Abstract: Perishable goods containing water, especially foodstuffs, are packed aseptically in packages formed from impervious but flexible film and furnished with vents adequate for the escape of vapor during treatment at bake or part-bake temperatures at which goods in the package are pasteurized, the vents remaining open throughout the heating and subsequent cooling thereafter to prevent the package collapsing on the goods. The vents are positioned for security of subsequent closure in a closure seam first made to enclose the goods in the package and are constituted by interruptions in the seam providing a total cross-sectional venting area of more than 2.5 mms.sup.2. The vents are sealed after cooling. The invention is particularly applicable to the packaging of bakers' goods which are baked or part-baked in the package, which is preferably made from laminated polymeric film material.

Abstract: A dough process is provided which allows for a slow release of pressure and dough expansion upon opening a dough container on chemically leavened fresh dough contained in the container with the release rate of pressure slower than a predetermined rate. The fresh dough contained in the container after slow release of pressure and baking will have high specific volume.

Abstract: A filter-bag for infusion products, such as tea, camomile, or the like, formed of a blank of filter paper tape coated with a heat-sealable layer of thermoplastic material, longitudinally folded into two halves so that said layer remains in the inside and heat-sealed so as to define an infusion product containing space. A tag is attached by a thread of natural fibers retained at one end thereof between two heat-sealed edges of the bag and wound around the latter.The thread is fixed on the outside of the bag by means of heat-sealing at several points.

Abstract: A squeeze bottle contains a dry funnel cake mix, an opening and a selectively removable and replaceable cover for the opening. A funnel integral with the cover extends from the remainder of the bottle. With the cover removed from the opening, water is poured through the opening. The liquid and mix in the bottle are mixed by shaking the bottle to form a funnel cake batter while the cover and funnel are closed so the contents of the bottle can not escape during mixing. Then, while the funnel is open, the batter is dispensed through the funnel into a cooking vessel having heated cooking oil therein. The batter is dispensed by holding the bottle so an open end of the funnel remote from the remainder of the bottle is in a generally downward direction while the bottle is squeezed to exert pressure on the batter. A cap for the open end of the funnel is placed on the funnel open end to close the funnel after the batter has been dispensed to enable remaining batter in the bottle to be stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing plastic or synthetic coated sealing surfaces of cardboard containers to each other is disclosed. One feature of the invention resides in preheating (by 15) of at least one (48) of the plastic or synthetic layers and then sealing (station 16) by the simultaneous application of heat and pressure. Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the pressure is applied at spaced intervals (by 40) and in such a manner that one (47) of the plastic or synthetic sealing layers remains with the top of the box upon removal thereof. A container sealed in such a manner is also taught.

Abstract: A utensil for reconstituting a two-component dehydrated dish includes three approximately cup-shaped container members having each a bottom wall and an annular wall transverse to the bottom wall and bounding an open side of the member opposite the bottom wall. A first container defines a cavity dimensioned to receive the other two members substantially entirely. The bottom walls of the first and of a second member are imperforate, the bottom wall of the third member being formed with a plurality of perforations. Positioning means permit the second and third members to be positioned in the cavity of the first member in respective positions in which the bottom walls of the second and third members are transversely offset from each other and from the bottom wall of the first member, and the second and third members are open in the same direction as the first member.

Abstract: A whipping cream is obtained using a partially enzymolyzed soybean protein, with which an aerosol container is filled up and CO.sub.2 gas as a propellant is charged under pressure into the container. When the partially enzymolyzed soybean protein is used in amounts of 1-6% by weight based on the cream, the whipping cream exhibits good emulsification state and has moderate overrun and a shape-maintaining property when extruded with CO.sub.2 gas.

Abstract: With the process, pasta products are packed in serving portions, ready for sale. For doing this, the pasta products are separated into serving portions prior to drying and packing into the package. In order to avoid mechanical breakage, provision is made, when separating the pasta products, to lay at least one serving of pasta product onto a carrying member of the at least two-part package. Afterward, the carrying member is combined with the remaining packaging members into a package.

