The present invention relates to preparing taco shells and in particular to a utensil for holding a folded tortilla while making and frying a taco shell.
Tacos are a favorite meal world wide. Consumers enjoy tacos served as both soft tacos and in deep fried shells. Other utensil, including racks, have been used to hold the tortilla during deep frying but do not always provide the best result. The deep frying further requires a specialized cooking device and a substantial amount of oil, much of which oil is absorbed into the tortilla.
The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a utensil for holding tortillas during deep frying. The taco shell maker includes a generally round disk folded to create a body having two half round edges. The taco shell maker preferably includes two opposing tabs generally centered on the half round edges. The body is preferably a little larger than the tortillas made into the taco shells, for example ½ inch larger diameter than the tortillas before folding. The tabs are folded outward about 180 degrees to be generally parallel to the body. The tabs may include flared out ends to facilitate sliding an edge of the tortilla between the body and each tab. The taco shell maker further allows frying the taco shell in a typical frying pan, not requiring a deep fryer and using much less oil than a deep fryer.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a taco shell maker including tabs folded against the body for holding a tortilla against an outside surface of the body. Edges of the tortilla are inserted under the tabs to hold the tortilla for deep frying to make the taco shell. Including the tabs to hold the tortillas against the taco shell maker provides a desired taco shell shape. This process allows for the use of much less oil to fry the taco shells and is convenient to use.
A method for frying taco shells using the taco shell using a common frying pan. The tortilla may be attached to the taco shell maker and a first tortilla side fried in the frying pan and then a second tortilla side fried in the frying pan, not requiring a deep fryer or substantial oil.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.
Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature's appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement, or typically within 10 percent of a stated value.
A taco shell maker 10 according to the present invention, before folding, and a tortilla 11, are shown in
A perspective view of the taco shell maker 10 after folding the generally round body 12 into a “U” shape and a tortilla 11 is shown in
The tabs 14 have a fold radius R2 of preferably between 0.05 and 0.1 inches and more preferably about 0.8 inches and reach down generally parallel to the body sides 12a and 12b, and a length L of preferably between 0.69 and 0.84 inches and more preferably about 0.765 inch. The tabs 14 preferably include a flared out bottom edge 16 to facilitate insertion of edges of the tortilla 11 under the tabs 14.
A method for making taco shells using the taco shell maker 10 is described in
The taco shell maker 10 may be made of any food grade material and preferably stainless steel, aluminum, or silicone material, and more preferably a food grade stainless steel and most preferably 24 gauge 304 stainless steel.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/294,821 filed Dec. 29, 2021, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63294821 | Dec 2021 | US |