Packaged potatoes

Description

[0001] This invention is related to a new way of using and handling potatoes. The potato is a very nutritious raw material for food and furthermore a comparatively frequently used raw material, this despite the fact that the change from raw material to food is comparatively circumstantial.

[0002] For the change of potato to food one must either oneself or someone else execute the required work. Different semifabricates are available that enable a faster and more simple preparing, which however increase the cost and also constitute an environmental burden since the potato for this frequently is freighted to industries and then delivered out therefrom, for instance in the environment burdening plastic packages and furthermore sometimes frozen with the resulting large use of energy. As example can be mentioned French fried potatoes that are sold frozen and that can then be heated relatively quickly but that before it is eaten has required a lot of transport and use of machinery. The potato as a fast food will thereby be more expensive and in many cases also a burden to the environment despite the great usefulness in itself.

[0003] The object of the invention is to make the potato more available as fast food in an environmentally more satisfactory way than the case is today. In accordance with invention the potato is packed, preferably piece by piece, in particular large potatoes, in a paper or some other packing material. The paper is to be permeable to water steam but essentially impervious to light and in particular ultraviolet light. For instance the paper may be black. The paper is advantageously thin and flexible so that it can shape itself well after the potato.

[0004] The above simple step allows a very environmentally friendly handling of the paper wrapped potato. The reason that the above simple steps provide the desired advantages is that it makes it possible for the potato to be stored/displayed in the shop, sold and taken home and prepared in its surrounding paper. Corresponding gains are also obtained at the use the invented potato product in fast food chains, petrol stations etc.

[0005] Advantageously the packing can take place already at the potato grower.

[0006] The paper may be the applied to the potato in different ways. For instance a slightly too large paper (possibly a common paper for all sizes of potatoes) is drawn up around the potato so that in principal a small sack or bag is made, the top end of which is twisted together. Thereafter the part twisted together can be cut away and a possibly self adhesive etiquette is applied there instead. Alternatively the twisted part may be folded in against the potato and fastened with a self adhesive etiquette or label. As a further alternative one can consider to fold the paper up on the sides of the potato and up on the top where the paper from the different sides is laid more or less overlapping and fixed by means of an etiquette or self adhesive parts along the edges of the paper.

[0007] The permeability for water steam of the paper secure that moisture from the inner of the potato at storing does not stop between the package and the potato skin and resulting in rot or mold but instead the potato will remain dry. By using a paper that does not let through light the tendency of the potato to produce glycoalcaloids as chaconin and solanin is drastically reduced, these substances resulting in the potato becoming green, taste bitter and furthermore can give people a stomach-ache.

[0008] The potato packed in the above way thus retains its qualities better than without paper and can be distributed directly for exposure in shops in for this provided open boxes where the potato with a good margin can lie for two weeks without being impaired, visible and easy to take along, just about as if it was a fruit.

[0009] Together with the potato accessories in the shape of sausages and other food ingredients can be sold. In particular one can use the large heat content in the potato after it has been cooked so that cold accessories or ingredients in a ready dish can be heated solely by the hot potato by being filled from a bag that has been cut open into a ready boiled potato that has been slit open.

[0010] The customers then by their wrapped potatoes with remaining paper wrapping and take these home without opening the paper-wrapping.

[0011] At the preparation the potato is then placed with the paper still on in a microwave oven and is heated for a sufficient time for it, so to say, to boil inside its own skin. The paper holds the potato together even if this should crack and no soiling of the oven occur. The steam that is generated in the potato during the heating is released through its skin (and possible cracks in this respectively) then to pass out through the paper. The paper restricts steam transport somewhat so that the potato does not dry out unnecessarily. When the potato is properly cooked, inside the paper and in its own skin, after prescribed time, the packed potato still in the paper is taken out from the oven.

[0012] The water steam in the paper is quickly drawn away into the surrounding when the oven has been shut off and opened and the paper quickly cool down and form an insulating layer around the potato so that it is possible to handle the potato manually almost immediately after the preparation in microwave oven.

[0013] The potato is now ready to be eaten and this is quite simply done by cutting a cut on the top side of the potato and the packing and the potato are opened up simultaneously. Different additives can be added to the potato in the cut, as sausages, mustard, ketchup etc, all as desired. Alternatively the potato may be eaten together with any dish, or even as it is in itself. When the potato has been consumed the potato that is now mostly skin is thrown away together with its surrounding paper, clean, nice and easy to handle. No environmentally dangerous remains, metal or the like have to be separated from the meal that has thus been possible to consume with only the use of a spoon, and during the eating it is further more possible to hold the potato in one hand and the spoon in the other.

[0014] Alternatively the skin of the potato with the surrounding paper can easily be peeled off and the skin thrown away together with the surrounding paper.

[0015] As is realized the invented method amounts to a very rational handling of the potato altogether. The only work that is put down outside of the transport to the shop is the sorting out of (washed) potatoes in suitable size and the wrapping of these in paper.

[0016] When one is to hold the potato and eat this respectively it is advantageously placed with the etiquette facing downwards so that the heat insulation downwards is best since the paper there is in several layers after the wrapping.

[0017] Since the usual food potato often is distributed directly from the grower to shops, restaurants etc advantageously the packing of chosen potatoes suitable for the invention may take place directly at the grower in connection with a sorting and can then be delivered together with other potatoes to shops, restaurants etc.

[0018] Since these deliveries are frequent, for instance one or twice per week the potatoes in accordance with invention may also be delivered frequently, securing a good quality.

