IES62608B2 - Packaging for food preservation and handling - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging 10 for food preservation and handling includes and inner sealable package 20 into which a food product 30 is located. The inner package 20 is adapted to be filled with a food preserving gas and sealed. An outer container 15 of a semi-rigid material contains ther inner package 20 with the food product 30 therein. The semi-rigid material which may be cellulosic paper cardboard or any other suitable material is also capable of allowing the food product, without the inner package 20, to be heated within the container in a microwave over and to contain the subsequently heated food product 30.

Description

PACKAGING FOR FOOD PRESERVATION AND HANDLING The present invention relates to packaging for food preservation and handling. In particular, it relates to the development of a combined food preservation and handling packaging to facilitate the shelf life extension of a cooked chilled snack product while simultaneously providing a suitable outer container to allow the product to be handled and re-heated efficiently and hygienically.

The present invention provides packaging for food preservation and handling comprising an inner sealable package into which the food product is locatable, the inner package being adapted to be filled with a food preserving gas and sealed, and an outer container of a semi-rigid material adapted to contain the inner package with the food product therein, the semi-rigid material also being capable of allowing the food product, without the inner package, to be heated within the container in a microwave oven and to contain the subsequently heated food product.

Advantageously, the inner package is of a film-like material.

Preferably, the outer container is manufactured from food grade cardboard.

The present invention also provides a method of packing food in a manner to facilitate its preservation and subsequent handling comprising cooking a food product, inserting the food product into a sealable inner package, filling the inner package with a food preserving gas and sealing the package, inserting the inner package into an outer container of rigid material which is suitable for transport, display and handling. 2608 The invention also provides a method of handling the food product for subsequent re-heating comprising opening the outer container to remove the inner package and food product, removing the food product from the inner package, re-positioning the food product within, the container and inserting the container and food product within a microwave oven, heating the food product in the microwave oven, and removing the container with the heated food product therein 1q for consumption.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, two embodiments of the packaging according to the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to 20 the invention containing a food product and other items, the food product being within an inner package; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same container with the inner package removed from about the food product; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the container according to the invention with the food product within the inner package.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the packaging embodiment 10 comprises a container 15 of a food grade cellulosic paper cardboard, or any other suitable material, constructed into a rectangular shaped box. Within the container 15 is a packaging film chamber sealed about a food product 30 such as a burger and bap.

The packaging film chamber 20 is filled with a food preserving gas. Other items can be contained in the container such as for example a serviette 40 and a packet of sauce 50. When it is required to heat the food product in a microwave, the package 20 is removed as in Figure 2, the container 15 with the food product therein is inserted into a microwave oven and heated for the appropriate period in order to thoroughly reheat the product for consumption.

A further embodiment 110 is shown in Figure 3 consisting of a different shaped container 115 also constructed of a food grade cardboard usually of cellulosic paper. The package and container is handled in the same manner as in the embodiment 10. The container 115 provides a more compact container suitable for takeaway foods and the like.

The pre-cooked products, for example meat or vegetable burgers, are formulated and manufactured into a variety of shapes. The recipes for the food products can vary somewhat depending on the basic type of meat or ingredient. These basic ingredients can be beef, chicken, ham, fish, bacon and/or vegetable combined with a textured vegetable protein binding agent, flavours and spices.

The processing procedure for producing the meat is firstly that the primary filler, usually meat, is mechanically treated, for example by shredding, dicing or flaking, to provide portions of various sires and textures. The meats are then mixed according to the specified recipe with a textured vegetable protein agent, flavours, seasonings and spices to produce what will be referred to as a meat block in this description.

The meat block so produced is then sub-portioned and mechanically processed into predetermined shapes, for example, burger shapes, rib-steak shapes, sausages and fish shapes.

If required for the particular recipe, the formed and shaped products receive an outer coating or batter and are then covered with a special bread crumb and passed through a cooker to heat the products to a recorded temperature of 75°C.

If the products are not required to receive an outer coating, they are cooked also to 75°C, as above.

Following the cooking steps, the food products are super-cooled and stored at a specified temperature until required.

The food product, or burger as is shown in the drawings, is placed then between two portions of a bap or bread bun.

The assembled product is then placed in a package 20 which is a pre-formed chamber of food grade polypropylene film. The natural air in the chamber package 20 is expunged and replaced with a food grade gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The package or film chamber is then sealed forming a sack. The sealing rim of at least one section of the sack is such that it can be opened by hand, following simple specified instructions.

The assembled gas treated products within the packages 20 are then placed in food containers 15 or 115 made of material suitable for handling the products while it is being heated in a microwave oven.

The assembled packaged products when stored between 0 and +8cC has a shelf life of 25 days.

When selected by a customer, the box is opened, the package 20 is removed and food grade polypropylene is removed from about the burger and bap. The burger and bap is then returned to the container leaving the lid 55 opened and folded back. The container 15 containing the product is then placed in the microwave with the lid still folded back. The microwave is switched on by the user and heated to the specified instructions. After the product is heated, the lid of the box is closed and the product is now ready as a takeaway package.

The above process describes a method of manufacturing, preserving, heating and presenting products capable of being stored under chilled conditions for up to 25 days.

The product can be speedily heated at a point of sale and presented as a hot takeaway product.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. . Packaging for food preservation and handling comprising an inner sealable package into which the food product is locatable, the inner package being adapted to be filled with a food preserving gas and sealed, and an outer container of a semi-rigid material adapted to contain the inner package with the food product therein, the semi-rigid material also being capable of allowing the food product, without the inner package, to be heated within the container in a microwave oven and to contain the subsequently heated food product.

2. A method of packing food in a manner to facilitate its preservation and subsequent handling comprising cooking a food product, inserting the food product into a sealable inner package, filling the inner package with a food preserving gas and sealing the package, inserting the inner package into an outer container of rigid material which is suitable for transport, display and handling.

3. A method of handling the food product for subsequent re-heating comprising opening the outer container to remove the inner package and food product, removing the food product from the inner package, re-positioning the food product within the container and inserting the container and food product within a microwEive oven, heating the food product in the microwave oven, and removing the container with the heated food product therein for consumption.

4. The invention as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the inner package is of a film-like material and the outer container is manufactured from food grade cardboard.

5. Packaging for food preservation and handling according to either of the embodiments, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.