Apparatus and process for marinating foodstuffs

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly;
• a support surface defined by said base assembly;
• a removable cover disposed over said support surface;
• sealing means disposed about said support surface and adapted to abut said cover for forming an air-tight seal therebetween;
• a vacuum port disposed in said support surface;
• a vacuum pump assembly carried by said base assembly in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from the interior of said cover through said port to reduce the pressure within said cover to about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• and means for activating and deactivating said pump assembly, said support surface defining a honeycomb structure on the underside thereof to prevent said surface from being deformed and drawn partially into said cover upon the pressure within said cover being reduced by said vacuum pump assembly.

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly including a bottom wall portion, a side wall portion, and an upper wall portion;
• a support surface defined by said upper wall portion;
• an annular sealing member disposed in said upper wall portion and extending about said support surface;
• a removable cover adapted to be disposed over said support surface and in sealing engagement with said annular sealing member;
• a vacuum port disposed in said upper wall portion of said base assembly;
• a vacuum pump assembly disposed within said base assembly and carried by said bottom wall portion thereof, said vacuum pump assembly being in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from the interior of said cover through said port to reduce the pressure within said cover to about 15-27 in Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• means for activating said pump assembly;
• means for deactivating said pump assembly upon the passage of a predetermined amount of time;
• and means for returning the pressure within said cover to atmospheric upon deactivation of said pump assembly.

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly including a first generally planar and rigid fluid impermeable support surface and a second support surface, said second surface being disposed laterally adjacent said first surface;
• an annular sealing member disposed about the perimeter of said first support surface;
• a removable cover adapted to be disposed over said first support surface and abut said annular sealing member forming an air-tight seal therebetween and defining an air-tight chamber within said cover;
• a vacuum port disposed in said first support surface;
• a vacuum pump assembly disposed on said second support surface, said vacuum pump assembly being in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from said chamber through said port to reduce the pressure within said chamber to about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• and means for activating and deactivating said pump assembly.

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly including a first support surface and a second support surface, said second surface being disposed adjacent said first surface;
• an annular sealing member disposed about said first support surface;
• a removable cover adapted to be disposed over said first support surface and in sealing engagement with said annular sealing member;
• a vacuum port disposed in said first support surface;
• a vacuum pump assembly disposed on said second support surface, said vacuum pump assembly being in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from the interior of said cover through said port to reduce the pressure within said cover to about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• and means for activating and deactivating said pump assembly, said support surface defining a honeycomb structure on the underside thereof to prevent said surface from being deformed and drawn partially into said cover upon the pressure within said cover being reduced by said vacuum pump assembly.

A process for marinating foodstuffs in a short period of time consisting only of the steps of:

• placing the foodstuffs in a marinade in an air-tight vessel;
• reducing the pressure within the vessel to a level of about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• allowing the foodstuffs to remain at rest in the marinade for about 3-5 minutes;
• introducing air into the vessel to raise the pressure therein to atmospheric;
• and removing the foodstuffs from the marinade.

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly;
• a support surface defined by said base assembly;
• an annular recess in said base assembly disposed about said support surface;
• a removable cover disposed over said support surface;
• an annular sealing ring generally "U"-shaped in cross section disposed in said recess, extending about said support surface and adapted to abut said cover for forming an air-tight sealed therebetween;
• a vacuum port disposed in said support surface;
• a vacuum pump assembly carried by said base assembly in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from the interior of said cover through said port to reduce the pressure within said cover to about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• and means for activating and deactivating said pump assembly.

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly including a first generally planar and rigid fluid impermeable support surface, an annular recess disposed about said first support surface and a second support surface, said second surface being disposed adjacent a portion of said recess;
• an annular sealing member disposed in said recess and extending about said first support surface;
• a removable cover adapted to be disposed over and about said first support surface and abut said annular sealing member for forming an air-tight seal therebetween and defining an air-tight chamber within said cover;
• a vacuum port disposed in said first support surface;
• a vacuum pump assembly disposed on said second support surface, said vacuum pump assembly being in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from said chamber through said port to reduce the pressure within said chamber to about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• and means for activating and deactivating said pump assembly.

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly defining a rigid fluid impermeable support surface and a first interior chamber disposed below said support surface:
• an annular sealing member disposed about the perimeter of said support surface;
• a removable cover adapted to be disposed over and about said support surface and abut said annular sealing member for forming an air-tight seal therebetween and defining an air-tight chamber within said cover;
• a vacuum port disposed in said support surface communicating with said air-tight chamber;
• a vacuum pump assembly disposed in said first interior chamber and in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from said chamber through said port to reduce the pressure within said air-tight chamber to about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• and means for activating and deactivating said pump assembly.

An apparatus for marinating foodstuffs in a marinade comprising:

• a base assembly including a first rigid fluid impermeable support surface and a second support surface disposed laterally adjacent said first surface;
• an annular sealing member extending between said first and second support surfaces and disposed about the perimeter of said first support surface;
• a removable cover adapted to be disposed over said first support surface and abut said annular sealing member forming an air-tight seal therebetween and defining an air-tight chamber within said cover;
• a vacuum port disposed in said first support surface;
• a vacuum pump assembly disposed on said second support surface, said vacuum pump assembly being in fluid communication with said port for withdrawing air from said chamber through said port to reduce the pressure within said air-tight chamber to about 15-27 in. Hg. below atmospheric pressure;
• and means for activating and deactivating said pump assembly.