Presented is a self-service take-out cooking box for customized heating of the food item(s). The self-service take-out cooking box includes a base and multiple sidewalls extending from the base. The box further includes a heating module and food container(s) to receive at least one food item therein. The heating module of the self-service take-out cooking box includes a cooking grate configured to provide a cooking platform for the one food item. A cooking fuel receiving chamber of the heating module is configured to receive at least one cooking fuel. The configuration of the self-service take-out cooking box allows the customer to heat the food at their own location.

Embodiments herein relate to microwaveable food containers and food products for high-temperature cooking applications and related methods. In an embodiment, a disposable microwaveable food container for high-temperature cooking applications is included. The container can include an inner cup including a bottom wall, a side wall connected to the bottom wall, the side wall comprising a top, and a top seal layer in contact with the top of the side wall. The bottom wall and side wall together can define a reservoir to hold a food material. An outer cover shell can include a bottom wall, a side wall connected to the bottom wall, a top wall connected the side wall, and a support structure for supporting the inner cup. The support structure can contact the inner cup and hold it in a position with a bottom gap, a side gap, and a top gap. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A packaged food product can include: a package and food disposed within the package. The package includes an inflatable first sheet comprising polymer, and a generally flat second sheet comprising paper material and polymer. The first sheet and the second sheet can be melted together to form a peripheral seal that includes paper material from the second sheet suspended within a melt between the first sheet polymer and the second sheet polymer. The food can be disposed on the second sheet and in direct physical contact with the paper material.

A frame is injection molded onto a group of panels to form a container. The panels extend at least partially around, and at least partially define, a cavity of the container.

An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.

A grain-popping machine and associated pod-based popping method is disclosed. The grain-popping is configured to receive a pod. Each pod includes a plurality of cells, with each cell preferably containing a single grain kernel or seed, flavoring, and a cooking medium such as oil or shortening. In a preferred embodiment, the pod is loaded into the grain-popping machine through a slot so that it is held in position adjacent to a heating element. The heating element is activated to begin a popping sequence. When each grain kernel or seed in the pod reaches popping temperature, it absorbs the flavoring in its cell and ejects through the bottom of the pod, which can be weakened to ease ejection, into a bowl positioned in a receiving area of the grain-popping machine. The pod is then removed and disposed of.

This invention provides a polymer, which is preferably a polyether polymer. The polymer may be used in coating compositions. Containers and other articles comprising the polymer and methods of making such containers and other articles are also provided. The invention further provides compositions including the polymer (e.g., powder coatings), which have utility in a variety of coating end uses, including, for example, valve and pipe coatings.

This invention provides a polymer, which is preferably a polyether polymer. The polymer may be used in coating compositions. Containers and other articles comprising the polymer and methods of making such containers and other articles are also provided. The invention further provides compositions including the polymer (e.g., powder coatings), which have utility in a variety of coating end uses, including, for example, valve and pipe coatings.

A self-contained meal assembly comprises a heating bag, a food pouch, and a heating element. In operation, a heating element is placed along a bottom portion of a heating bag, a food pouch is placed inside proximate the heating element, a predetermined amount of water or other nonflammable aqueous liquid is added, and the heating bag is resealed thereby allowing an exothermic reaction to occur within the heating bag. One or more steam vents formed through a heating bag allow steam to discharge from the interior of the heating bag during operation. The configuration of the steam vent(s) allows a controlled release of high temperature steam from the heating bag as it circulates within the heating bag to the steam vent(s) at a safe discharge angle relative to the sides of the heating bag.

A composite film includes a) a self-supporting layer of a polymer film (such as a polyester), b) an optional primer layer on the polymer film layer, wherein the primer layer includes a PVdX (X being halo), acrylic or vinyl resin; and c) a layer of heat seal composition on the primer layer, wherein the heat seal composition includes a polyolefin plastomer (POP) resin and a tackifier that constitutes at least 20 wt % of the heat seal composition. The composite film may be formed by applying a coating composition including the heat seal composition in a solvent to a primer layer on the polymer film or directly on the polymer film in absence of the optional primer layer, and then evaporating the solvent. The composite film may be heat-sealed to a surface of a container or a self-supporting film.