Packaging Material for Cooking Food

Abstract

A packaging device allowing for the distribution, storage and cooking of various food products, such as perishable or frozen food product(s). The packaging device includes a plurality of micro-perforations that may promote the extended shelf-life of the perishable food product and the maintenance of the quality of the perishable food product or be configured to maintain the integrity of a frozen food product. The packaging device also includes a venting system that allows the cooking of the perishable or frozen food products within the packaging device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package for cooking food in a microwave oven, comprising:
 an expandable first base film and an expandable second base film that are laminated together and that are configured to form the package having an interior for containing and cooking food and an exterior, wherein the package interior and first and second base films expand in response to pressure buildup created by the microwave cooking process; and   a venting system that includes a plurality of up to 300 laser-formed microperforations that have a diameter of 50 to 380 microns, that are located in proximity to the food, that expand during the microwave cooking process and that extend from the interior through the package to the exterior so that they are open prior to and during cooking, wherein the number, size and location of the microperforations of the venting system regulate the release of pressure buildup from the interior of the package to the exterior during the microwave cooking process.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the second base film is laminated to the first base film with an adhesive and the laser-formed microperforations extend through the lamination. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive that laminates the first base film and the second base film, and that includes laser-formed microperforations that coincide to the locations of the microperforations in the venting system, so that the microperforations extend through the package and adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the microperforations in the venting system are steam release valve microperforations. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the steam release valve microperforations expand by about 160 to 250 microns during the microwave cooking process. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the venting system allows the food to be evenly steam cooked. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the microperforations expand during the microwave cooking process to regulate the release of excess pressure buildup. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the package is configured to be stored in a frozen state and to contain food that is frozen before the cooking process, and wherein the plurality of microperforations facilitate the storage of the frozen package. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the venting system includes a single row of microperforations. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the venting system includes two rows of microperforations. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the venting system includes 150-250 microperforations. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the venting system includes 50-150 microperforations. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the microperforations have a diameter of about 240 microns. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the package includes 100-300 microperforations. 
     
     
         15 . A package for cooking food in a microwave oven, comprising:
 an expandable first base film and an expandable second base film that are laminated together and that are configured to form the package having an interior for containing and cooking food and an exterior, wherein the package interior and first and second base films expand in response to pressure buildup created by the microwave cooking process; and   a venting system that includes a plurality of up to 300 laser-formed microperforations that have a diameter of 50 to 380 microns, that are arranged in at least one lane, that are located in proximity to the food, that expand during the microwave cooking process and that extend from the interior through the package to the exterior so that they are open prior to and during cooking, wherein the number, size, and location of the microperforations of the venting system regulate the release of pressure buildup from the interior of the package to the exterior during the microwave a cooking process.   
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the microperforations of the venting system are arranged in a single lane. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the venting system includes about 75 microperforations. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the microperforations of the venting system are arranged in two lanes. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein the venting system includes about 150 microperforations. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the microperforations of the venting system have a diameter of about 240 microns.