Packages for and methods of packaging food products

A method of making popcorn using an expandable package, the method comprising:

• assembling the expandable package from
• virgin fiber paperboard;
• sealing popcorn corn in a plastic bag;
• removing the popcorn corn from the plastic bag and pouring the popcorn corn into the expandable package, the expandable package comprising:
• an inner box portion having a first closed end, a first side wall surrounding said first closed end, a first open end opposite said first closed end, and an outwardly folded flap portion of the first side wall adjacent the first open end;
• and an outer box portion having a second closed end, a second side wall surrounding said second closed end, a second open end opposite said second closed end, and an inwardly folded flap portion of the second side wall adjacent the second open end, wherein the inner box portion and the outer box portion are telescopingly engaged together such that the inner box portion moves within the outer box portion to form a closed box with a variable internal volume, wherein:
• the second open end faces the first closed end;
• and the first open end faces the second closed end;
• closing the popcorn corn within the variable internal volume of the expandable package;
• causing the popcorn corn to expand to pressurize the closed box such that the variable internal volume increases;
• when the expandable package expands to a partially expanded state, displaying a first visual indicator of the variable internal volume of the expanding package on the first side wall;
• when the expandable package expands to a fully expanded state where the inwardly folding flap portion engages the outwardly folding flap portion preventing further expansion, displaying a second visual indicator of the variable internal volume of the expandable package on the first side wall;
• after the expandable package is in the fully expanded state, inserting a setting tab on an edge of the second sidewall into a radial depression of the first sidewall to prevent the expandable package from collapsing and to maintain the expandable package in the fully expanded state;
• and
• after the setting tab is inserted into the radial depression, opening interlocking tabs on the second closed end to open the second closed end thereby opening the closed box for access to the variable internal volume.

A method of making popcorn using an expandable package, the method comprising:

• providing an expandable package comprising:
• an inner box portion having a first closed end, a first side wall surrounding said first closed end, a first open end opposite said first closed end, and an outwardly folded flap portion of the first side wall adjacent the first open end;
• and
• an outer box portion having a second closed end, a second side wall surrounding said second closed end, a second open end opposite said second closed end, and an inwardly folded flap portion of the second side wall adjacent the second open end, wherein the inner box portion and the outer box portion are configured to be telescopingly engaged together such that the inner box portion moves within the outer box portion to form a closed box with a variable internal volume, wherein:
• the second open end faces the first closed end;
• and the first open end faces the second closed end;
• filling the expandable package with popcorn corn;
• closing the popcorn corn within the variable internal volume of the expandable package;
• causing the popcorn corn to expand to pressurize the closed box such that the variable internal volume increases until the inwardly folding flap portion engages the outwardly folding flap portion preventing further expansion of said expandable package in a fully expanded state;
• and
• after the expandable package is in the fully expanded state, operating a setting tab on an edge of the second side wall to engage the first side wall to maintain the variable internal volume at a current volume.