GB2226220A

GB2226220A - Microwave cooking of food

Info

Publication number: GB2226220A
Application number: GB8926545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rosemary Mason
Original assignee: Sharp Interpack Ltd
Current assignee: Sharp Interpack Ltd
Priority date: 1988-11-24
Filing date: 1989-11-24
Publication date: 1990-06-20
Also published as: GB8827388D0; GB8926545D0

Abstract

In association one with the other, a tray (1) and an insert (5), the insert being for interposing between the floor of the tray and a foodstuff to be cooked whilst the tray is in a microwave oven, the insert being adapted to support the foodstuff spaced from the floor of the tray and to allow fat and/or moisture to drain from the foodstuff into the base of the tray. The insert preferably comprises a platform (6) for supporting the foodstuff and projections or protuberances (7), which in use of the insert, extend downwardly from the platform to rest on the floor of the tray, whereby the foodstuff is raised above the floor of the tray. The corner projections may be the longest, so as to give a slope to the platform. The tray and insert may be of alkene polymer. The tray insert and food may be sold as a single package. <IMAGE>

Description

MICRCWXVE COOKING OF FOOD The present invention relates to microwave cooking of food. In particular the present invention relates to a tray provided with an insert for enabling the food to be cooked by microwaves in the tray.

Many foodstuffs, such as meat, fish and poultry products, are sold by retail outlets packed in shallow plastic, normally transparent trays.

It is not possible to cook satisfactorily such a foodstuff in the tray in which it is sold. Fat or moisture drains fran the foodstuff into the base of the tray and rrE ti foodstuff soggy or of poor texture instead of allowing the foodstuff to remain of firm texture and perhaps to become crisp, the heat of the foodstuff and fat or moisture draining fran the foodstuff melt and damage the tray even in a microwave oven where the tray is not heated directly and in a microwave oven the fat or moisture accumulating in the tray restrict the penetration of microwave radiation uniformly through the foodstuff.

It has now been discovered that by providing the tray with a suitable member or insert adapted to space the foodstuff above the floor of the tray and allow fat or moisture to drain fran the foodstuff, the foodstuff can be cooked, whilst remaining in the tray, in a microwave oven, without substantial damage to the tray even though fat draining fran the foodstuff may be at a temperature considerably greater than the melting point of the material of the insert and the tray, and whilst remaining of firm texture and perhaps beccming crisp and with uniform penetration of microwave radiation throughout the foodstuff.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided, in association one with the other, a tray and an insert, the insert being for interposing between the floor of the tray and a foodstuff to be cooked whilst the tray is in a microwave oven, the insert being adapted to support the foodstuff spaced fran the floor of the tray and to allow fat and/or moisture to drain fran the foodstuff into the base of the tray.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided in ccmbination the insert and tray as referred to in the proceeding paragraph and the foodstuff, the foodstuff being accommodated in the tray with the insert interposed between the foodstuff and the floor of the tray. This combination may be sold as such in retail outlets.

The insert preferably comprises a platform for supporting the foodstuff and projections or protuberances, which in use of the insert, extend downwardly from the platform to rest on the floor of the tray, whereby the foodstuff is raised above the floor of the tray.

Preferably the projections are in the form of inverted pyramids, which may have pointed or flat apices.

The projections or pyramids at the corners or extremities of the insert may be bigger than the others to give a slcpe to the platform so that substantially all the fat or moisture drains from the foodstuff being cooked into the base of the container.

Preferably the insert is provided with openings for drainage of excess fat or moisture fran the foodstuff during cooking of the foodstuff. The size of the openings may vary depending on the size of the insert and the nature of the foodstuff.

The tray and the insert may be made of alkene polymer such as polypropylene or of other microwavable material.

Polyprcpylene is normally considered unable to withstand temperatures above 1250C. Fat can reach temperatures up to 270 C when heated during cooking. Noramlly containers made from polypropylene would be unsuitable for cooking fatty products.

However, we have enexpectedly found that by using a combination of the insert and tray according to the invention that fatty food products can be cooked successfully in a microwave oven. The insert allows air to circulate fully beneath the food product and keeps the fat cool.

