Container for thawing frozen sushi

Abstract

To provide a thawing container in which the rice and sushi toppings are thawed to the proper temperature, allowing frozen sushi to be sold side by side, container by container.SOLUTION: A container body 12 and a lid 14 are used being overlapped each other. The container body 12 and the lid 14 are made of press-molded heat-resistant plastic that can withstand the heat received during thawing. The container body 12 has container parts 18 that enclose the frozen rice 22 side by side and encase the entire rice one by one. The opening rims 20 of the container parts 18 are connected by flange parts 16. Frozen sushi toppings 24 are arranged to cover the opening rims 20 of container part 18. The lid 14 and the flange part 16 sandwich all of the pieces of sushi toppings 24 and prevent their movement.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for packaging and selling frozen sushi so that it can be thawed while still in a lined state. [Background technology]

[0002] Various containers that allow frozen sushi to be thawed while still being laid out have been developed, as shown in Patent Documents 1 to 4 and the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1999-290206 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-136975 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-137493 [Patent Document 4] WO1005 / 7532 publication Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of development, attention has traditionally focused on ensuring that when thawing sushi in a microwave oven while still in the container, the rice is warmed appropriately while preventing the topping from being unnecessarily heated. To this end, for example, container structures have been devised to prevent the topping from being irradiated with microwaves from the microwave oven. As described in the above-mentioned patent document, one such structure involves covering the topping with aluminum foil. However, there is a risk of fire inside the microwave oven due to discharge occurring at the edges of the aluminum foil. Therefore, while this type of container may be suitable for use in sushi restaurant kitchens, it is not suitable from a safety perspective for use by the average consumer for thawing sushi at home. The present invention was made to solve this problem. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The following configurations are means for solving the above problems.

[0006] <Configuration 1> The container body and the lid are stacked together for use, The container body and lid are made of heat-resistant plastic that can withstand the heat received when thawing in a microwave oven. The molded body , The container body has a container portion that accommodates a plurality of frozen sushi rice pieces arranged side by side so as to surround each piece of sushi rice, and a flange portion that aligns the container portions at regular intervals and connects and integrates their opening edges, The frozen ingredients are arranged in contact with the opening edges of the container parts provided on the flange parts so as to cover the opening edges. It has been Sometimes, The lid and the flange portion sandwich all ingredients between them to prevent the ingredients from moving, and the space between the lid and the container body is sealed. The flange portion is provided with a protrusion for maintaining the gap between the flange portion and the lid at a set value, and a recess having a depth that reaches at least the bottom of the container portion. It is being A sushi thawing container characterized by the above.

[0007] <Configuration 2> The flange portion is provided with a protrusion that maintains the distance between the flange portion and the lid at a set value, and a recess that is deep enough to reach at least the bottom of the container portion, both of which are press-molded integrally with the flange portion. <Configuration 3> A sushi thawing container as described in configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottom of the container portion for the rice is embossed by being press-molded as a single unit, giving it more flexibility than other portions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Since the container body 12 and the lid 14 are made by press molding heat-resistant plastic, the thickness of the container part 12 surrounding the rice and the lid 14 can be adjusted by devising the molding shape, and optimized to allow microwaves to easily penetrate. The container parts 18 surround the entire sushi rice 22 one by one and are arranged below the flange parts 16, so that microwaves from below are uniformly irradiated onto the entire sushi rice 22. The neta 24 is sandwiched between the lid 14 and the flange part 16 so as to cover the opening edge 20 of the container part 18 and is arranged so as to be prevented from moving, so that the microwave coming from below is weakened and it is less likely to be heated than the rice, and can be thawed at an appropriate temperature. By providing a protrusion 26 that maintains the gap between the flange portion 16 and the lid 14 at a set value, the lid 14 can be supported so that it is in contact with the ingredient 24 while preventing the ingredient from being crushed, allowing it to be thawed at an appropriate temperature. Also, if the ingredient 24 is not thawed sufficiently, the temperature can be adjusted by pouring hot water directly on the lid 14. By providing the flange portion 16 with a recess 28 deep enough to reach at least the bottom of the container portion 18, deformation of the container portion 18 due to external forces acting on the flexible bottom of the container portion 18 can be suppressed. Since the plastic is press-molded, embossing the bottom of the container portion 18 makes that portion thinner, making the bottom of the container portion more flexible than the rest of the container. This makes it easier to push the rice out of the container portion after thawing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1(a) is a top view of the container body 12, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing the state in which rice 22 and toppings 24 are contained. [Figure 2] 2(a) is a top view of the lid 14, (b) is a BB cross-sectional view of (a), and (c) is a BB cross-sectional view showing the state in which the container body 12 and the lid 14 are stacked. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container body 12 as seen from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container body 12 as seen from below. [Figure 5]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lid 14 as seen from above. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lid 14 as seen from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail for each example. [Example]

[0011] The frozen sushi thawing container of the present invention is sold by placing frozen toppings 24 on top of frozen rice 22 and arranging several pieces inside the container, so that the purchaser can thaw the sushi in the microwave without removing it from the container and eat it.It can also be used as a container for storing frozen sushi, thawing it in the kitchen of a sushi restaurant, and serving it to customers.

[0012] The container is made of a heat-resistant plastic that can withstand the heat received during thawing in a microwave oven, and the container body 12 and lid 14 are press-molded into the shape shown in the figure.

[0013] The container body 12 has container parts 18 for accommodating a plurality of frozen sushi rice balls 22 arranged one by one so as to surround each sushi rice ball 22 as a whole, and flange parts 16 for aligning the container parts 18 at regular intervals and connecting and integrating their opening edges 20.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the container portion 18 is arranged so as to protrude below the flange portion 16. When microwaves from a microwave oven are irradiated from below, the microwaves reach the entire sushi rice 22 through the wall of the container portion 18. Therefore, the height of the container portion 18 is set so that part of the sushi rice 22 does not protrude upward from the opening edge 20 of the flange portion 16.