Abstract: Containers are filled with a topping and a base food product that supports the topping by introducing through the opening of an inverted container a layer of food product that is supported by the inside surface of a removable lid of the container, then filling the interior of the inverted container with a base food product that is solidifiable and is different from the food product layer, sealing the opening of the container, maintaining the container in the inverted position until the base food product is sufficiently solidified to self-support the food product layer and positioning the sealed container in the upright position for the base food product to self-support the food product layer above it is a topping beneath the removable lid.

Abstract: An ice cream cone product is provided having a sanitary paper jacket adhered thereto which is sufficiently adherent for shipping, handling and vending but which is selectively removable without leaving jacket remnants thereon at the point of consumption. A jacket is telescopically juxtaposed over the cone after the jacket interior is dosed with a mixture of water vapor and propylene glycol.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for packaging hot foods in a unique container having an inner layer of absorbent paperboard adhered to an outer layer of resinous foam insulating material. The inner paperboard layer has an absorbent porous surface and has sufficient thickness and rigidity to lend body to the container. The outer foam layer is sufficiently thick to insulate and prevent moisture leakage.

Abstract: A frying method in which hot oil is discharged upward from nozzles at the bottom of a frying tank at high pressure while a perforated container holding tightly packed noodles is conveyed in a horizontally extending path through the oil. The pressure of the hot oil forces the noodles apart so that they are fried uniformly. The frying of the noodles dehydrates them to the desired degree.

Abstract: A process for preparing infusions of aromatic substances such as coffee and tea comprising the steps of confining a predetermined mass of discrete particles of said substance in a closed water permeable supporting and filtering container of predetermined dimensions, and repeatedly submerging said container with the substance therein within a predetermined volume of hot water, the relationship of the container dimensions and the mass being such that when the container is submerged in hot water the thickness of the mass therein is maintained less than a predetermined critical thickness of irreversible self-compactness, the repeated submerging and withdrawing of the container effecting repeated admission and drainage of hot water from the container thereby promoting successive states of decompaction and reversible compactness of the particles in the confined mass, until a desired degree of concentration of the infusion is attained in the body of water, and containers for carrying out the process.

Abstract: Containers of sundae-style yogurt having a top layer of fruit preserves are prepared by introducing fruit preserves into an inverted container through an opening opposite the container lid to form a layer of fruit preserves on the inside of the lid, introducing inoculated milk into the container above the fruit preserves, sealing the opening, incubating and refrigerating the contents of the sealed container to gel the milk and produce yogurt, and positioning the container in an upright position with the lid on top. Alternatively, an upright container is partially filled with inoculated milk containing a stabilizing gum, the milk is gelled to produce yogurt and a layer of fruit preserves is introduced into the container to cover the top surface of the yogurt. Intermingling of fruit preserves with the milk or yogurt can be inhibited by providing an edible barrier at the interface between the fruit preserves and the milk or yogurt.

Abstract: An aqueous extract of a vegetable material is treated with a view to reducing its caffeine and/or chlorogenic acid content. The treatment is with a solid ligneous adsorbent of vegetable origin in divided form at a temperature of from 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. so as to absorb the caffeine and the chlorogenic acid. The combination of extract and ligneous adsorbent is dried by freeze-drying. The dried combination is thereafter introduced into infusing bags. On infusing the bags in hot water, an extract is obtained in partially decaffeinated and partially deacidified form.

