Self adhesive bags for steam cooking in a microwave oven

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided a flexible container for use by the end user as a cooking utensil. Said container comprises a front and rear panel formed of a food safe material and sealed at three sides, the rear panel being extended beyond the front panel on the unsealed fourth side to form a flap. On the upper side of the flap is formed an adhesive strip provided with a removable cover strip intended to be removed by the user when closing the container. The user is instructed to fold the container across both layers rather than simply across the junction of the flap and front panel in order to seal it prior to cooking. This creates a container which is effectively sealed but which is capable of releasing excess pressure above that level needed to steam the contents thoroughly. At the opposite end and sides of the container, away from the flap, a second weld parallel to the sealed edge may be formed on one or more sides in order to create an area which is not subject to the steam effect which occurs when food is heated, thus forming a cooler area for handling by the user when the product is cooked and removed from the microwave oven.

Claims

1. A method for cooking foodstuff in a container made of at least one sheet of food grade microwave transparent non-insulating material, the container comprising a front panel, a rear panel sealed to the front panel at three sides to form a bag with a mouth, the rear panel being longer than the front panel and extending beyond the front panel at an unsealed fourth side to define a flap, and an adhesive strip positioned on an upper side of the flap between a top margin of the front panel and a top margin of the rear panel, the adhesive strip being covered by a removable covering strip, the method comprising the steps of: placing the foodstuff into the container; removing the removable covering strip from the adhesive strip; folding the bag across both the front panel and the rear panel to form a fold comprising the front panel and the rear panel; connecting the flap to the front panel with the adhesive strip to maintain the fold; placing the container into a microwave oven; energising the oven for a cooking time; removing the container from the microwave oven; detaching the flap from the front panel of the container; removing the cooked foodstuff from the container; and placing the foodstuff on a plate or other receptacle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a printed fold line extending across the bag, and wherein the folding the bag across both the front panel and the rear panel to form the fold comprises folding along the fold line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flap extends across a full width of the container, and wherein the adhesive strip extends across the full width.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the food grade microwave transparent non-insulating material comprises at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and nylon.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the container comprises at least one of corn starch and cellulose.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a secondary seal parallel with the sealed side edge at any of the other three sides to prevent ingress of steam to that portion of the container between the sealed edge and the secondary seal in order to form a handle which remains cool to the touch.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the food grade microwave transparent non-insulating material is capable of withstanding temperatures up to 230 degrees Centigrade.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the flap extends across a full width of the container, and wherein the adhesive strip extends across only a portion of the full width.

9. A method for cooking foodstuff in a container made of at least one sheet of food grade microwave transparent non-insulating material, the container comprising a front panel, a rear panel sealed to the front panel at three sides to form a bag with a mouth, the rear panel being longer than the front panel and extending beyond the front panel at an unsealed fourth side to define a flap, and an adhesive strip extending across at least a portion of a width of an upper side of the flap between a top margin of the front panel and a top margin of the rear panel, and a fold line printed on the front panel, the method comprising the steps of: placing the foodstuff into the container; folding the bag along the fold line to form a fold comprising the front panel and the rear panel; connecting the flap of the rear panel to the front panel with the adhesive strip; placing the container into a conventional oven; energising the oven for the required time; removing the container from the oven; detaching the flap from the front panel of the container; removing the cooked foodstuff from the container; and placing the foodstuff on a plate or other receptacle.

Description

(1) Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows the essential features of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the invention in its sealed state with a full width adhesive sealing strip; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the invention in its sealed state with an adhesive sealing strip covering a portion of the width.

(5) Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the container 1 comprising front panel 2 and rear panel 3, edges 5 and 6, end seal 7, flap 8, adhesive strip 9 and removable strip 10, top margin 11 of front panel 2, second seal 12 and secondary side seals 13 and 14 and printed fold line 15.

(6) FIG. 2 shows the container 1 in its folded state where the flap 8 has been folded along the printed fold line 15. The removable strip 10 has been removed and the flap 8 has been pressed down onto the front panel 2 to attach the adhesive strip 9 to said front panel 2. An assortment of vegetables 16 is shown contained within the container 1 ready for heating in the oven. On heating, escaping steam from the vegetables will pass the partial seal formed by the fold at the printed fold line 15 and outwards to atmosphere through the unsealed areas 17 and 18. The top margin 11 of front panel 2 is shown for clarity.

(7) FIG. 3 shows the container 1 in its folded state where the flap 8 has been folded along the printed fold line 15. The removable strip 10 has been removed and the flap 8 has been pressed down onto the front panel 2 to attach the adhesive strip 9 to said front panel 2. The adhesive strip 9 attached to the flap 8 extends across a lesser proportion of the width of the flap 8. An assortment of vegetables 16 is shown contained within the container 1 ready for heating in the oven. On heating, escaping steam from the vegetables will pass the partial seal formed by the fold at the printed fold line 15 and outwards to atmosphere through the unsealed areas 17 and 18. The top margin 11 of front panel 2 is shown for clarity.