Shelf-stable pouch for fresh-packed fruits or vegetables
OwnerMichael Infante, Marcus S. Jones +2inventors
InventorsMichael Infante, Marcus S. Jones, Monica J. Turel, Louise Jacques-O'Hare
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly may include a shelf-stable pouch for fruits or vegetables. The assembly may comprise a pouch having a closed condition and an open configuration. The closed configuration may be configured to seal portions of at least one of the fruits and vegetables and brine prior to heating the pouch for pasteurization. The open condition may allow for the removal and serving of the portions after pasteurization from heating.
Claims15
-20. (canceled)
A method for a shelf-stable pouch for fresh fruits or vegetables, the method comprising:
- combining a brine and portions of at least one of a fresh fruit and a vegetable in a pouch to provide a combined brine and portions, the pouch having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, the third layer including a metal foil or a metallized film;
- positioning, while the combined brine and portions are in the pouch, an injector above or in the brine and passing an inert gas into the pouch while the combined brine and portions are in the pouch to remove oxygen from the pouch;
- sealing the pouch prior to pasteurization to form a sealed pouch having the combined brine and portions;
- heating the sealed pouch for pasteurization of the portions in the brine;
- and
- cooling the sealed pouch after pasteurization from the heating, thereby providing the shelf-stable pouch configured for ambient storage of the combined brine and portions.
A method for a shelf-stable pouch for fresh fruits or vegetables, the method comprising:
- combining a brine and portions of at least one of a fresh fruit and a vegetable in a pouch to provide a combined brine and portions, the pouch having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, the third layer including a metal foil or a metallized film;
- positioning, while the combined brine and portions are in the pouch, an injector above or in the brine and passing an inert gas into the pouch while the combined brine and portions are in the pouch to remove oxygen from the pouch;
- sealing the pouch prior to pasteurization to form a sealed pouch having the combined brine and portions;
- and
- heating the sealed pouch for pasteurization of the combined brine and portions to subsequently provide the shelf-stable pouch configured for ambient storage of the combined brine and portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.