Microwaveable steam pouch

Abstract

A flexible pouch is provided having sidewalls sealed to form a internal pouch volume. A bottom wall is sealed to the sidewalls to form a bottom gusset and to create a stand-up pouch. A support wall is attached to the sidewalls, between the bottom gusset and the top end of the pouch. The support wall divides the interior of the pouch into a food compartment, adjacent the top end, and a liquid compartment, formed between the support wall and the bottom gusset. The food is positioned on the support wall and liquid is provided in the liquid compartment. The pouch is positioned within a microwave oven and the liquid in the liquid compartment is heated, creating steam, which flows through the porous support wall to heat the food supported thereon.

1 . A flexible pouch comprising:
 a front and rear panel sealed to one another along at least one edge thereof to form an internal pouch volume and an open top end;   a bottom panel sealed to the front an rear panels and forming a bottom gusset, the bottom gusset and front and rear panels forming a stand-up pouch, with the bottom gusset supporting the front and rear panels vertically when the pouch is standing,   a support wall attached to the front and rear panels between the open top end and the bottom gusset, the support wall forming the internal volume of the pouch into a food compartment adjacent the open top end and a liquid compartment formed between the bottom wall and the support wall.   
   
   
       2 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the support wall comprises a perforated web. 
   
   
       3 . The flexible pouch of  claim 2 , wherein the perforated web has a V-shape with the vertex thereof pointing toward the bottom panel. 
   
   
       4 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the support wall is sealed to the inside surfaces of the front and rear panels. 
   
   
       5 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1 , where in the support wall is a substantially porous web. 
   
   
       6 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1 , where in the support wall is made from a cast polypropylene. 
   
   
       7 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  further comprising sealing means formed at the top end for selective access to the food compartment. 
   
   
       8 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  further comprising a steam vent for controlled discharge of steam during heating of liquid within the liquid compartment to steam cook food supported on the support wall in the food compartment. 
   
   
       9 . The flexible packaging of  claim 1  wherein the front and rear walls are formed of a laminate material comprising an oriented polyethylene teraphalate outer web and a cast polypropylene sealant web. 
   
   
       10 . A package for storing food and cooking the food in a microwave oven, the pouch comprising:
 a flexible laminate formed into a pouch having a series of side walls formed around a hollow interior and defining a top and bottom,   a gusset panel sealed to the side walls and closing the bottom of the hollow interior, the gusset panel in conjunction with the sidewalls forming a stand-up pouch,   a flexible perforated wall sealed to the side walls of the pouch within the hollow interior, between the bottom gusset and the top end, the perforated wall separating the hollow interior into a food compartment positioned above a liquid compartment formed adjacent the gusset panel,   a food access opening formed at the top of the sidewalls, the opening defining access to the food compartment, the opening being selectively closable, and   a steam vent for controlled discharge of steam during heating of liquid within the liquid compartment to steam food supported on the perforated wall in the food compartment.   
   
   
       11 . A method of cooking food, comprising:
 providing a flexible pouch formed from a flexible side walls around a hollow interior and a bottom gusset panel sealed to the side walls and closing the bottom of the hollow interior, the gusset panel in conjunction with the sidewalls forming a stand-up pouch,   providing a flexible perforated wall sealed to the side walls of the pouch within the hollow interior, the perforated wall spaced from the bottom gusset and separating the hollow interior into a food compartment and a liquid compartment,   providing a liquid in the liquid compartment,   providing food on the perforated wall within the food compartment,   placing the pouch within a microwave oven with the gusset panel resting on a support surface therein, and the liquid in the liquid compartment positioned vertically below the perforated wall and the food positioned in the food compartment,   activating the microwave oven to heat the liquid to create steam which flows into the food compartment and heats the food.