WO1992020199A1 - Structure servant a convertir l'energie de micro-ondes en chaleur et procede d'utilisation - Google Patents

Structure servant a convertir l'energie de micro-ondes en chaleur et procede d'utilisation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992020199A1
WO1992020199A1 PCT/US1991/002963 US9102963W WO9220199A1 WO 1992020199 A1 WO1992020199 A1 WO 1992020199A1 US 9102963 W US9102963 W US 9102963W WO 9220199 A1 WO9220199 A1 WO 9220199A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
microwave
oven
container
susceptor means
face
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1991/002963
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alan R. Anderson
Original Assignee
Anderson Alan R
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 Anderson Alan R filed Critical Anderson Alan R
Priority to PCT/US1991/002963 priority Critical patent/WO1992020199A1/fr
Publication of WO1992020199A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992020199A1/fr

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
    • B65D81/3461—Flexible containers, e.g. bags, pouches, envelopes
    • B65D81/3469—Pop-corn bags
    • 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
    • B65D2581/3401—Cooking or heating method specially adapted to the contents of the package
    • B65D2581/3402—Cooking or heating method specially adapted to the contents of the package characterised by the type of product to be heated or cooked
    • B65D2581/3421—Cooking pop-corn
    • 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
    • B65D2581/3439—Means for affecting the heating or cooking properties
    • B65D2581/3454—Microwave reactive layer having a specified optical density
    • 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
    • B65D2581/3463—Means for applying microwave reactive material to the package
    • B65D2581/3466—Microwave reactive material applied by vacuum, sputter or vapor deposition
    • 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
    • B65D2581/3471—Microwave reactive substances present in the packaging material
    • B65D2581/3472—Aluminium or compounds thereof
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention provides an improved method for the preparation of food, particularly popcorn, in a microwave oven.
  • microwave cooking has had an enormous impact on commercial, industrial and home food preparation.
  • the high speed with which cooking occurs, and the broad array of materials suitable for use in microwave ovens have engendered a large number of new uses for microwave ovens.
  • One such use is the preparation of low density snack items, such as by the popping of kernels of corn.
  • Popping of popcorn in a microwave oven has presented problems, typical of which is the low percentage of popcorn popped.
  • the art is replete with examples of ingenious approaches to reducing the number of "old maids," thereby maximizing the yield of popped corn.
  • U.S. 3,973,045 - Brandberg et al. discloses a corn container made from a compact gusseted paper bag. Unfortunately, this construction still leaves up to 25% of the corn kernels unpopped, and 5% burned after exposure for approximately 2k minutes to microwave energy.
  • U.S. 4,038,425 - Brandberg et al. discloses a dual-compartmented container.
  • the first compartment is small and contains a charge of popcorn; the second compartment is larger, and provided with pleats, folds or gussets to enable it to expand to hold the popped kernels.
  • U.S 4,156,806 - Teich et al. and U.S. 4,335,291 - Ishino et al. disclose the use of containers for concentrating microwave energy at the base of a conically shaped bowl for the purpose of improving efficiency and speed of popping.
  • Teich uses a microwave lossy, powdered or particulate material at the base area. The lossy material itself heats up and radiates heat to the kernels located close to it, thereby adding to the heat induced in the kernels.
  • the use of microwave lossy material is a widely known concept in microwave food preparation containers.
  • U.S. 4,553,010 - Bohrer et al. discloses a package for shipping and microwave popping of popcorn having a microwave interactive material integrally attached to the bottom panel of an expandable bag containing popcorn.
  • U.S. 4,219,573 - Borek discloses an expandable popcorn package having an integrated insulating member on the bottom of the package.
  • U.S. 4,810,844 - Anderson discloses a highly efficient microwave popcorn package utilizing a bag having an inwardly pleated bottom panel.
  • the configuration of this bag contrasts favorably to the traditional flat-bottom and side-gusseted bag in which most microwave popcorn is sold at this time.
  • better popping efficiency is obtained because the popcorn kernels are massed together, rather than spread out.
  • the greater mass is capable of more efficiently conducting microwave energy.
  • the upper opening of the bag through which the edible popcorn ingredients are placed during the packaging process, and through which the popcorn is served after cooking is quite large, making the packaging and serving processes much more convenient.
  • a further advantage of the Anderson bag is that it may be prepared from a visible light transparent material. This allows the consumer to watch the corn inside being popped, cutting down on the chances of under- or overcooking the popcorn as well, not to mention the significant entertainment value.
  • the Anderson bag can be made from relatively thin film, the costs of the bag and of the associated final product are, therefore, significantly less than those of current commercial popcorn containers.
  • the Anderson bag provides the aforementioned advantages, it is still desirable to further increase the yield of the popcorn while maintaining the elegant simplicity of the Anderson bag and serving container.
  • a method for cooking food items, including popcorn, in a microwave oven in which edible ingredients are combined in a container transparent to microwave energy.
  • a cooking optimizer panel having two faces of different susceptibility to microwave energy is placed underneath the container in a configuration determined by the power of the microwave oven. In a high power oven, the cooking optimizer panel is placed on the oven floor with its more insulated face in contact with the food; in a low power oven, the cooking optimizer panel is positioned with the higher susceptibility face in contact with the food.
  • Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a suscep- tor panel of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a suscep- tor panel of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a popcorn package according to the present invention.
  • Low wattage ovens range in power from around 450 to 500 watts; the high wattage ovens from around 600 to 700 watts. Due to the significant difference in the power output of these ovens, the results of cooking in either one will vary significantly.
