A multi-compartment food package is disclosed including a food bowl to hold a first food (e.g., hummus) and an independent second food container to hold a second food (e.g., a topping to be added to the first food). In one embodiment, a peel-off film is removably attached across the first food container below the top thereof. A lid is detachably connected to the first food container to surround the second food container. The lid has an annular container retaining groove formed therein and extending downwardly therefrom towards the first food container. The second food container is surrounded and frictionally engaged by the annular container retaining groove, whereby the second food container is removably attached to and suspended downwardly from the lid to be received through the top of the first food container and seated on the peel-off film located below the top thereof.

A multi-compartment food package is disclosed including a food bowl to hold a first food (e.g., hummus) and an independent second food container to hold a second food (e.g., a topping to be added to the first food). In one embodiment, a peel-off film is removably attached across the first food container below the top thereof. A lid is detachably connected to the first food container to surround the second food container. The lid has an annular container retaining groove formed therein and extending downwardly therefrom towards the first food container. The second food container is surrounded and frictionally engaged by the annular container retaining groove, whereby the second food container is removably attached to and suspended downwardly from the lid to be received through the top of the first food container and seated on the peel-off film located below the top thereof.

An apparatus for heating a product includes a storage compartment for a product to be heated and a heater module physically and thermally coupled to the storage compartment. The heater module has a housing that defines a reaction chamber. A rigid barrier is inside the reaction chamber and defines first and second portions thereof. A first reactant is inside the reaction chamber, and a flexible bag (with a second reactant) is in the first portion of the first chemical reactant. The first and second reactants react exothermically upon contact. A piercing element can pierce the flexible bag. After piercing, the a fluid path and one or more fluid channels carry the second reactant to a section of the first portion of the reaction chamber away from where the flexible bag is located.

The invention relates to a bottom part intended to receive food thereon, and a container part where the said bottom part and the container part are intended to enclose the said food. The package is provided with means to hold the bottom part and the container part together in a detachable fashion and means to separate the said bottom part from the container part fully or partially. Separating takes the form of removing the said bottom part with the bottom part of the package standing in an essentially horizontal position on a serving surface so that the food is so arranged as to come into contact with the serving surface, as a consequence of which the said container part is essentially retained in its position enclosing the said food. The invention also relates to a method for transferring food from a package to a serving surface.

The invention relates to a bottom part intended to receive food thereon, and a container part where the bottom part and the container part are intended to enclose the food. The package is provided with means to hold the bottom part and the container part together in a detachable fashion and means to separate the bottom part from the container part fully or partially. Separating takes the form of removing the bottom part with the bottom part of the package standing in an essentially horizontal position on a serving surface so that the food is so arranged as to come into contact with the serving surface, as a consequence of which the container part is essentially retained it its position enclosing the food. The invention also relates to a method for transferring food from a package to a serving surface.

A packaged product is disclosed that includes a cooking container, a first food product, and a packet filled with a second food product. The cooking container may have a sealed interior volume, and the first food product and the packet may be disposed within the sealed interior volume. The packet may be made of a water-soluble film that is edible. Also disclosed is a method of preparing an instant food product for consumption. The method may include removing a lid from a cooking container containing both a first food product and a packet filled with a second food product. The method may further include adding water to the cooking container to submerge and dissolve the packet.

A container for heating a food product with microwave energy having a wavelength. The container can include a generally circular centerline having an axis, and a receptacle including a sidewall extending at least partially around a cavity. At least a portion of the cavity can extend along at least a portion of the centerline. The sidewall can include an inner edge and an outer edge each being spaced apart from the axis of the centerline for at least partially retaining the food product in the cavity in proximity to the centerline.

Herein is described a plastic package for food or food products which are ready for consumption. The package includes a first container of larger size, for a main food component and a second container, of smaller size, able to separately contain a supplementary food component. The package is characterized by the fact that the first bottom and/or the first closure lid of the first container have a cavity open to the outside and conformed to constitute a housing compartment for the second container by at least partial insertion of said the second container in the cavity of the first container.

A container for heating a food product with microwave energy having a wavelength. The container can include a generally circular centerline having an axis, and a receptacle including a sidewall extending at least partially around a cavity. At least a portion of the cavity can extend along at least a portion of the centerline. The sidewall can include an inner edge and an outer edge each being spaced apart from the axis of the centerline for at least partially retaining the food product in the cavity in proximity to the centerline.

Disclosed are disposable containers, such as a stand-up pouch, for heating food in a microwave oven and while automatically dispensing sauce onto the food. Methods and apparatuses for making sauce packets and disposable containers are also disclosed.