Nonwoven microwave thawing apparatus
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsThomas E. Haskett, Mark W. Nelson, Diane L. Regnier, Diane R. Wolk
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Abstract
A food thawing article for evenly thawing frozen food in a microwave is disclosed. The food thawing article comprises an impermeable film backing, an absorbent layer adjacent the impermeable film backing, and a liquid permeable surface layer comprising a plurality of apertures covering the absorbent layer, opposite the impermeable film backing. A liquid is dispersed throughout the absorbent layer. The impermeable film backing is placed adjacent a frozen food item such that when the food thawing article is exposed to microwave energy, the liquid is heated and the heat is transferred to the food to thaw the food.
Claims18
A food thawing article comprising:
- an impermeable film backing;
- an absorbent layer adjacent the impermeable film backing;
- a liquid permeable surface layer comprising a plurality of apertures covering the absorbent layer, opposite the impermeable film backing;
- wherein a liquid is dispersed throughout the absorbent layer;
- and
- wherein the impermeable film backing is placed adjacent a frozen food item such that when the food thawing article is exposed to microwave energy, the liquid is heated and the heat is transferred to the food to thaw the food.
A food thawing article consisting of:
- an impermeable film backing;
- and
- an absorbent layer adjacent the impermeable film backing;
- wherein a liquid is dispersed throughout the absorbent layer;
- and
- wherein the impermeable film backing is placed adjacent a frozen food item such that when the food thawing article is exposed to microwave energy, the liquid is heated and the heat is transferred to the food to thaw the food.
A food thawing article comprising:
- an upper sheet comprising:
- a first impermeable film backing;
- an absorbent layer adjacent the impermeable film backing
- a liquid permeable surface layer comprising a plurality of apertures covering the absorbent layer, opposite the impermeable film backing;
- a lower sheet consisting essentially of a second impermeable film backing;
- wherein the upper sheet is attached to the lower sheet such that the first and second impermeable film backings form a pocket;
- wherein a liquid is passed through the liquid permeable surface layer and absorbed into the absorbent layer, and wherein a frozen food item is placed in the pocket and exposed to microwave energy to heat the liquid and the heat is transferred to the food to thaw the food.
A method of thawing frozen food comprising:
- providing a food thawing article comprising an impermeable film backing, a liquid containing absorbent layer adjacent the impermeable film backing, and a liquid permeable surface layer comprising a plurality of apertures covering the liquid containing absorbent layer, opposite the impermeable film backing;
- placing the impermeable film backing over a frozen food item;
- exposing the liquid to microwave energy to heat the liquid in the absorbent layer;
- transferring the heat within the absorbent layer to the frozen food.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.