GB2285903A - Microwave food pack with susceptor - Google Patents

Microwave food pack with susceptor Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2285903A
GB2285903A GB9401285A GB9401285A GB2285903A GB 2285903 A GB2285903 A GB 2285903A GB 9401285 A GB9401285 A GB 9401285A GB 9401285 A GB9401285 A GB 9401285A GB 2285903 A GB2285903 A GB 2285903A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
microwave
food
food product
food pack
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9401285A
Other versions
GB9401285D0 (en
Inventor
Gerald Benjamin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DYNOPACK Ltd
Original Assignee
DYNOPACK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DYNOPACK Ltd filed Critical DYNOPACK Ltd
Priority to GB9401285A priority Critical patent/GB2285903A/en
Publication of GB9401285D0 publication Critical patent/GB9401285D0/en
Publication of GB2285903A publication Critical patent/GB2285903A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package
    • B65D81/3446—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B65D81/3453—Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
    • B65D2581/3437—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B65D2581/3486—Dielectric characteristics of microwave reactive packaging
    • B65D2581/3494—Microwave susceptor

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
  • Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)

Abstract

A microwave food pack comprises a microwave passive container 12 containing a partially or wholly cooked food product 11. A sheet of susceptor material 13 is located on top of the food product 11 and a peelable transparent film is heat sealed across the top of the container 12. <IMAGE>

Description

MICROWAVE FOOD PACK AND METHOD OF MICROWAVE COOKERY The present invention relates to a microwave food pack and t6 a method of fully cooking, heating and browning food using microwaves.
Microwave food packages containing uncooked, partially cooked or fully cooked food products in a chilled or frozen condition are now commonly available.
These products can be cooked and reheated in their packs in a microwave oven. However, a drawback is observed in that the food product develops "hot spots" during exposure to the microwave energy field, resulting in uneven heating without colouration. This tends to be more marked in the case of frozen food products, than in chilled food.
In the case of cooked food products, which require "browning" (such as chips, pizzas, pastry-based pies etc), it is known to locate a layer of susceptor material beneath the product.
A susceptor material is a material which absorbs microwave energy, ie. it is microwave active.
Conventionally, susceptor materials take the form of metallised polyester films which may be used in the form of a sheet located beneath the food or a laminate on the base of the container. The container would otherwise be microwave passive.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for cooking and/or reheating and browning partially cooked or fully cooked frozen food by means of microwave energy in which the food cooks, reheats and browns more evenly.
According to the present invention, there is provided a microwave food pack which comprises: a container, made from a passive microwave material; a partially cooked or fully cooked frozen food product; and a layer of susceptor material, which is microwave active, located above the food product.
Preferably, the susceptor material is in close contact with or close proximity to the food, and may be in the form of a loose sheet. Preferably, the container is covered by a film of plastics material which is preferably transparent and may be peeled off and removed before being placed in the microwave oven.
It has been found that such an arrangement results in the food product cooking more evenly when subjected to the microwave energy field. This is particularly important in the case of initially partially cooked or fully cooked from food products since the risk of poorly heated areas is minimised.
The container may be of any suitable microwave passive material, including though high density polyethylene, polypropylene and crystalline polyethylene terephthalate though high density polyethylene is preferred. It may be of any convenient shape, though a generally round or oval shape is preferred since these tend to assist in producing more even heating.
The susceptor material is preferably a metallised polyester card or paper sheet. The metallisation may be continuous or arranged in a suitable pattern. The transparent film is preferably a peelable polyethylene/polyester laminate.
Suitable food products include all those topped with puff or short crust pastry, mashed, creamed or rosti potato and flavoured crumb ie. amy that require colouration or browning to enhance appearance. These products can be savoury, sweet or vegetarian as desired.
The invention also extends to a method of re-heating and browning a partially or fully cooked frozen food product which comprises: locating a layer of susceptor material, which is microwave active, above the food product and subjecting the food product to a microwave energy field.
The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure is a partial vertical cross-section through a microwave food pack in accordance with the invention.
A partially or wholly cooked frozen food product 11 is located within a microwave passive container 12. A sheet of susceptor material 13 is located on top of the food product 11. A peelable transparent film 14 is heat sealed across the top of the container 12. This is tamper evident and provides transit and contamination protection.
The container 12 is of high density polyethylene.
The susceptor sheet 13 is a metallised polyester sheet.
The transparent film 14 is a polyethylene/polyester peel able laminate which is removed before placing in the microwave oven.
In use, the food pack is placed in a microwave oven and subjected to a microwave energy field. The food product is cooked, heated and brought to a safe temperature by the microwaves. The presence of the susceptor material 13 assists in achieving even cooking, heating and browning. It is believed this may be achieved by the susceptor material 13 acting to redirect reflected microwaves and by transferring heat energy by radiation and conduction directly to the food product.

Claims (11)

1. A microwave food pack which comprises: a container made from a passive microwave material; a partially cooked or fully cooked frozen food product; and a layer of susceptor material, which is microwave active, located above the food product.
2. A food pack as claimed in Claim 1 in which the susceptor material is in close contact with or close proximity to the food product.
3. A food pack as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the susceptor material is in the form of a loose sheet.
4. A food pack as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the container has a top opening which is covered by a film of plastics material.
5. A food pack as claimed in Claim 4 in which the plastics material is transparent and is affixed to the container in such a way that it may be peeled off.
6. A food pack as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the microwave passive material from which the container is made is selected from high density polyethylene, polypropylene and crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.
7. A food pack as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the susceptor material is a metallised polyester card or a metallised paper sheet.
8. A food pack as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7 in which the film of plastics material is a polyethylene/polyester laminate.
9. A microwave food pack constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
10. A method of reheating and browning a partially or fully cooked frozen food product which comprises: locating a layer of susceptor material, which is microwave active, above the food product and subjecting the food product to a microwave energy field.
11. A method of reheating and browning a partially or fully cooked frozen food product substantially as herein specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB9401285A 1994-01-24 1994-01-24 Microwave food pack with susceptor Withdrawn GB2285903A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9401285A GB2285903A (en) 1994-01-24 1994-01-24 Microwave food pack with susceptor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9401285A GB2285903A (en) 1994-01-24 1994-01-24 Microwave food pack with susceptor

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9401285D0 GB9401285D0 (en) 1994-03-23
GB2285903A true GB2285903A (en) 1995-07-26

Family

ID=10749213

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9401285A Withdrawn GB2285903A (en) 1994-01-24 1994-01-24 Microwave food pack with susceptor

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2285903A (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2188520A (en) * 1986-03-27 1987-09-30 House Food Industrial Co Sealed container for use in cooking
GB2227398A (en) * 1989-01-23 1990-07-25 Raytheon Co Microwave heating susceptor
GB2232566A (en) * 1988-07-12 1990-12-12 Waddingtons Cartons Ltd Microwavable packaging carton
US5288962A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-02-22 Conagra Frozen Foods, Inc. Microwave cooking enclosure for food items

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2188520A (en) * 1986-03-27 1987-09-30 House Food Industrial Co Sealed container for use in cooking
GB2232566A (en) * 1988-07-12 1990-12-12 Waddingtons Cartons Ltd Microwavable packaging carton
GB2227398A (en) * 1989-01-23 1990-07-25 Raytheon Co Microwave heating susceptor
US5288962A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-02-22 Conagra Frozen Foods, Inc. Microwave cooking enclosure for food items

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9401285D0 (en) 1994-03-23

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)