A frozen food is provided that requires neither addition of water nor large cookware such as a pot, an electromagnetic cooker and a gas stove; is easy to eat; can be stored for a long period; does not cause loosening and uneven heating of the noodle; and makes it possible to enjoy an aromatic and authentic taste in a simple manner only by heating in a microwave oven. It was found that a plurality of chunks of frozen soup having a specific size are placed at a higher position with respect to a frozen noodle, so that a frozen food that makes it possible to enjoy an authentic taste as a hot noodle simply by microwave cooking can be provided, and these findings have led to the present invention.

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.

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 process for cooking rice, quinoa, couscous, pasta, beans, chick peas and other products which absorb water during the cooking process. The product is placed in sealed cooking bags along with a sufficient amount of liquid for absorption. The sealed bags are then conveyed through a continuous oven in which they are contacted with a superheated vapor cooking medium.

A food tray has a lower tray containing a first food product and an upper tray nested stably at least partly inside the lower tray, with the upper tray containing a second food product. An air permeable interface is provided between the upper tray and lower tray to allow venting of steam from the lower tray during cooking. A cover is provided for the food tray. Each of the lower tray and the upper tray are formed of a material that is suitable for use in a microwave or conventional oven. Various constructions may be used to create the air permeable interface, such as lugs, ledges and lips. The upper tray may sit above the lower tray. The trays are nested loosely for ease of removal of the upper tray from the lower tray. Various configurations of cover may be used such as a sleeve, carton or lid. The upper tray may contain the higher value food product.

A food tray has a lower tray containing a first food product and an upper tray nested stably at least partly inside the lower tray, with the upper tray containing a second food product. An air permeable interface is provided between the upper tray and lower tray to allow venting of steam from the lower tray during cooking. A cover is provided for the food tray. Each of the lower tray and the upper tray are formed of a material that is suitable for use in a microwave or conventional oven. Various constructions may be used to create the air permeable interface, such as lugs, ledges and lips. The upper tray may sit above the lower tray. The trays are nested loosely for ease of removal of the upper tray from the lower tray. Various configurations of cover may be used such as a sleeve, carton or lid. The upper tray may contain the higher value food product.

A bag for containing one or more items to be heated in a microwave oven. The bag has a front panel and a back panel and has a seal across the containment region to split it into two compartments each containing at least one item such as a food ingredient. When the bag is heated, the compartments expand due to gas expansion and the seal is caused to break to allow the items to mix and be heated together.

A machine for cooking a dose of pasta in a container has a hot water supply pipe to selectively inject hot water into the container above the dose of pasta; a steam supply pipe to selectively inject steam into the container independently of the water injection; and a dispenser comprising at least one first nozzle connected to the hot water supply pipe to deliver hot water into the container and at least one second nozzle connected to the steam supply pipe to deliver steam into the container.

Disclosed is a proposed packaging container for food comprising of: a container in a shape to contain a first food; a strainer part, through which a plurality of strainer holes passes and in which a second food distinct from the first food is contained, stacked on top of the container; and a cover configured to seal the container and strainer part, wherein a relatively protruding communication hole is formed in the center of the strainer part and communicates with the container to induce convection of steam throughout the package. According to such a configuration, the original state and taste of the packaged foods can be maintained even for long-term packaging, which contributes to the improvement of packaging quality.

A food tray has a lower tray containing a first food product and an upper tray nested stably at least partly inside the lower tray, with the upper tray containing a second food product. An air permeable interface is provided between the upper tray and lower tray to allow venting of steam from the lower tray during cooking. A cover is provided for the food tray. Each of the lower tray and the upper tray are formed of a material that is suitable for use in a microwave or conventional oven. Various constructions may be used to create the air permeable interface, such as lugs, ledges and lips. The upper tray may sit above the lower tray. The trays are nested loosely for ease of removal of the upper tray from the lower tray. Various configurations of cover may be used such as a sleeve, carton or lid. The upper tray may contain the higher value food product.