Microwave food packets capable of dispersing a food additive during heating
OwnerDarrell C. Burdetteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microwave food package for preparing foods such as shelf-stable popcorn containing a packet of food additive or flavoring which is automatically dispersed over the food product when the package is heated by microwave radiation within the microwave oven during the cooking cycle. The package is constructed from a paper/polyester laminate and includes vent holes covered with a heat softenable polypropylene film for regulating the pressure and temperature within the package. The packet containing the additive or flavoring is also constructed from a polypropylene film which softens and eventually tears under heat and pressure within the package to disperse its contents over the product.
Claims28
A package for heating a food product within a conventional microwave oven comprising a flexible bag-like container having an interior cavity, a food product disposed within said cavity, and a flexible pouch-like packet disposed and secured within said cavity overlying said food product, a food additive sealed within said packet, at least a portion of said container being transmissive to microwave radiation of the type produced by the microwave oven so as to heat the food product without substantial heating of the package, said packet including means for automatically rupturing said packet and dispersing the additive over the food product without external manipulation of the packet when the package with the packet therein is exposed to microwave radiation within the microwave oven while the food product is being heated.
A self-contained package for popping corn in a microwave oven comprising:
- an expandable bag-like container fabricated from a flexible material generally transmissive to microwave radiation of the type produced in a microwave oven and having upper and lower spaced wall sections forming an interior cavity therebetween;
- a plurality of popcorn kernels disposed within said container;
- a flexible pouch-like packet having an interior cavity attached to the interior surface of said upper wall section within said container cavity such that the packet overlies the kernels when the package is disposed within a microwave oven with said upper wall section uppermost;
- and
- a food additive sealed within said packet cavity, said packet having at least a portion thereof formed from a thermoplastic film which softens and then tears without external manipulation of the packet when the package is exposed to said microwave radiation to cause said additive to fall downwardly onto the poped corn kernels.
A self-contained package for popping corn in a microwave oven comprising:
- an exandable bag-like container fabricated from a flexible paper material generally transmissive to microwave radiation of the type produced in a microwave oven, said container having upper and lower spaced wall sections joined by gussetted side panels to form an interior cavity therebetween, said container being provided with a plurality of openings for releasing pressure within said cavity when the package is exposed to microwave radiation in the microwave oven;
- a plurality of popcorn kernels disposed within said container on the interior surface of said lower wall section when the package is disposed within the microwave oven with said upper spaced wall section uppermost, said popcorn kernels havng a popping temperature of about 160.degree. C. and a moisture content of about 14.5%-16%;
- a flexible pouch-like packet having an interior cavity attached to the interior surface of said upper wall section within said container cavity such that the packet overlies the kernels when the package is disposed within a microwave oven with said upper wall section uppermost, at least a portion of said packet being formed from a thermoplastic film having a softening temperature of about 160.degree. C.-180.degree. C.;
- and
- a quantity of 76.degree. coconut oil sealed within said filling at least 75% of said packet cavity, whereby said popcorn kernels are popped and said thermoplastic film softens and then tears without external manipulation of the packet when the package is exposed to said microwave radiation to cause the coconut oil in a melted state to fall downwardly onto the popped kernels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.