Abstract: A method of cooking food in a package is disclosed. A metal foil container provides two adjacent compartments so that meat can be placed in one and bread in the other. The bread compartment is vented to atmosphere, and there is communication between the two compartments. Cooking of the meat generates cooking gases which flow through the bread compartment, warming and moistening the bread before escaping to atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of producing instant cupped noodles comprising disposing a mass of raw noodles in a liquid-permeable metal cup, the cup having at least a tapered wall, placing a liquid-permeable metal lid to cover the opening of the metal cup, and completely immersing the metal cup in a heated oil for frying the mass of noodles housed in the metal cup while the cup is inverted and immersed, thereby rendering the mass of noodles dense in the portion close to the bottom of the metal cup and sparse in the portion close to the metal lid. The metal cup is then taken out of the heated oil, the metal lid is removed from the metal cup for discharging the fried mass of noodles, and the discharged fried mass of noodles is dried.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for performing said method wherein a drinking straw having a flexible section thereof is inserted into a container for fluids, and which is particularly characterized by the use of means for folding the straw about the flexible portion and inserting the same within a liquid filled container prior to the sealing of said container, in such a manner that the straw is angularly disposed so as to be readily accessable on opening of the container.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for baking products within a package while insuring sterility therein and preventing damage to the product during the cooling step.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating food items while retaining the moisture and nutritional aspects of the food wherein a food item to be warmed or heated is placed in a container having a removable lid or cover which is placed within an enclosure which is refrigerated and which includes means for heating the container. As the food is heated the container wall and cover are subjected to the cooling effect of the refrigeration system whereby any moisture driven off from the food item through heating of the food condenses on the surface of the cooled wall and lid of the refrigerated container to flow back to the food item being heated. Nutritional items are retained in the food item being heated by the presence of a moist atmosphere and its cooling effect above the food item.

Abstract: A salt-containing unprocessed foodstuff is charged in a wrapping tube unit comprising a cylindrical body, end plate means comprising members bonded to open opposite ends of the cylindrical body, and a pair of electrical contact members previously impregnated with a salt solution and fitted in the end plate means to provide a wrapped material foodstuff. The end plate means may be of any shape and is formed with a multitude of apertures, at least one of the members having cuts made therein to permit charging of the unprocessed foodstuff in the cylindrical body which may be deformed to conform to the shape of the end plate means.

Abstract: White cheese or yogurt is made by coagulating a coagulatable milk composition to form curd and serum in one chamber of a container having two intercommunicating chambers, and changing the orientation of the container so that serum liberated during coagulation drains into the other chamber. The curds are prevented from passing from one chamber to the other by a divider which serves to define the two chambers and provide communicating passages between the chambers. This process enables white cheese or yogurt to be formed in a container from which it is to be consumed, without necessitating handling of pre-formed white cheese or yogurt during packaging.

Abstract: A dosage pack includes a first and a second permeable bag joined to one another along a common seam and being arranged in a face-to-face relationship by folding the bags onto one another along a fold line extending in the common seam. A holder string positioned between the two bags has a first end attached to one of the bags and a second end attached to a tag positioned externally of the two bags.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of packaging prepared piecrust dough that may be required to remain within its package for relatively long periods of time and within which thereafter the dough may be rolled into piecrust form while still in its packaging receptacle.

Abstract: In a method of sweetening or mellowing onions, onions are first peeled and sliced, and the slices are then placed in the pouch. A liquid, which preferably comprises vinegar, a vinegar and water mixture, or water is then applied to the pouch, after which the pouch may be placed in the liquid retaining envelope. The moistened pouch having the onion slices received therein is then refrigerated from between about 24 hours and about 2-3 days, after which the onion slices are removed from the pouch for use.

Abstract: A method of adjusting temperature of semifluid food and successively suppng the same is disclosed. Semifluid food is contained in a number of retort-treated packs arranged along a lengthwise direction of an elongate belt and spaced apart from each other by a given distance. The belt is preserved in a constant temperature casing at a temperature suitable for giving relish to the semifluid food and delivered from the casing at the downwardly directed generally vertical pitch every time the semifluid food is demanded. Then, while the belt is held the retort pack is cut open to permit the semifluid food to flow downwardly therefrom into a dish which is served to customers. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed, which is applicable to an automatic vending machine.