Microwavable Food Product and a Susceptor Therefor

• US 20080175959A1
• Filed: 01/21/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ConAgra Foods (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ConAgra Foods (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hill, Rodney, Charpentier, Richard, Patterson, Melissa Kay, Heath, Bradley Erickson
• Application Number:
  US12/017,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20080175959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/90
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/15 using wave energy, irradiation, electrical means or magnetic fields, e.g. oven cooking or roasting using radiant dry heat
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/34 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/10 Securing foodstuffs on a non-edible supporting member
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3406 Pizza or bread
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/346 integral to the package, e.g. the package is transformed into a stand
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

A microwavable food product includes a susceptor and a foodstuff. The foodstuff is positioned on the susceptor in an open-faced configuration. The susceptor includes at least one fold positioned at an intermediate region of the foodstuff for allowing the foodstuff to be folded from the open-faced configuration to a closed-faced configuration.

Claims

1. A microwavable food product comprising:

a susceptor;

a foodstuff positioned on the susceptor in an open-faced configuration; and

the susceptor including at least one fold positioned at an intermediate region of the foodstuff for allowing the foodstuff to be folded from the open-faced configuration to a closed-faced configuration.

2. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the susceptor includes a first fold and a second fold.

3. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 2, wherein a distance defined between the first and second folds of the susceptor is about equal to a width of a folded foodstuff formed by the folding of the foodstuff to the closed-faced configuration.

4. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foodstuff includes a first piece of bread and a second piece of bread.

5. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the foodstuff includes an interior foodstuff position at a top surface of the first piece of bread and the second piece of bread.

6. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fold is a serration.

7. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a package having a stored configuration in which the susceptor and the foodstuff are disposed and an elevated position configuration that is adapted to support the susceptor and the foodstuff during cooking.

8. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an enclosure disposed in the package in the stored configuration, wherein the susceptor and the foodstuff are disposed in the enclosure.

9. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a browning agent disposed on a surface of the foodstuff adjacent to the susceptor.

10. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 9, wherein the browning agent is a sugar derivative.

11. A microwave food product as claimed in claim 9, wherein the browning agent forms diagonal lines across the surface of the foodstuff.

12. A microwavable food product comprising:

a susceptor having a top side and a bottom side;

an exterior foodstuff positioned on the top side of the susceptor, the exterior foodstuff including a first half-portion and a second half-portion, the first half-portion and the second half-portion having top surfaces and bottom surfaces, wherein the bottom surfaces are adjacent to the top side of the susceptor;

an interior foodstuff positioned at the top surfaces of the first and second half-portions of the exterior foodstuff; and

wherein the susceptor includes a first and second fold line positioned adjacent a mid-region of the exterior foodstuff for allowing the exterior foodstuff to be folded in half such that the interior foodstuff on the first half-portion is brought into contact with the interior foodstuff on the second half-portion.

13. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a package having a stored configuration in which the susceptor, the exterior foodstuff, and the interior foodstuff are disposed.

14. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the package includes an elevated position configuration that is adapted to support the susceptor, the exterior foodstuff, and the interior foodstuff during cooking.

15. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an enclosure disposed in the package in the stored configuration, wherein the susceptor, the exterior foodstuff, and the interior foodstuff are disposed in the enclosure.

16. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a browning agent disposed on the bottom surfaces of the first and second half-portions.

17. A microwavable food product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the browning agent forms diagonal lines across the bottom surfaces of the first and second half-portions.

18. A method for assembling a microwavable food product, the method comprising:

providing a package;

inserting a susceptor-foodstuff assembly into the package, wherein the susceptor food assembly includes a susceptor having a top side, a first and second portion of an exterior foodstuff having bottom surfaces adjacent to the top side of the susceptor, and an interior foodstuff positioned at a top side of the exterior foodstuff; and

providing a fold line on the susceptor for folding the exterior foodstuff after cooking such that the interior foodstuff on the first portion of the exterior foodstuff comes into contact with the interior foodstuff on the second portion of the exterior foodstuff.

19. A method for assembling a microwavable food product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the susceptor includes a first fold line and a second line positioned adjacent a mid-region of the exterior foodstuff.

20. A method for assembling a microwavable food product as claimed in claim 19, wherein a distance defined between the first and second fold lines of the susceptor is about equal to a width of a folded foodstuff formed by the folding of the exterior foodstuff and the interior foodstuff.