  • the power output of the microwave oven is first determined, either by consulting the manufacturer's literature or by a simple test of determining the length of time in which water will boil when placed in the microwave oven. If a cup of water requires longer than 3 minutes to boil, the oven is considered low power. Knowing the power of the microwave oven, the cooking optimizer panel of the invention can then be located in the preferred configuration.
  • the objectives of this invention are achieved by the provision of a cooking optimizer panel 11 having two opposing faces 12 and 14 of different susceptibility to microwave energy.
  • the higher susceptibility, or more lossy, face 12 will absorb more energy and transfer more heat to the items being cooked. This is desirable in a low power oven.
  • the lower susceptibility, or more insulating face 14, of the panel is placed in contact with the food item to reduce thermal transfer. In this way, a single cooking panel is therefor useful in either high or low power ovens.
  • the cooking optimizer panel is substantially flat.
  • the panel has raised edges, allowing the panel to be used as a platform or as a box.
  • the edges are also made of microwave interactive material.
  • the cooking optimizer panel 20 has microwave interactive material 15 on one side only of a cardboard or Kraft paper sheet 16.
  • a typical panel is composed of a vacuum- metallized aluminum grid 15 on a polyester (not shown) which, in turn, is laminated to cardboard 16.
  • a thin metallic film may be employed. The desired position of this panel in use would be with the metallized face up for the low wattage oven, and the metallized face down for the high wattage oven. It has been found that a grid pattern of metallized aluminum on polyester having an optical density of about 0.020 versus uncoated polyester (about 75% coverage of the surface) is preferred for the practice of this invention as applied to popcorn.
  • the microwave interactive material, or susceptor 15 is sandwiched between two sheets 11 and 13 of different insulating values, such as 30 lb and 80 lb paper.
  • This construction also provides the desired differential susceptibility and thermal transfer. Selecting the most desirable differential in susceptibility from one face to the other is a matter of routine experimentation and will depend upon the nature of the food item and the overall package configuration.
  • Microwave interactive materials suitable for use in this invention include aluminum, stainless steel, and the like, such as are disclosed in U.S. 4,190,757 - Terpin et al.; U.S. 3,783,220 - Tanizaki; U.S. 4,290,924 - Brasatd et al.; and U.S. 4,283,427 - Winters et al.
  • the disclosures of the foregoing patents are incorporated by reference herein.
  • the higher susceptibility or metallized side of the panel is placed face-up in contact with the bag containing the edible ingredients.
  • the package is placed on top of the lower susceptibility or more highly insulated side of the panel, so as to reduce the amount of energy which is transferred to the food, thereby providing high yield without damage or burn-through of the package.
  • a container or bag 30 holding edible ingredients 35 may be prepared from a transparent material, however, non-transparent material, such as paper, may also be utilized.
  • the material from which the container is formed must be substantially transparent to microwave energy, and able to withstand the temperatures reached during microwave cooking.
  • the material from which the container is made is also preferably impervious to any cooking oils or fats packaged with the food item. Suitable materials include films of polyesters, polycarbonates and nylon.
  • a preferred film is polyethylene terephthalate film coated on one side with a copolyester or other material, such as polyvinyl alcohol, that allows for heat sealing.
  • the material from which the container is made has sufficiently low water and vapor permeability to allow for a long shelf-life of the packaged ingredients. If the container is not made from such a barrier material, as, for example, a paper bag, it may be overwrapped with a barrier material, such as a polyester film, to provide barrier protection. The overwrap is removed by the consumer prior to placing the microwave package in the oven.
  • a barrier material such as a polyester film
  • the package of this invention is a 0.5 mil polyester bag made in the pleated arrangement disclosed in U.S. 4,810,844 - Anderson, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
  • a typical bag 30, according to this invention is shown in Figure 3.
  • the bag 30 may have side panels measuring 7 x 12 inches, a bottom panel measuring 4 x 12 inches, corners of the bottom panel being joined to corners of the side panel so that the inside surface area of the bottom panel measures approximately 32 square inches (versus 48 square inches for the outside surface of the bottom panel) .
  • a bag of the size described above would preferably be packed to hold about 3 to 4 ounces of edible popcorn ingredients, including unpopped corn, oil and/or butter, salt and optional flavoring ingredients. Edible popcorn ingredients are placed inside the bag which is capable of standing substantially upright with the popcorn ingredients resting on the bottom.
  • the bag In use, the bag is placed on top of the cooking optimizer panel in the configuration which will lead to the optimum results.
  • the popping optimizer panel In the practice of this invention, the popping optimizer panel is placed in the desired configuration on the floor of the microwave oven, the bag containing the edible popcorn ingredients is placed on top of it, and the popping process is begun. It has been found that yields equivalent to that obtainable with prior art containers are obtained, and that there is no burn-through of the thin polyester bag during the popping process.
  • the food item can be packaged directly in a low-cost bag of practically any configuration
  • a suitably shaped cooking optimizer panel can be provided along with the bag, and the entire combination provided in a retail container designed for consumer appeal.
  • the cooking optimizer panel will be useful for the microwave cooking of any low density food, or for microwave preparation of light loads, on the order of a half pound or less.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention décrit un procédé de cuisson dans un four à micro-ondes, dans lequel on place les ingrédients comestibles dans un récipient transparent à l'énergie de micro-ondes. Un panneau d'optimisation de cuisson (11) comportant deux faces (12, 14) possédant une sensibilité différente à l'énergie de micro-ondes est placé sous le récipient contenant les produits alimentaires, selon une disposition déterminée par la puissance du four à micro-ondes.
PCT/US1991/002963 1991-04-29 1991-04-29 Structure servant a convertir l'energie de micro-ondes en chaleur et procede d'utilisation WO1992020199A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1991/002963 WO1992020199A1 (fr) 1991-04-29 1991-04-29 Structure servant a convertir l'energie de micro-ondes en chaleur et procede d'utilisation

