Food product, cooking apparatus, and storing device

• US 20080069485A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ConAgra Foods (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ConAgra Foods (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miskovsky, Anna, Roesler, Natalie, Kurz, Sharla, France, David W., Baker, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US11/903,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 383/117
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3422 Cooking rice dishes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3425 Cooking a complete meal, e.g. TV-dinners
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3427 Cooking vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3432 the secondary product, e.g. flavouring sauce, being enclosed in a second package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3433 to add moisture to the product, e.g. steaming B65D81/3438 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3438 specially adapted to be heated by steaming

Abstract

The storing device comprises a segment of a mesh material and an end for securing the mesh material. The secured mesh material is suitable for storing various items. The food product comprises a cooking apparatus and a foodstuff. The cooking apparatus comprises a steam permeable component for steam cooking a foodstuff. The cooking apparatus may further comprise a bag and/or a packet for steaming the foodstuff. The cooking apparatus allows concurrent steaming of the steam permeable component and the packet and/or the bag for steaming the foodstuff to substantial simultaneous steaming completion.

Claims

1. A storing device, comprising:

a segment of a mesh material; and

an end for securing the segment of the mesh material,

wherein the segment of the mesh material is suitable for being filled with items without releasing the items.

2. The storing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the items comprise at least one of a foodstuff or a processed food item.

3. The storing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the segment of mesh material comprises about 50% high density polyethylene, about 30% polypropylene copolymer, and about 20% ethylene vinyl acetate.

4. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

a segment of a mesh material; and

an end for securing the segment of the mesh material,

wherein the segment of the mesh material is suitable for being filled with a foodstuff and secured at the end to form a steam permeable component suitable for steaming the foodstuff without releasing the foodstuff.

5. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the end is at least one of ultrasonic sealing, heat sealing, induction sealing, ties, or binders.

6. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mesh material is formed of about 50% high density polyethylene, about 30% polypropylene copolymer, and about 20% ethylene vinyl acetate.

7. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mesh material comprises openings sized from 1 millimeters to 10 millimeters in diameter.

8. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mesh material is at least one of extruded, woven, perforated, or molded.

9. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mesh material has a tensile strength of 7 kg.

10. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mesh material has a mesh thickness of about 50 millimeters to about 400 millimeters.

11. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mesh material withstands freezer temperatures, refrigeration temperatures, ambient temperatures, and temperatures reached during steaming.

12. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

a steam permeable component,

wherein the steam permeable component is suitable for containing a foodstuff and steaming the foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the foodstuff.

13. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the steam permeable component is rigid.

14. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the steam permeable component is made of a mesh material, the mesh material comprising about 50% high density polyethylene, about 30% polypropylene copolymer, and about 20% ethylene vinyl acetate.

15. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the steam permeable component is made of a mesh material, the mesh material comprising openings sized from 1 millimeter to 10 millimeters in diameter.

16. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a bag.

17. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a bag, the bag comprising openings about 0.25 millimeters to about 2 millimeters in size and spaced about 1 millimeters to about 15 millimeters apart.

18. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a bag, the bag comprising at least one of 110 openings with about 1000 micron diameters per square inch or 130 openings with about 700 micron diameters per square inch.

19. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising

a bag, the bag comprising openings about 0.25 millimeters to about 2 millimeters in size and spaced about 1 millimeters to about 15 millimeters apart;

and

a packet.

20. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a packet.

21. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

a steam permeable component;

a bag, the bag comprising openings about 0.25 millimeters to about 2 millimeters in size and spaced about 1 millimeters to about 15 millimeters apart; and

a packet,

wherein the steam permeable component, the bag, and the packet are suitable for providing concurrent steaming of various foodstuff to substantial simultaneous steaming completion without intermixing.

22. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the steam permeable component is rigid.

23. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cooking apparatus withstands freezer temperatures, refrigeration temperatures, ambient temperatures, and temperatures reached during steaming.

24. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the openings of the bag are formed by a technique selected from a group of a laser technique, a high energy plasma technique, a flame technique, a gamma technology technique, a vacuum technique, and a hot needle technique.

25. The cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the packet is dissolvable.

26. A food product, comprising:

a foodstuff, the foodstuff comprising at least one of protein, vegetables, fruit, or starch; and

a cooking apparatus for containing the foodstuff, the cooking apparatus comprising,

a segment of a mesh material, and

an end for securing the segment of the mesh material,

wherein the segment of the mesh material is filled with the foodstuff and secured at the end to form a steam permeable component suitable for steaming the foodstuff without releasing the foodstuff.

27. The food product as claimed in claim 26, wherein the end is secured utilizing at least one of ultrasonic sealing, heat sealing, induction sealing, ties, or binders.

28. The food product as claimed in claim 26, wherein the mesh material withstands freezer temperatures, refrigeration temperatures, ambient temperatures, and temperatures reached during steaming.

29. The food product as claimed in claim 26, wherein the steaming is at least one of heating with steam, defrosting with steam, or cooking with steam.

30. A food product, comprising:

a foodstuff, the foodstuff comprising at least one of protein, vegetables, fruit, or starch; and

a cooking apparatus for containing the foodstuff, the cooking apparatus comprising a steam permeable component, the steam permeable component suitable for containing the foodstuff and steaming the foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the foodstuff.

31. The food product as claimed in claim 30, wherein the steam permeable component is rigid.

32. The food product as claimed in claim 30, wherein the mesh material comprises about 50% high density polyethylene, about 30% polypropylene copolymer, and about 20% ethylene vinyl acetate.

33. The food product as claimed in claim 30, further comprising

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a starch,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a bag for containing the second foodstuff, the bag is suitable for steaming the second foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the second foodstuff.

