WO2009004015A1

WO2009004015A1 - Stand-up pouch for steam cooking and steam cooking method

Info

Publication number: WO2009004015A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/058470
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertrand Bonnefoux
Original assignee: Pro-Portions S.A.
Priority date: 2007-07-03
Filing date: 2008-07-02
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: EP2011742A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pouch for packaging food products, of the stand-up type, so that it can be used for steam cooking in a microwave oven. The pouch comprises one or more vents to allow some of the steam generated by the cooking process to escape. The vent is produced either in the form of perforations, giving a permanent opening, or by a weakening of the weld along either or both side edges connecting the two vertical walls of the pouch. There may preferably be a precut halfway up the pouch, or slightly lower than this, to allow the pouch to be torn horizontally and used as a “dish”, that is to say, to allow the user to eat conveniently directly from the pouch.

Description

Description Vertical hold bag for steam cooking and steam cooking method

Technical area

The invention relates to the packaging of food, especially food congeiés. to be able to steam them in a microwave oven.

State of the art

[0002] It is known from US 2006/0188118 A to use a semi-rigid type hermetic bag for the storage, dispensing and cooking of microwaves of foods. The packaging described therein comprises a flexible bag portion wrapping a rigid portion serving as a bottom and made, for example, polypropylene or food carton. The package also includes a bell-shaped vent device to open under the pressure generated by the steam generation during cooking.

This packaging however requires a high accuracy of realization of the vent and, moreover, is not suitable for cooking frozen products. Indeed, the food products for which this packaging is designed are of the sterilized products type and therefore already cooked, which must then be stored in a completely sealed environment. It is for this reason that the vent is designed to open only in the presence of steam inside the bag. In addition, reheating or lightly baking products already partially cooked and sterilized generates much less water vapor than cooking products congeiés. Such a vent is therefore not sized to evacuate the production of steam resulting from the cooking of frozen products.

[0004] A packaging of the vertical holding bag type is known from GB 2 414226 A. This packaging is completely waterproof and is intended exclusively for the storage and reheating of pre-cooked and sterilized foods. It comprises different variants of weakened welding bypassing a steam passage zone. As for the conditioning discussed above, the steam production Microwave heating is certainly high but relatively low. This is why the compiex and small section devices of these two documents are not at all suitable for steam cooking, in particular for frozen products.

The object of this invention is to allow the end consumer to easily cook in a natural and healthy way with steam in the microwave oven food overloaded or fresh without first opening the bag holding vertically and reduce the environmental impact impact in a ratio 5 to 7 in favor of the invention compared to wood or other trays already known.

Disclosure of the invention

The aforementioned problem is solved by a packaging bag for frozen food products comprising

- a first piece of plastic film;

a second piece of plastic fiim of a size similar to that of the first piece;

a third piece of plastic film folded in two and connected to the lower edges and the bottom of the lateral edges of the first and second superimposed pieces and connected together by their lateral edges so as to form a vertical holding bag when it is filled and where the first and / or second piece of plastic fi lm has on its upper half at least one permanent opening in the form of perforation and the films are laminates resistant from -25 ° C to + 100 ° C so as to allow the steam cooking frozen foods using a microwave oven.

Preferably Ia or the permanent openings is / are essentially centered (es) along a horizontal axis. [0008] The permanent opening or openings can be essentially

located in an area between half and two-thirds of the height of the bag. [0009] The bag may have several permanent openings on at least one of the first and second pieces of film and in that the openings on the same piece of fiim are grouped together. Preferably the permanent opening or openings is / are réaiisé (es) enièvemenî material. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a packaging bag for food products comprising

- a first piece of plastic film;

a second piece of plastic film of a size similar to that of the first piece;

- A third piece of plastic film piiέ in two and reiié at the lower edges and the bottom of the side edges of the first and second superimposed pieces and connected together by welding their side edges so as to form a bag holding vertically when it is full ; and wherein at least one of the side edges of the first and second films bonded together by welding comprises in its upper half an area where the weld is weakened.

