Sterilization of Food in Microwave Interactive Packages

摘要

An apparatus and method to heat food in a sealed-closed package without having the package open during heating involves disposing a package in a chamber with fluid above atmospheric pressure to engage an exterior of the package with sufficient force to prevent the package from becoming unsealed. The package can include at least a portion that includes a microwave interactive material that interacts with the food during microwave energy exposure and can include areas that substantially reflect microwave energy at areas of the food susceptible to overheating or crisping. The fluid can be a gas, such as air.

主权项

1. A method of sterilizing a food product comprising:
obtaining a package containing the food product, the package comprising a seal and a microwave interactive material; positioning the package in a chamber; pressurizing the chamber to a pressure above atmospheric pressure; heating the food product by exposing the package to microwave energy, the microwave interactive material controlling the heating of the food product, wherein the heating of the food product increases the pressure in the package and the pressurizing of the chamber reduces the pressure differential between the exterior of the package and the interior of the package to prevent failure of the seal during the heating of the food product.