On-Demand Marination Package

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a package comprising a lower film that contains at least first and second compartments separated by a partition. The first compartment can substantially contain a food product and the second compartment can substantially contain a pouch. Specifically, the pouch comprises at least one rupturable seal and houses one or more food additives. An upper film is sealed to the lower film about the perimeter of the package via outer perimeter seal. In addition, the package comprises at least one inner perimeter seal that cooperates with the pouch rupturable seals and functions to isolate the first and second compartments until it is desired to intermix the food additive and the food product.

1 . A package for marinating a food product, said package comprising:
 a. a lower film comprising at least first and second compartments separated by a partition, such that said first compartment is adapted to substantially contain a food product and said second compartment is adapted to substantially contain a pouch;   b. a pouch substantially contained within said second compartment and configured to contain a food additive, the pouch comprising at least one rupturable seal configured to rupture when exposed to a predetermined pressure, and wherein said at least one rupturable seal is positioned at least partially overlapping said partition;   c. an upper film peripherally sealed about the perimeter of the package to said lower film and to at least a portion of said partition of said lower film in the area overlapping said at least one rupturable seal to separate said first and second compartments, thereby forming a hermetically sealed package having an outer perimeter seal and an inner perimeter seal;   wherein said pouch is in fluid communication with the first compartment upon rupture of the at least one rupturable seal to allow the food additive to mix with the food product, and   wherein said at least one rupturable seal has a lower rupture pressure compared to said outer perimeter seal and said inner perimeter seal, and wherein said food item can be marinated directly in said package.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said lower film is a thermoformed film formed into a compartmented support member having first and second compartments. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said pouch is formed using a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein said pouch is constructed from a film comprising an innermost layer comprising an easy open sealant and an outermost layer comprising a regular sealant. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein said pouch is constructed from a film comprising an easy open sealant layer positioned adjacent to the innermost layer and an outermost layer comprising a regular sealant. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said pouch is folded prior to insertion into said first compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said additive occupies from about 20% to about 80% of the total volume of the pouch. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said inner perimeter seal forms a channel. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein said channel optionally has depth added during the forming process. 
     
     
         10 . A package comprising:
 a. a food product;   b. a pouch comprising a food additive, wherein said pouch comprises at least one rupturable seal configured to rupture when exposed to a predetermined pressure;   c. a lower film comprising at least first and second compartments separated by a partition, such that said first compartment is adapted to substantially contain said food product and said second compartment is adapted to substantially contain said pouch, and wherein said at least one rupturable seal is positioned at least partially overlapping said partition;   d. an upper film peripherally sealed about the perimeter of the package to said lower film and at least partially to said partition of said lower film in the area overlapping said at least one rupturable seal to separate said first and second compartments, thereby forming a hermetically sealed package having an outer perimeter seal and an inner perimeter seal;   wherein said pouch is in fluid communication with the first compartment upon rupturable of the at least one rupturable seal to allow the food additive to mix with the food product; and   wherein said at least one rupturable seal has a lower rupture pressure compared to said outer perimeter seal and said inner perimeter seal, and wherein said food item can be marinated directly in said package.   
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein said lower film is a thermoformed film formed into a compartmented support member having first and second compartments. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein said pouch is formed using a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein said pouch is constructed from a film comprising an innermost layer comprising an easy open sealant and an outermost layer comprising a regular sealant. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein said pouch is constructed from a film comprising an easy open sealant layer positioned adjacent to the innermost layer and an outermost layer comprising a regular sealant. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein said pouch is folded prior to insertion into said first compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein said additive occupies from about 20% to about 80% of the total volume of the pouch. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein said inner perimeter seal forms a channel. 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a level of food additive imparted to a food product, said method comprising:
 a. forming a support member of a package that includes a first compartment configured to substantially contain a food product and a second compartment configured to substantially contain a pouch, wherein the first and second compartments are separated by a partition;   b. forming said pouch configured to contain said food additive;   c. loading said food additive into said pouch;   d. sealing said food additive in said pouch with at least one rupturable seal configured to rupture and allow the food additive to escape said pouch;   e. loading said food product into said first compartment of the support member;   f. loading said pouch into the second compartment of said support member such that said at least one rupturable seal is positioned at least partially overlapping said partition, and such that the pouch is in fluid communication with the first compartment upon rupturing of the rupturable seal to allow the food additive to mix with the food product; and   g. sealing the support member with a film about the perimeter of the package with an outer perimeter seal and at least partially to said partition in the area overlapping said at least one rupturable seal with an inner perimeter seal to separate said first and second compartments, such that the first package is configured to withstand the predetermined pressure and prevent leaking of the food additive and food product from the first package during the mixing of the food additive and the food product.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said lower film is a thermoformed film formed into a compartmented support member having first and second compartments. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said pouch is constructed using a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said pouch is constructed from a film comprising an innermost layer comprising an easy open sealant and an outermost layer comprising a regular sealant. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said pouch is folded prior to insertion into said first compartment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said inner perimeter seal forms a channel.