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US 2021/0403222 A1Published application
Microwaveable packaged food product
AssigneeHormel Foods Corporation
InventorsKathryn M. Birchmeier, Judith G. Moca, Rachel Catherine Brown, Jennifer L.K. Rich, David L. Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A package containing nuts and suitable for microwave heating is described herein. The package is configured to heat the nuts and provide an aroma reminiscent of traditional, freshly-roasted nuts. The freshly-roasted nut attributes include an aroma, temperature, texture and taste, which are reproduced with the microwave package. The package preferably, though not necessarily, incorporates one or more susceptors in order to provide additional heating, such as conductive heating, to the nuts. The package also preferably includes a sufficient headspace to allow for the aromas to develop.
Claims23
1-18. (canceled)
A packaged food product, comprising:
- a flexible film forming a pouch having an interior cavity formed by a first end seal and a second end seal with a longitudinal fin seal extending therebetween, the flexible film pouch being substantially hermetically sealed in a closed configuration;
- at least one susceptor disposed on a majority of an interior surface of the flexible film pouch without contacting the first end seal, the second end seal, or the fin seal;
- about 0.75 oz. to about 2.00 oz. pasteurized or at least partially roasted shelled nuts disposed within the interior cavity of the flexible film pouch, the shelled nuts having been pasteurized or at least partially roasted prior to being disposed within the flexible film pouch;
- a coating on the shelled nuts being one of:
- a sweet glaze on the shelled nuts, wherein the sweet glaze and the shelled nuts have a combined moisture level within the range of 1.0% to 1.6%;
- or
- a savory coating on the shelled nuts, wherein the savory coating and the shelled nuts have a combined moisture level within the range of 1.5% to 2.6%;
- wherein the packaged food product is configured and arranged to be heated in a microwave oven in the closed configuration to roast the shelled nuts to a temperature of about 120° F. to about 260° F.;
- and
- wherein the coating and the at least one susceptor are configured and arranged to moderate heating of the shelled nuts by absorbing and/or reflecting microwave energy thereby reducing an amount of microwave energy absorbed by the shelled nuts and increasing homogeneity of heating the shelled nuts.
7 more elements
A packaged food product, comprising:
- a flexible film forming a pouch having an interior cavity formed by a bottom wall portion and a top wall portion, the bottom wall portion and the top wall portion being interconnected by a first end seal and a second end seal, a longitudinal fin seal extends between the first end seal and the second end seal on the top wall portion, the flexible film pouch including a barrier the flexible film pouch being substantially hermetically sealed in a closed configuration;
- at least one susceptor disposed on a majority of an interior surface of the flexible film pouch on the bottom wall portion and the top wall portion without contacting the first end seal, the second end seal, or the fin seal;
- about 0.75 oz. to about 2.00 oz. pasteurized or at least partially roasted shelled nuts disposed within the interior cavity of the flexible film pouch, the shelled nuts having been pasteurized or at least partially roasted prior to being disposed within the flexible film pouch;
- a coating on the shelled nuts being one of:
- a sweet glaze on the shelled nuts, wherein the sweet glaze and the shelled nuts have a combined moisture level within the range of 1.0% to 1.6%;
- or
- a savory coating on the shelled nuts, wherein the savory coating and the shelled nuts have a combined moisture level within the range of 1.5% to 2.6%;
- a headspace between the shelled nuts and the flexible film;
- wherein the packaged food product is configured and arranged to be heated in a microwave oven in the closed configuration to roast the shelled nuts to a temperature of about 120° F. to about 260° F., and wherein the first end seal, the second end seal, and the fin seal are configured and arranged to remain sealed and not rupture during microwave heating;
- and
- wherein the coating and the at least one susceptor are configured and arranged to moderate heating of the shelled nuts by absorbing and/or reflecting microwave energy thereby reducing an amount of microwave energy absorbed by the shelled nuts and increasing homogeneity of heating the shelled nuts.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.