[0015] The flange portion 16 has a hill-like bulge around the opening edge 20 to adjust the height of the container portion 18. Because part of the flange portion 16 is press-molded, the wall thickness of the container portion 18 is sufficiently thinner than other parts, resulting in a structure that allows microwaves to easily penetrate.

[0016] Furthermore, while the mechanical strength of the flange portion 16 is high, the mechanical strength of the container portion 18 is relatively low, so recesses 28 are provided to prevent crushing. In addition, protrusions 26 for supporting the lid 14 are provided in various locations on the flange portion 16. Cylindrical or triangular prism shapes are suitable, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1(b), when the flange portion 16 is formed into a disk shape, the recess 28 supports the flange portion 16 from below at its center. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1(c), the protrusion 26 and the recess 28 maintain the gap between the container body 12 and the lid 14 and function to suppress deformation of the flexible portion of the bottom of the container portion 18. Because the protrusion 26 and the recess 28 are lower in height than the container portion 18, the mechanical strength of the side wall is higher than that of the container portion 18. The recess 28 reaches at least to the bottom of the container portion 18, mitigating the force applied to the bottom of the container portion 18 and preventing deformation.

[0018] Frozen ingredients 24 are arranged on the upper surface of the flange portion 16 so as to cover the opening edge 20 of the container portion 18. The lid 14 covers all of these ingredients 24, preventing them from moving, and overlaps with the container body 12 to sandwich and seal all of the sushi rice 22 and ingredients 24. The lid 14 is held in almost tight contact with all of the ingredients.

[0019] The container containing the frozen sushi rice 22 and the toppings 24 is frozen and then sold, for example, in a store. The purchaser places the container directly in a microwave oven and defrosts the contents by setting the specified power and time.

[0020] When thawing begins by placing the container portion 18 containing the sushi rice 22 face down on a plate (not shown) of the microwave oven, microwaves are irradiated from the plate side, and the sushi rice 22 is heated to an appropriate temperature and thawed. At this time, the sushi toppings 24 arranged on top of the sushi rice 22 are thawed to an appropriate temperature because the microwave irradiation intensity is weakened by the sushi rice 22.

[0021] The microwaves reflected from the microwave oven plate are radiated evenly over the entire sushi rice 22 through the wall of the container 18, so that the sushi rice 22 is quickly thawed and reaches the appropriate temperature. It is advisable to measure the optimal microwave irradiation intensity and thawing time according to the shape of the container and type of sushi, and then label the container or packaging.

[0022] Furthermore, since the lid 14 is held in a state where it is almost in close contact with the ingredients 24, if there is a concern that the ingredients 24 may not be thawed sufficiently, hot water can be poured over the lid 14 to adjust the thawing.

[0023] After thawing, it is advisable to lift the container body 12 upward with the lid 14 facing downward. At this time, the container body 12 can be lifted by grasping the recessed portion 28. In this way, the container body 12 is removed with the sushi rice 22 placed on the lid 14 with the topping 24 facing downward. After that, the serving plate is placed on top and the whole is turned upside down, and the thawed sushi is arranged in a circle at regular intervals on the plate.

[0024] All of the toppings 24 fit into the bottom-shaped portion 36 of the lid 14, so the toppings 24 do not shift out of position and the sushi maintains its normal shape. For example, if the lid 14 is made translucent, it is possible to check whether the toppings 24 are lined up correctly on the rice 22.

[0025] We actually created containers like those shown in Figures 3 to 5 by press-molding a 0.7mm thick polycarbonate sheet and defrosted them in a microwave oven on the defrost mode for 120 seconds. When defrosted for 160 seconds, the temperature of the rice was 49°C and the temperature of the topping was 8°C. When defrosted for 160 seconds, the temperature of the rice was 65°C and the temperature of the topping was 13°C. These ranges are optimal.

[0026] In other words, it is now possible to perform thawing under optimal conditions. Therefore, it can be said to be the ideal container for thawing sushi in-house and serving it to customers, as well as for customers who purchase the container and thaw it. In addition, it is safe because it does not use metal foil or other materials to block microwaves. Both the container and the lid can be easily press-molded, so manufacturing costs can be kept to a minimum. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 12 Container body 14 Lid 16 Flange part 18 Container part 20 Opening edge 22 Shari 24 stories 26 Protrusion 28 Recess 30 Body periphery 32 Lid margin 36 Ship bottom part

Claims

1. The container body and the lid are stacked together for use, The container body and lid are molded plastic bodies that are heat-resistant and can withstand the heat that is applied when thawing in a microwave oven. The container body has a container portion that accommodates a plurality of frozen sushi rice pieces arranged side by side so as to surround each piece of sushi rice, and a flange portion that aligns the container portions at regular intervals and connects and integrates their opening edges, When the frozen ingredients are arranged in contact with the opening edges of the container parts provided in the flange parts and covering the opening edges, The lid and the flange portion sandwich all ingredients between them to prevent the ingredients from moving, and the space between the lid and the container body is sealed. The flange portion is provided with a protrusion that maintains the distance between the flange portion and the lid at a set value, and a recess that is deep enough to reach at least the bottom of the container portion.

2. A method for manufacturing a sushi thawing container as described in claim 1, characterized in that the flange portion of the container body and the container portion are press-molded together, and an embossed portion is provided on the bottom of the container portion that holds the rice, thereby making the embossed portion more flexible than other portions.

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