Microwave pack containing shellfish

Abstract

 A pack containing shellfish (9), comprises a closed container (1) and contents in the container comprising at least a quantity of live shellfish (9). The container is made of a material that is suitable for exposure to microwaves. The contents are on a supporting surface (5) beneath which there is a collector (7) for moisture. The supporting surface can comprise a liquid-permeable plate, such as a mesh plate (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pack containing shellfish, comprising a closed container and contents in the container comprising at least a quantity of live shellfish.

[0002] Such a pack is known. The pack disclosed in EP-A 720 954, which comprises an airtight container containing a quantity of live shellfish, is mentioned as an example. For consumption, the shellfish, such as mussels, are removed from the pack. They can then be cooked in a known manner, for example together with vegetables and the like.

[0003] With the aid of this known pack the mussels can be kept alive for some time so that they remain fit for consumption. However, the pack is less suitable for providing convenience food. For this purpose the contents must be able to be heated in the pack itself, preferably in a microwave oven. Since this is not possible with the known container, the shellfish still have to be removed therefrom.

[0004] The aim of the invention is, therefore, to provide a pack by means of which shellfish such as mussels can be kept alive for a reasonable period and that is also suitable for preparation, preferably in a microwave oven. Said aim is achieved in that the container is made of a material that is suitable for exposure to microwaves and the contents are on a supporting surface beneath which there is a collector for moisture.

[0005] For preparation of the shellfish it suffices according to the invention to heat the pack in a microwave oven. By virtue of the fact that the moisture that may be adhering to the shellfish and also the moisture exuded from the shellfish during preparation is separated from the shellfish, uniform heating of the entire contents can be ensured. All shellfish are then exposed to the same conditions, including those that are at the bottom and that are in the water in the known pack.

[0006] Various materials can serve as supporting surface. According to a first possibility, the supporting surface is defined by a liquid-permeable plate, in particular a mesh plate. Such a plate can be supported in various ways some distance above the base in order to provide room for the water that originates from the shellfish. A plate with supporting feet is mentioned as an example, but the container can also have a peripheral ridge such that the plate is supported on the ridge.

[0007] According to a further possibility, there can be an adsorbent body on the base. Said body consists of an absorbent material known per se. Because the grating is positioned high and the water is absorbed in said absorbent body, it is ensured that the mussels, including those at the bottom, are not in an aqueous environment.

[0008] The shellfish can bear directly on the absorbent body. However, a variant where the absorbent body is below a mesh plate is preferred.

[0009] The mesh plate or the absorbent body can furthermore support an electrically conducting layer (susceptor), such as an aluminium layer. Such a layer becomes relatively hot under the influence of the microwaves generated by the microwave oven, as a result of which further uniformity in the heating process is ensured.

[0010] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment of a pack according to the invention shown in the figure. This pack comprises a bowl-shaped or pan-shaped container 1, which has a base 2 and a peripheral sealing rim 4. The mesh plate 5 is supported on the base 2 of the container, for example by means of supporting feet 6. As an alternative or supplementary feature the peripheral wall 3 of the container 1 can have an inward-facing ridge 15, which may or may not be interrupted, on which the supporting plate 5 can likewise be supported. The contents, which in this case, consist of shellfish 9 and other food ingredients 10, such as vegetables, can then be supported on the mesh plate 5.

[0011] The contents are covered by a film 11 that is welded to the peripheral sealing rim 4, specifically in an airtight manner. Before sealing the film 11, a partial vacuum is applied to the interior of the container 1, such that the film 11 exerts a contact force on the mussels 10 for keeping them closed. The film 11 can have a steam and/or pressure-releasing opening known per se.

[0012] Any water adhering to the mussels, or water that has originated therefrom, flows via the openings 12 in the mesh plate 5 into the space 13 below said mesh plate 5. The consequence of this is that even the lowermost mussels 9 are not or are only partially in the water, so that they open correctly during cooking. This can be furthermore ensured by the presence of the absorbent body 7, in which the moisture can be retained.

[0013] As a consequence of the fact that all mussels 9 and the vegetables 10 are under the same conditions in the container 1, that is to say that none or only a small portion of the contents is in the water, uniform heating can be obtained by means of a microwave oven.

[0014] This uniform heating can also be ensured by providing an electrically conducting layer, such as an aluminium layer 14, on the underside of the mesh plate 5 or the absorbent body 7. This becomes relatively hot under the influence of the microwaves originating from the microwave oven, so that uniformity in the heating can be further improved.

Claims

1. Pack containing shellfish (10), comprising an airtight closed container (1) and contents in the container comprising at least a quantity of live shellfish (9), characterised in that the entire container (1) is made of a material that is suitable for exposure to microwaves and the contents are on a supporting surface (5) beneath which there is a collector (13) for moisture.

2. Pack according to Claim 1, wherein the supporting surface is defined by a liquid-permeable plate (5).

3. Pack according to Claim 2, wherein the supporting surface comprises a mesh plate (5).

4. Pack according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the container (1) has an interrupted or uninterrupted ridge (15) and the plate (5) is supported on the ridge (15).

5. Pack according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the plate (5) has supporting feet (6).

6. Pack according to one of Claims 2 - 5, wherein the plate (5) and/or the absorbent body (7) is covered by an electrically conducting layer, such as an aluminium layer (14).

7. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an absorbent body (7) is on the base (2).

8. Pack according to Claim 7, wherein the absorbent body (7) is below the supporting surface (5).

Drawing