Frozen Fish Product Molded Recess for Pan-Frying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing frozen fish products, such as breaded and floured plaice, are either of low quality or unsuitable for pan-frying due to curvature or poor texture, limiting consumer preparation options.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a tool with n side surfaces to create a recess in a fish fillet, filled with a foodstuff, and then breaded or floured, ensuring the product can be pan-fried by arranging fish fillet pieces to border on n-1 side surfaces of the tool, and cooling to prevent displacement, resulting in a flat, breading-enclosed product.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If deep-frozen blocks of fish are used to produce crispy fillets, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates resulting in low quality products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidproduct quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by preparing fresh fish fillets with precise geometry and arranging fish pieces in a mold before freezing. This ensures high manufacturing precision is achieved during the initial preparation stage, allowing the product to maintain quality while enabling efficient frozen production later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If stuffed plaice are deep-frozen with sauce enclosed between fillets, then ease of manufacture is improved, but shape deteriorates causing curvature unsuitable for pan-frying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction convenienceVSAvoidflatness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a mold as an intermediary tool to shape the fish fillets and control their geometry during assembly. The mold ensures the fish pieces are arranged in a flat configuration that maintains the desired shape after freezing, while still allowing easy assembly of the stuffed plaice product.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If fish fillet is made thin for easy frying, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates making it difficult to maintain structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrying easeVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite structure by assembling multiple thin fish pieces around a central filling within a mold. This composite construction maintains the thinness required for easy frying while providing structural integrity through the assembled configuration and supporting elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Shape

If fish pieces are arranged to border on all side surfaces of the tool, then shape is improved creating a closed recess, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecess closureVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies segmentation by dividing the fish fillet into multiple separate pieces that are individually arranged around the mold's side surfaces. This segmentation allows each piece to be positioned independently to achieve the desired closed recess shape, while the modular approach actually simplifies the assembly process compared to working with a single complex piece.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method produces a high-quality, flat frozen fish product that can be easily pan-fried, with a balanced composition of fish, fillet pieces, foodstuff, and breading, allowing for even cooking and preventing sauce from running.

Implementation Method 1

the fish fillet, the fish fillet pieces, the foodstuff and the breading or flour coating are finally cooled to a temperature of less than 0°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP2644042B1Frozen fish product and method for producing the same
Publication Date: 2014.08.20 FEMEG PRODIONS UND VERTRIEBSMBH
  • EP2644042B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2644042B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2644042B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Producing a frozen fish product, comprises (a) providing a fish fillet (1), (b) placing a base area of a tool (2) on the fish fillet, where the tool comprises at least 3 side surfaces (221), (c) placing at least two fish fillet pieces (31) at the fish fillet, (d) removing the tool, (e) filling a recess, which is bounded by the fish fillet and fish fillet pieces, with a foodstuff, (d) breading and/or mottling the fish fillets, the fish fillet pieces, and foodstuff with breadcrumbs and/or mottling, and (e) cooling the fish fillets, fish fillet pieces, foodstuff and bread crumbs and/or mottling. Producing a frozen fish product, comprises (a) providing a fish fillet (1), (b) placing a base area of a tool (2) on the fish fillet, where the tool comprises at least 3 side surfaces (221), (c) placing at least two fish fillet pieces (31) at the fish fillet such the fish fillet pieces are adjacent at least at 2 side surfaces of the tool, (d) removing the tool, (e) filling a recess, which is bounded by the fish fillet and fish fillet pieces, with a foodstuff, (d) breading and/or mottling the fish fillets, the fish fillet pieces, and foodstuff with breadcrumbs and/or mottling, and (e) cooling the fish fillets, fish fillet pieces, the food and the bread crumbs and/or mottling to a temperature of less than 0[deg] C. An independent claim is also included for frozen fish product comprising a fish fillet, at least two fish fillet pieces, which are placed on the fish fillet, a foodstuff, which is placed in a recess having a polygonal-, oval- or circular cross-section and is bounded on at least two sides of the fish fillet pieces, and a breadcrumb, which encloses the fish fillet, the fish fillet pieces and the foodstuff.