Preferably the zone where the weld is weakened is essentially in the form of a horizontal line. Preferably, the zone where the weld is weakened is essentially in the form of an inverted V. The sachet may comprise at least one precut zone at one of its lateral edges at a height approximately equal to or less than half the total height of the sachet. The bag may be provided with a laser pre-cut at the height of the precut area so as to ensure controlled cutting of the bag. A method for cooking frozen food is also proposed, consisting in

- place frozen foods in a packaging bag,

- close the bag once filled in order to distribute it,

- Cook food by placing the packaging bag without opening it in a microwave oven. and wherein the packaging bag is a holding bag comprising at least two vertical walls and a wall serving as a bottom and comprises at least one permanent opening by perforation in the upper part of one of its vertical walls. [0017] Preferably, the permanent openings are / are essentially centered on a horizontal axis. [0018] Preferably, the permanent openings (5) are / are essentially located in an area between one-half and two-thirds of the height of the bag. The bag may comprise several permanent openings on at least one of the vertical walls and in that the openings on the same wall are grouped together. Preferably, the permanent openings are made by removal of material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical holding bag for the packaging of frozen foods (plain vegetables, cooked vegetables, fish, ready meals, etc.). FIG. 2 illustrates a bag with vertical hold. for the packaging of fresh liquid ingredients (omelettes, tortiϋas, cake dough, soups, marinades, grouts, etc.). [0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a bag with vertical holding for the conditioning of fresh sod food (vegetables, cooked dishes, fish, etc.). [0024] Figure 4 shows a view from below to the holding bag seion the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [0025] The vertical holding packaging bag illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a first piece of plastic film 1, a second piece of passthrough 2 identical to the first one forming the side walls of the bag and a third piece 3 serving as a base and bottom to the bag.

The pieces 1 and 2 are superimposed and soldered along their lateral edges 4. The third piece is folded in half along the dotted line and connected to the other two 1, 2 also by welding at the lower edges 8 and at the bottom of the side edges 4.

Preferably, the lateral zones of the piece 3 forming the bottom of the bag are welded to the corresponding areas of the pieces 1 and 2 forming the walls so as to form triangular zones 9. These are able to deviate from each other at each end to the bag so as to stiffffier the bag and allow vertical holding once filled.

On the top of the bag and the side edges 4 this weld gives a thickness of 4 layers of film (in the case of a duplex film and 6 layers of film in the case of a triplex film) and allows the end consumer can take out the dish immediately after cooking steam in the microwave without waiting for cooling and especially without getting burned.

As soon as the microwave cooking is complete, the bag is taken directly without waiting time and instinctively between two fingers by one of the corners of the bag holding vertically.

Reference 6 designates a pre-cut allowing a tear initiation, thus making easy opening office for the vertical holding bag, ie the consumer no longer needs to use a knife or a pair of scissors to open the bag .

The reference 7 designates a tear primer made at 50 to 60 mm from the base, but it is complemented by a laser pre-cut to ensure a straight opening of the bag holding vertically. In some applications of ready meals or steam vegetables as in the automatic distribution, it is necessary to be able to consume the product directly in repackaging.

The use of a polyethylene oriented in the composition of the duplex also makes it possible to open the bag vertically holding rectilinear manner.

After opening, we obtain a holding bag that easily holds in the hand and is like a bowl.

The elevation of the bottom of about 15 mm allows the positioning of food to steam at the optimal distance of the microwave generator (magnetron). At 15 mm above the turntable the absorption of microwaves is maximum. For this reason we do not have the phenomena of ultra hot point and cold spots, as on the reheating of trays or other bowls. The bag of the figure which is specifically designed for applications for frozen products has 2 vents 5, one on each side of the film are placed between 5 and 7 cm from the top with a diameter of 0.4 to 0.8 mm depending on the required cooking time (the smaller the holes, the more the pressure increases and the cooking is fast and vice versa). Mastering the diameter and positioning is an essential element of the invention.

Indeed, during the firing stage the vertical holding bag is placed vertically in the microwave oven and after one minute at 900 Watts, a column of steam will form and we will thanks to a position vertical use natural convection movements (unlike different horizontal systems such as trays or woods for example).

A very homogeneous stirring will occur in the pouch holding vertical and will thus allow to steam food very homogeneously.

This cooking is done <stifled in foil since no previous opening of the bag is necessary. We do not need to add water for cooking, because this process uses only water naturally present in the food used.

This allows us to have a maximum energy exchange over a minimum of time in a confined volume which allows us to keep the nutritional value of food, to preserve their texture, taste and natural flavors constituents ies food .

The same advantages as Ia fig. 1 applies to the vents 3 of Figure 2.

The bag illustrated in Figure 2 allows the packaging of fresh solid products (vegetables _: meat, fish, cooked piats) under modified atmosphere (binary mixture of CO2 and N2).

