Package for combined steam and microwave heating of food

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microwave oven cooking methods lack efficient simultaneous steam and microwave heating solutions for frozen or chilled foods, leading to uneven cooking and reduced cooking performance.

Innovation Solution

A multi-sectional package with microwave energy-interactive materials (MEIMs) that includes a susceptor, shield, and resonating patch antenna, allowing for simultaneous steam and microwave cooking by separating the steam source and food within the package, enabling controlled volumetric heating and efficient cooking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional microwave cooking methods are used, then cooking speed is improved, but heating uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking speedVSAvoidheating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into multiple sections: a first container for steam source and a second container (basket) for food product. This segmentation allows separate control of steam generation and food heating zones, enabling uniform steam distribution while maintaining rapid microwave cooking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Steam acts as an intermediary medium between the microwave energy and the food product. The microwave energy first heats the steam source, which then generates steam that uniformly heats the food product through convection and conduction, while susceptors provide direct microwave heating to specific areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If steam heating is used separately, then heating uniformity is improved, but cooking time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidcooking time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The package merges steam heating and microwave heating into a single integrated system. The first container generates steam via microwave heating, while the second container receives both steam and direct microwave energy, combining the uniformity benefits of steam with the speed benefits of microwave heating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The package incorporates susceptors (microwave energy interactive materials) that work in conjunction with steam. The susceptors absorb microwave energy and convert it to heat, creating localized hot spots that complement the steam heating process, achieving both uniformity and rapid cooking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If single-chamber package design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cooking functionality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackage structureVSAvoidcooking functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The package is segmented into a first container for steam source and a second container for food product, with each section having specific functionality. This segmentation enables versatile cooking (steam, microwave, combined) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-sectional package design provides multi-functionality: the first container can hold various steam sources (ice, water, frozen food), the second container can accommodate different food products, and the system can operate in different modes (steam-only, microwave-only, or combined) depending on the cooking requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 package provides rapid and even cooking of frozen or chilled foods by combining steam and microwave heating, ensuring balanced heating patterns and efficient cooking performance in domestic microwave ovens.

Implementation Method 1

The MEIMs may include one or more of a susceptor, shield, and/or resonating patch antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave absorption and dielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

The MEIMs may include one or more of a susceptor, shield, and/or resonating patch antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 3

The second bottom wall has at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam generation and convection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS9676539B2Package for combined steam and microwave heating of food

Publication Date: 2017.06.13 GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL LLC

AI summary

A package for combined steam and microwave heating of food, wherein the package may include microwave energy interactive materials (“MEIMs”) configured for providing rapid, simultaneous microwave and steam cooking in a domestic microwave oven. The MEIMs may be configured for controlling the heating pattern within the package and to control volumetric heating of food in the package. The MEIMs may include one or more of a susceptor, shield, and/or resonating patch antenna. The package may be paper-based, or it may be manufactured of any other suitable material. One or more of the different sections of the package may comprise separate chambers respectively for the steam source and the food to be steamed, so that the steam source and the food to be steamed are separated from one another during manufacturing, storage, and cooking.