The invention is further described below by way of exanple with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a tray and an insert according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray; Figure 3A is an inverted plan view of a mcdification of the insert; and Figure 3B is a side view of the insert Referring to Figure 1, a shallow tray 1 has side walls 2 and a floor 3. The base of the tray 1 is considered for the purposes of this specification to be constituted by the lower extremities of the side walls 2 and the floor 3.

An insert 5 comprises a platform 6 and pyramids 7, specifieally in Figure 3A pyramids 7' and 7", projecting downwardly from the platform. me platform 6 is provided with elongate operargs or apertures 8 and 8' (not visible in Figure 3B) having rounded ends.

The pyramids 7' have a greater vertical extent than the pyramids 7".

As shown in Figure 3A, the pyramids 7' are in two rows extending adjacent the longer edges of the insert 5 and have pointed apices.

The pyramids 7" are disposed in rows between the pyramids 7' and, except for those alongside the central opening 8', have flat surfaces at their apices. The pyramids 7" closely adjacent the central opening 8' are appropriately modified in shape so as not to encroach upon the opening.

As shown in Figure 3B all the pyramids 7 are pointed. The four pyramids adjacent the corners of the platform 6 have a greater vertical extent than the other pyramids.

The insert 5 can be located within the tray 1, with the apices of the pyramids 7 resting upon the floor 3 of the tray.

It is envisaged that a package of food as sold by a retail outlet will comprise the insert located in the tray as described in the proceding paragraph and with a foodstuff supported upon the platform 6 of the insert, the whole being closed e.g. by being wrapped in cling film or other packaging film or by a board, film or foil lid.

Since the pyramids 7' (Figure 3A) or the pyramids adjacent the corners of the platform 6 (Figure 3B) have a greater vertical extent than the pyramids 7" or other pyramids, the platform 6 is deformed by the foodstuff so that it slopes down from its longer edges or its corners towards the opening 8.

When it is desired to cook the foodstuff, any non-microwaveable wrapping or closure is removed and any other wrapping or closure is removed if desired and then the carbination of the foodstuff, the insert and the tray is placed in a microwave oven with the insert left interposed between the foosstuff and the floor of the tray.

In operation of the microwave oven, the foodstuff cooks and fat or moisture drains fran the foodstuff through the openings 8 and 8' so that the foodstuff does not become soggy but its texture remains firm and the foosdsuff may became crisp and so that microwave radiation can penetrate the foodstuff uniformly. Air circulating between the insert and the floor of the tray keeps the fat which has drained from the foodstuff cool so that the insert and the tray do not melt.

With some foods a microwaveable closure such as a lid as referred to above may be left on the tray when it is placed in the microwave oven so that the foodstuff does not dry out during cooking.

We have had tests carried out which show that the invention enables foodstuffs to be successfully cooked in a microwave oven as described above.

There may be fewer pyramids 7 then shown projecting downwardly from the platform 6. E.g. if the platform 6 is sufficiently stiff a pyramid 7 adjacent each corner of the platform 6 may suffice to hold the platform 6 and the foodstuff supported thereby spaced above the floor 3 of the tray.

The insert 5 may be provided with protuberances, such as further pyramids, projecting upwardly fran the platform 6 to prevent the foodstuff supported on the insert from rolling around or otherwise to limit shifting of the foodstuff on the insert.

The tray 1 and the insert 6 may be moulded fran polypropylene or other microwavable material by thermoforming i.e. vacuum forming or pressure forming.

Claims

1. A tray and an insert, the insert being for interposing between the floor of the tray and a foodstruff to be cooked whilst the tray is in a microwave oven, the insert being adapted to support the foodstuff spaced fran the floor of the tray and to allow fat and/or moisture to drain fran the foodstuff into the base of the tray.

2. A tray and an insert according to claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a platform for supporting the foodstuff and projections or protuberances, which in use of the insert, extend downwardly fran the platform to reset on the fllor of the tray, whereby the foodstuff is raised avove the floor of the tray.

3. A tray and an insert according to claim 2, wherin the projections or protuberances at corners or extremities of the insert are bigger than the others to give a slcpzto the platform so that substantially all the fat or moisture drains fran the foodstuff being cooked into the base of the container.

6. A tray and an insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert is provided with openings for drainage of excess fat or moisture fran the foodstuff during cooking of the foodstuff.

7. A tray and an insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the tray and the insert are made of microwavable alkene polymer.