The same advantages as for FIG. 1 apply to the vents of FIG. 3.

This application allows the packaging of liquid products under modified atmosphere (binary mixture of CO2 and N2) Thanks to this latest version of the invention, we have succeeded in making omelettes in the microwave as well as cakes based on a chocolate device and clafoutis apparatus.

[0043] Indeed, during the packaging we dose the whole liquid egg and the other constituents of the orneiette (tardons »potatoes etc.) also applying to chocolate devices and clafoutis we add fruits and we after steaming, we obtain ready-to-eat cakes, hot directly from the microwave oven.

When steaming microwaves, we obtain an omeieite, whose shape is oval as the bottom of the bag holding vertically (Fig. 4.)

Compared to the cooking time you can get a well cooked omelette or "slobbery".

After coagulation of the proteins and during the formation of i'αmelette during the cooking step, after easy opening of the bag holding vertically you have an omelette ready to consume on your plate.

If we use the easy opening in the low position, the omelette can be consumed directly in the vertical holding bag.

Steam cooking directly in the vertical holding bag serving as mold said cake dough or omelette base is then demolded by reversing the invention, the cake or omelette sliding in the plate very easily through to the flexible property of the invention.

Claims

claims

1. Packaging bag for frozen food products comprising

- a first piece (1) of film in plastic material;

a second piece (2) of plastic film of a size similar to that of the first piece;

- a third piece (3) of plastic film folded in two and connected to the lower edges (8) and the bottom (9) of the lateral edges of the first and second pieces (1, 2) superimposed and interconnected by their edges laterally (4) so as to form a holding bag when filled; characterized in that the first and / or second piece of plastic film has on its upper half at least one permanent opening {5} in the form of perforation and the fiims are laminates resistant from -25 ° C to + 100 ° C so as to allow steam cooking of frozen foods by means of a microwave oven.

2. Packaging bag according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the or the permanent openings (5) is / are essentially centered (es) along a horizontal axis.

3. Packaging bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or the permanent openings (5) is / are essentially located in an area between half and two thirds of the height of the bag.

4. Packaging bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bag has several permanent openings (5) on at least one of the first and second pieces (1, 2) of fiim and in that the openings on a same piece of film are grouped together.

5. Packaging bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ia or the permanent openings (5) is / are made (e) by removal of material.

8. Packaging bag for food products comprising

a first piece (1) of plastic film;

a second piece (2) of plastic fiim of a size similar to that at the first piece; a third piece (3) of plastic film folded in two and connected to the lower edges (8) and the bottom (9) of the lateral edges of the first and second pieces (1 2) superimposed and interconnected by welding of the side edges (4) so as to form a vertically held bag when filled; characterized in that at least one of the lateral edges (4) of the first and second films (1, 2) connected together by welding comprises in its upper half a zone (10, 11) where the weld is weakened.

7. Packaging bag according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the zone where the weld is weakened is essentially in the form of a horizontal line (10).

8. Packaging bag according to claim 6, characterized in that the zone where the weld is weakened is essentially in the form of an inverted V (11).

9. Packaging bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one precut zone (7) at one of its lateral edges (4) at a height approximately equal to or less than half the total height of the bag.

10. Packaging bag according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bag is provided with a laser precut height of the precut area (7) so as to ensure a controlled cutting of the bag.

11. Method of cooking frozen foods consisting of

- place the frozen foods in a packing bag,

- close the bag once filled in order to be able to distribute it,

- Cooking his food by placing the packaging bag without opening it in a microwave oven, characterized in that the packaging bag is a holding bag comprising at least two vertical walls (1, 2) and a wall (3) serving as a bottom and comprises at least one permanent opening (5) by perforation in the upper part of one of its vertical walls.

12. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that ia or ies permanent openings (5) is / are substantially centered (e) along a horizontal axis.

13. Method according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that ia or ies permanent openings (5) is / are essentially located (es) in an area between half and two thirds of the height of the bag.

14. Method according to one of claims 11-13, characterized in that the bag has several permanent openings (5) on at least one of the vertical walls and in that the openings (5) on the same wall are grouped together.

15. Method according to one of claims 11-14, characterized in that the or the permanent openings (δ) is / are made (e) by removal of material.

16. Method according to one of claims 11-15, characterized in that the frozen food placed in the packaging bag comprise a device of the payroll type cake or omelette base and in that the method allows the cooking of said apparatus directly in the mold bag, said apparatus being then removed from the bag after cooking.