[0019] It can be noted that potatoes that have been packed in accordance with the invention is very friendly to the environment and can together with its packing be composted as it is. This means an essential saving in the handling of possible remains that remain unsold in shops since no separation has to be done as is the case with for instance plastic packings that has to be opened and emptied so that the plastic packings can be handled separately.

[0020] Also at a manual packing at the grower this can be profitable since in return no expensive machinery is required.

[0021] With the invented method also the value of for instance large potatoes may increase drastically since these otherwise mostly only become animal feed or a primary product for the industry.

[0022] Advantageously the etiquette, that is used to fasten the paper together on the bottom side at eating, is provided with data about the kind of potato and the grower of it etc. Furthermore of course the etiquette may include directions of suitable preparation time and power of the oven.

[0023] In this way it is possible for the buyer if he or she so wishes to establish what kind of potato that he or she likes the best and an increased knowledge of sorts of potato and their taste can be gained among the consumers. The potato is of course preferably quality certified and corresponding information may also be found on the etiquette or the paper.

[0024] As mentioned the paper may be flexible and advantageously black in order not to let trough light that would result in the potato trying to grow or become green and bad tasting as mentioned above. The paper need not necessarily be in one layer but may instead be multilayered and it is also possible to consider that the layer that is impervious to light is arranged at the inside of the paper as an inner layer. It is also possible to conceive light impervious layers being arranged on several sides of the paper or in some other way in several layers. The paper is further preferably not electrically conductive.

[0025] A certain elasticity of the paper is also desirable in order to achieve a pleasing look for the packed potato.

[0026] At heating in a microwave oven the paper is not heated in any other way than by the outflowing steam and thus there is no risk that the paper catch fire. With a suitable choice of paper it may be possible to conceive that the flame point of this can be obtained so high that also a heating in a warm air oven is possible.

[0027] It may also been noted that it with the invention is possible to furnish potato for consumption without treatment with growth hampering means, for instance clorprofan. The reason for this is that at the manual packing possible sprouts may easily be removed manually with little waste of time. This natural inspection furthermore improves the potato quality.

[0028] If you see the packed potato in accordance with invention as fast food it is unique in several ways, for instance transports, only four grams of packing, it is fresh, possible to pack manually where the primary product and customer exist, additional sale and work opportunities for many involved persons, new exposure possibilities in shops etc, better use of available primary product.

[0029] In comparison with other fast food the invention that has been described above is echo friendly and require little time for the producer, the potato does not have to be peeled, boiled, put in special plastic packages and does not have to be treated in any other way than being packed, left over examples does not have to be dismantled into potato and package.

[0030] In comparison with prior art the invented method is free from poison and ecologically satisfying, not least because possible remains including the package itself can be composted and decomposed.

[0031] Also at the sale of the potato it is advantageous that the potato is packed so that you cant se it since large potatoes run a greater risk of being damaged than small, damages that in themselves does not matter but that may be disturb the eye. Instead you have to judge the potato after how it is felt, which is a better ground for judgement. In reality one will reasonably not see the potato after the meal either.

[0032] In a larger perspective the object of the invention is not only to provide a bake potato that can be cooked in a microwave oven. We must the experts say reduce our use of energy. Normal potatoes for eating are today, but for store chains, handled rationally and energy preserving by being delivered directly from grower to the shop. This is not the case with baked potatoes. In the normal case it is delivered even from other countries with the resulting transport costs, emissions and possible need of additives for the keeping of qualities. Thereafter it must be distributed from the wholesale dealer out to the shops.

[0033] Since the potato according to the invention can be packed, transported and sold in parallel with the ordinary potato for eating, the costs and the emission of carbondioxid will be far less than at used methods. The packing only weighs a few grams and is furthermore compostable, why the influence on the environment will be minimum. The invention is thus an essential step forward from the point of the environment. To this does especially the fact contribute that the potato in accordance with invention is fresh and can do without cooling counter with good keeping of quality.

[0034] The invention has above been described from an essentially manually perspective. If so is desired of course special packing machines may be made for fast and rational wrapping of potato in paper. Likewise the invention has above been described with piece by piece packing of the potato. If so desired one may instead pack several potatoes in the same paper and still achieve some of the achieved advantages.

Claims

1. Potato, characterized in that it is wrapped in a paper or other packing material that is permeable for steam and essentially impervious to light.

2. Potato according to claim 1, characterized in that the paper is thin and shape well after the potato.

3. Potato according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the potato is wrapped piece by piece.

4. Potato according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paper wrapped around the potato is sealed with an adhering etiquette or label.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paper is multilayered.

6. Method for the handling of potatoes in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the potato already at the grower or wholesaler is wrapped in its paper so that it can be transported, exposed and sold to a consumer in packed state finally also to be prepared and served with its remaining surrounding paper.

7. Method for the packing of potato in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a slightly too large paper (possibly a uniform paper for all potato sizes) is drawn up around the potato so that principally a small sack or bag is shaped, the top end of which is twisted together, whereafter the together twisted part is cut away and a self adhesive label or etiquette is applied there instead, alternatively the part twisted together can be folded in towards the potato and be fixed with a self adhesive etiquette or label.

8. Method for the packing of potato in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the paper is folded up on the sides of the potato and up on top where the paper from the different sides are placed more or less overlapping and fixed by means of an etiquette or label.

9. Method for the packing of potato, characterized in that the potato piece by piece, in particular large potatoes, is wrapped in a paper that shape well after the potato and the wrapped paper is fixed or closed with an adhering etiquette or label, the paper being pervious for water steam but essentially impervious to light and in particular ultraviolet light.