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1991/002963 WO1992020199A1 (fr) 1991-04-29 1991-04-29 Structure servant a convertir l'energie de micro-ondes en chaleur et procede d'utilisation

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992020199A1 true WO1992020199A1 (fr) 1992-11-12

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1991/002963 WO1992020199A1 (fr) 1991-04-29 1991-04-29 Structure servant a convertir l'energie de micro-ondes en chaleur et procede d'utilisation

Country Status (1)

Country Link
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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6960748B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2005-11-01 Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc. Collapsible microwave popcorn box

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4190757A (en) * 1976-10-08 1980-02-26 The Pillsbury Company Microwave heating package and method
US4553010A (en) * 1983-07-05 1985-11-12 James River-Norwalk, Inc. Packaging container for microwave popcorn popping and method for using
US4592914A (en) * 1983-06-15 1986-06-03 James River-Dixie/Northern, Inc. Two-blank disposable container for microwave food cooking
US4735513A (en) * 1985-06-03 1988-04-05 Golden Valley Microwave Foods Inc. Flexible packaging sheets
US4748308A (en) * 1987-01-12 1988-05-31 Drews Robert C Microwave oven toaster
US4794005A (en) * 1986-02-14 1988-12-27 James River Corporation Package assembly including a multi-surface, microwave interactive tray
US4864090A (en) * 1988-10-24 1989-09-05 General Mills, Inc. Bag utilizing a microwave susceptor pad and non-heated flap

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4190757A (en) * 1976-10-08 1980-02-26 The Pillsbury Company Microwave heating package and method
US4592914A (en) * 1983-06-15 1986-06-03 James River-Dixie/Northern, Inc. Two-blank disposable container for microwave food cooking
US4553010A (en) * 1983-07-05 1985-11-12 James River-Norwalk, Inc. Packaging container for microwave popcorn popping and method for using
US4735513A (en) * 1985-06-03 1988-04-05 Golden Valley Microwave Foods Inc. Flexible packaging sheets
US4794005A (en) * 1986-02-14 1988-12-27 James River Corporation Package assembly including a multi-surface, microwave interactive tray
US4748308A (en) * 1987-01-12 1988-05-31 Drews Robert C Microwave oven toaster
US4864090A (en) * 1988-10-24 1989-09-05 General Mills, Inc. Bag utilizing a microwave susceptor pad and non-heated flap

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6960748B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2005-11-01 Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc. Collapsible microwave popcorn box

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