34. The food product as claimed in claim 30, further comprising

a seasoning;

and

a seasoning container, the seasoning container for containing the seasoning.

35. The food product as claimed in claim 30, further comprising

a dry sauce;

and

a dry sauce container, the dry sauce container suitable for containing the dry sauce.

36. The food product as claimed in claim 30, further comprising

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a starch, the starch comprising rice,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a bag for containing the second foodstuff, the bag is suitable for steaming the second foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the second foodstuff, and

wherein the bag comprises at least one of 110 openings with about 1000 micron diameters per square inch or 130 openings with about 700 micron diameters per square inch.

37. The food product as claimed in claim 30, further comprising

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a starch, the starch selected from a group of potatoes, bread, pasta, and rice,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a bag for containing the second foodstuff, the bag is suitable for steaming the second foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the second foodstuff;

and

a third foodstuff, the third foodstuff comprising a sauce,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a packet for containing a third foodstuff, the packet suitable for steaming the third foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the third foodstuff.

38. The food product as claimed in claim 30, further comprising

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a sauce,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a packet for containing the second foodstuff, the packet suitable for steaming the second foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the second foodstuff.

39. A food product, comprising:

a foodstuff, the foodstuff comprising at least one of protein, vegetables, fruit, or starch, the starch comprising at least one of potatoes or pasta; and

a cooking apparatus for containing the foodstuff, the cooking apparatus comprising a steam permeable component, the steam permeable component comprising

a polymer blend and ethylene vinyl acetate,

wherein the steam permeable component withstands freezer temperatures, refrigeration temperatures, ambient temperatures, and temperatures reached during steaming, and

wherein the steam permeable component is suitable for steaming the foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the foodstuff.

40. The food product as claimed in claim 39, wherein the steam permeable component is a mesh material, the mesh material is formed of about 50% high density polyethylene, about 30% polypropylene copolymer, and about 20% ethylene vinyl acetate.

41. The food product as claimed in claim 39, further comprising

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a starch,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a bag for containing the second foodstuff, the bag comprises openings about 0.25 millimeters to about 2 millimeters in size and spaced about 1 millimeters to about 15 millimeters apart, and

wherein the bag is suitable for steaming the second foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the second foodstuff.

42. The food product as claimed in claim 39, further comprising

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a starch,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a bag for containing the second foodstuff, the bag is suitable for steaming the second foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the second foodstuff;

and

a third foodstuff, the third foodstuff comprising a sauce,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a packet for containing the third foodstuff, the packet suitable for steaming the third foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the third foodstuff, and

wherein the first foodstuff, the second foodstuff, and the third foodstuff are at least one of precooked or sized to provide substantial simultaneous steaming completion of the first foodstuff, the second foodstuff, and the third foodstuff.

43. The food product as claimed in claim 39, further comprising

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a sauce,

wherein the cooking apparatus further comprises a packet for containing the second foodstuff, the packet suitable for steaming the second foodstuff in a steamer without releasing the second foodstuff.

44. A food product, comprising:

a foodstuff comprising at least one of a protein, vegetable, or fruit, the protein comprising at least one of beef, pork, poultry, fish, beans, seafood, or tofu;

a sauce;

a starch, the starch comprising at Least one of rice, pasta, potatoes, or bread; and

a cooking apparatus, the cooking apparatus comprising

a steam permeable component for containing the foodstuff, the steam permeable component comprising about 50% high density polyethylene, about 30% polypropylene copolymer, and about 20% ethylene vinyl acetate,

a bag for containing the starch, the bag comprising openings about 0.25 millimeters to about 2 millimeters in size and spaced about 1 millimeters to about 15 millimeters apart, and

a packet for containing the sauce,

wherein the steam permeable component, the bag, and the packet are suitable for steaming the foodstuff, the starch, and the sauce to provide substantial simultaneous steaming completion of the foodstuff.

45. The food product as claimed in claim 44, wherein the packet is dissolvable.

46. The food product as claimed in claim 44, wherein a viscosity of the sauce is suitable for pouring from the packet after the steaming, the sauce comprises 5% to 35% of the food product, and the sauce has a water content of 70% to 95% by weight.

47. A food product, comprising:

a first foodstuff;

a composition, the composition comprising the first foodstuff;

a steam permeable component for containing the composition, the steam permeable component is suitable for steaming the first foodstuff in the composition;

a second foodstuff, the second foodstuff comprising a sauce; and

a packet for containing the second foodstuff, the packet suitable for steaming the second foodstuff,

wherein the steam permeable component and the packet provide concurrent steaming of the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff to substantial simultaneous steaming completion without intermixing.

48. The food product as claimed in claim 47, wherein the composition is selected from a group of sweet and sour chicken composition, asian beef composition, garlic shrimp composition, home-style turkey composition, herb based chicken composition, chicken alfredo composition, basil pesto salmon composition, and beef tips portobello composition.

49. The food product as claimed in claim 47, further comprising

a third foodstuff, the third foodstuff comprising a starch;

and

a bag for containing the third foodstuff, the bag is suitable for steaming the third foodstuff,

wherein the bag provides concurrent steaming of the third foodstuff with the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff to substantial simultaneous steaming completion without intermixing.

50. The food product as claimed in claim 47, further comprising

a third foodstuff, the third foodstuff comprising a starch, the starch comprising rice;

and

a bag for containing the third foodstuff, the bag is suitable for steaming the third foodstuff,

wherein the bag provides concurrent steaming of the third foodstuff with the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff to substantial simultaneous steaming completion without intermixing.