GB2048046A - Hamburgers - Google Patents

Abstract

A raw hamburger is seared on its exterior but otherwise uncooked prior to deep freezing and distribution, so that when it is cooked through e.g. by micro-wave heating, it has a grilled or barbecued appearance. The hamburger may be placed between the halves of a toasted bun before freezing.

Description

SPECIFICATION Hamburgers This invention relates to the production of hamburgers for distribution and storage.

The term "hamburgers" is used herein to refer to a consolidated portion of minced or finely chopped beef or other meat.

Hamburgers are usually cooked by frying or griiling the raw pieces, so as to cook them through and to brown the outside, and are therefore prepared in kitchens using conventional equipment.

This, however, restricts to some extent the establishments in which hamburgers are sold for immediate consumption. For example many public houses have no facilities for frying or grilling in the conventional manner.

The present invention provides a novel method of preparing hamburgers for distribution and storage, and resides broadly in searing the exterior of raw hamburgers without cooking them through and then refrigerating (e.g. deep freezing) them for distribution and storage, prior to final cooking for consumption.

The invention also includes a refrigerated raw hamburger seared on the outside but otherwise substantially uncooked.

Raw hamburgers prepared in this way can then be cooked at the point of sale for consumption, for example by micro-wave heating but have the appearance of having been conventionally cooked or barbecued, thus enabling establishments having micro-wave ovens to cook the interior of the hamburgers quickly, and without skiiled cooks, and to present a visually attractive cooked piece to the customer.

It will be appreciated that micro-wave heating could be used to cook a conventionally prepared raw hamburger, but that the exterior would not have the browned or barbecued appearance expected by the intended consumer.

Preliminary searing can be effected in any convenient manner by which coloration of the exterior can be achieved without cooking the interior of the pieces, for example by griddling on very hot plates or rollers for brief periods, or by non-contact heating such as concentrated gas jets or infra-red heating.

The seared pieces are then deep-frozen for packing, transit and eventual storage at the points of sale.

Searing can be effected if desired while the raw hamburger is deep frozen to facilitate handling. The seared piece is then re-frozen for packing and transit.

In a particularly advantageous form of the invention, the seared hamburger is placed between two pieces of bread, usually a bun sliced horizontally in half which have previously been toasted, and the sandwich thus formed is placed in a box, either by itself or with others, and the box is passed through a freezing tunnel to deep freeze the sandwich.

At the eventual point of sale, the box is placed in a micro-wave oven and, when the sandwich has been sufficiently heated, it is served to the customer, still in its box.

Claims

1. A method of preparing hamburgers tor distribution and storage, comprising the steps of searing the exterior of raw hamburgers without cooking them through and then refrigerating them for distribution and storage prior to final cooking for consumption.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the seared but uncooked hamburger is placed between the two halves of a toasted bun which is placed in a container, in which it remains during refrigeration and eventual distribution.

3. A hamburger prepared by the method of claim 1 or claim 2, the hamburger being seared on its exterior, but uncooked and in a refrigerated condition.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hamburgers This invention relates to the production of hamburgers for distribution and storage. The term "hamburgers" is used herein to refer to a consolidated portion of minced or finely chopped beef or other meat. Hamburgers are usually cooked by frying or griiling the raw pieces, so as to cook them through and to brown the outside, and are therefore prepared in kitchens using conventional equipment. This, however, restricts to some extent the establishments in which hamburgers are sold for immediate consumption. For example many public houses have no facilities for frying or grilling in the conventional manner. The present invention provides a novel method of preparing hamburgers for distribution and storage, and resides broadly in searing the exterior of raw hamburgers without cooking them through and then refrigerating (e.g. deep freezing) them for distribution and storage, prior to final cooking for consumption. The invention also includes a refrigerated raw hamburger seared on the outside but otherwise substantially uncooked. Raw hamburgers prepared in this way can then be cooked at the point of sale for consumption, for example by micro-wave heating but have the appearance of having been conventionally cooked or barbecued, thus enabling establishments having micro-wave ovens to cook the interior of the hamburgers quickly, and without skiiled cooks, and to present a visually attractive cooked piece to the customer. It will be appreciated that micro-wave heating could be used to cook a conventionally prepared raw hamburger, but that the exterior would not have the browned or barbecued appearance expected by the intended consumer. Preliminary searing can be effected in any convenient manner by which coloration of the exterior can be achieved without cooking the interior of the pieces, for example by griddling on very hot plates or rollers for brief periods, or by non-contact heating such as concentrated gas jets or infra-red heating. The seared pieces are then deep-frozen for packing, transit and eventual storage at the points of sale. Searing can be effected if desired while the raw hamburger is deep frozen to facilitate handling. The seared piece is then re-frozen for packing and transit. In a particularly advantageous form of the invention, the seared hamburger is placed between two pieces of bread, usually a bun sliced horizontally in half which have previously been toasted, and the sandwich thus formed is placed in a box, either by itself or with others, and the box is passed through a freezing tunnel to deep freeze the sandwich. At the eventual point of sale, the box is placed in a micro-wave oven and, when the sandwich has been sufficiently heated, it is served to the customer, still in its box. Claims

1. A method of preparing hamburgers tor distribution and storage, comprising the steps of searing the exterior of raw hamburgers without cooking them through and then refrigerating them for distribution and storage prior to final cooking for consumption.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the seared but uncooked hamburger is placed between the two halves of a toasted bun which is placed in a container, in which it remains during refrigeration and eventual distribution.

3. A hamburger prepared by the method of claim 1 or claim 2, the hamburger being seared on its exterior, but uncooked and in a refrigerated condition.