An apparatus and method of treating eggs and other food products and a method and apparatus for releasing an egg and other food products from a food-retaining ring are provided. The apparatus includes one or more food-retaining rings suitable to be disposed on a treating surface and a ring shaped release tool, the exterior perimeter of the release tool being adapted to fit closely to the inside perimeter of the ring. The method of treating eggs and other food products comprises: adding a food product to a volume defined by an interior of a ring disposed on a cooking surface treating the food product to form a self-supporting mass and inserting a complementary-shaped release member within the ring containing the self-supporting mass, the release member being adapted to fit closely to an inside perimeter of the ring.
