Patent ID: 7905173

Claim:
A method of storing previously cooked food comprising: providing a device for holding a plurality of food portions comprising, at least one compartment for holding the food portions, said compartment comprising at least one compartment opening for inserting food therein and for removing food therefrom and having a compartment height and being bounded by an upper heated compartment surface; a heating device for maintaining the compartment at an elevated temperature; a cabinet defining a volume that encloses said compartment therein; an at least generally vertically disposed flexible member, the vertically disposed flexible member attached to the compartment and being disposed parallel to the compartment opening and substantially covering at least an upper portion of the opening, said flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the compartment for removing food items therefrom through the opening, the flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the compartment through a lower portion of the compartment opening, wherein said flexible member comprises a bottom edge that is continuous and uncut; and a vertical gap between said vertically disposed flexible member and the bottom of said slot; heating the compartment to at least an elevated temperature with the heating device; and placing and storing the previously cooked food into said heated compartment at said at least elevated temperature for holding a plurality of food portions by deflecting a portion of the flexible member to place the food into the compartment.