salad dressing can be injected through the outer layer of the wrapped salad portion using a needle.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for forming baked goods having a filling recess for receiving a filling by a baking assembly including a base tray receiving at least one batter cup each cup defining a batter cavity therein. A cavity cup tray is nested with the base tray and receives at least one cavity cup for positioning within the corresponding batter cavity to form the filling recesses.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for forming baked goods having a filling recess for receiving a filling by a baking assembly including a base tray receiving at least one batter cup each cup defining a batter cavity therein. A cavity cup tray is nested with the base tray and receives at least one cavity cup for positioning within the corresponding batter cavity to form the filling recesses.

Food service equipment for effectively making a hollowed-out dough product from bread or another dough product is disclosed wherein the hollowed-out dough product can then be used in connection with the housing or containment of salads, soups, hamburgers, sandwiches, desserts, or the like. The hollowed-out dough products are formed from bread or other dough products as a result of being placed atop and compressed downwardly upon a pair of platens. Concomitantly with the formation of the bread or dough products into the desired hollowed-out dough products, the interior portions of the hollowed-out dough products are also toasted by means of the platens which are heated internally. Still further, two hollowed-out dough products are formed at the same time such that, for example, they can be utilized in connection with the serving of hamburgers or sandwiches, which require top and bottom hollowed-out dough products, or alternatively, the two hollowed-out dough products can be utilized to serve a diner a pair of open-face sandwiches, or still further, the serving of multiple salads, soups, desserts, or other foods to multiple diners.

A method and apparatus is provided for baking a pocketed bun having a mold base and separable housing. The mold base has a male mold with an outside profile shape that vertically protrudes above the base. The housing has a ring around a central opening that receives and seals to the male mold when assembled, forming a chamber with an open top to receive liquid dough. The housing can either be a single piece or separable into two parts. The method of baking a pocketed bun with the mold base and separable housing starts with assembling the mold base and housing, filling the chamber through the open top, baking the pallet, then removing the housing from the mold base. The removal of the housing causes the ring to strip the pocketed bun from the mold base.

A method and apparatus is provided for baking a pocketed bun having a mold base and separable housing. The mold base has a male mold with an outside profile shape that vertically protrudes above the base. The housing has a ring around a central opening that receives and seals to the male mold when assembled, forming a chamber with an open top to receive liquid dough. The housing can either be a single piece or separable into two parts. The method of baking a pocketed bun with the mold base and separable housing starts with assembling the mold base and housing, filling the chamber through the open top, baking the pallet, then removing the housing from the mold base. The removal of the housing causes the ring to strip the pocketed bun from the mold base.

A hard taco shell, having a plasticizing agent applied to a targeted region of a base or spine portion of the hard taco shell and lower sections of taco shell sidewalls to softening the targeted region such that, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened targeted region has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation, is hermetically sealed in a package body formed from a material establishing a barrier to the transmission of oxygen into an interior of the package body. With this arrangement, premature drying and cracking of the agent treated hard taco shell is prevented.

A hard taco shell, having a plasticizing agent applied to a targeted region of a base or spine portion of the hard taco shell and lower sections of taco shell sidewalls to softening the targeted region such that, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened targeted region has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation, is hermetically sealed in a package body formed from a material establishing a barrier to the transmission of oxygen into an interior of the package body. With this arrangement, premature drying and cracking of the agent treated hard taco shell is prevented.