Packaged Food Product and Method of Heating on a Roller Grill

Abstract

A food product is shown which is made up of a soft starch based shell at least partially enclosing a n additional food component. A wrapper at least partially encloses the food component forming the food product. The wrapper of the food component is formed of laminated shrink wrap film. The food product is particularly adapted for heating on a roller grill without significant loss in quality.

1 . A method of vending a wrapped food product on a roller grill, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a generally cylindrical food product having a longitudinal extent defined between opposing ends and an exposed exterior surface, the food product also having a surrounding shell including at least one grain component which surrounds at least the longitudinal extent of the food product;   wrapping the food product and surrounding shell with a plastic shrink wrap film so as to encapsulate at least the longitudinal extent of the food product; and   placing the food product on a roller grill and rotating the food product about a longitudinal axis drawn along the longitudinal extent thereof and heating the food product through the wrapper for a period of heating time sufficient to raise the temperature of the shell and filling to an eating temperature, the wrapper engaging rollers of the roller grill during heating.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 cutting the opposing ends of the food item prior to wrapping with the shrink wrap so that the food item rolls move easily on the roller grill.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shrink wrap film includes a lap seal region along the longitudinal extent of the food item, allowing the packaging to be pulled apart by a consumer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic shrink wrap film which is used to wrap the food item is formed by at least two plies of laminated shrink wrap material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the plies of shrink wrap material has marking indicia applied on an inner side thereof, prior to the lamination. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the each ply of the shrink wrap film prior to lamination has a thickness is in the range from about 30 to 45 gauge. 
     
     
         7 . A packaged tamale food product adapted for vending on a roller grill, the product comprising:
 a generally cylindrical tamale food product having a longitudinal extent defined between opposing ends and an exposed exterior surface, the tamale food product also having a surrounding shell including at least one grain component which surrounds at least the longitudinal extent of the food product;   the tamale food product being enclosed by a plastic shrink wrap film which is wrapped about and surrounds the tamale shell so as to encapsulate the food product; and   wherein the plastic shrink wrap film which is used to encapsulate the tamale food product is formed as a laminate of at least two plies of shrink wrap film.   
     
     
         8 . The packaged food product of  claim 7 , wherein the shrink wrap film includes a lap seal region along the longitudinal extent of the food item, allowing the packaging to be pulled apart by a consumer. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged food item of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plies of shrink wrap material has marking indicia applied on an inner side thereof, prior to the lamination. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged food item of  claim 9 , wherein the each ply of the shrink wrap film prior to lamination has a thickness is in the range from about 30 to 45 gauge. 
     
     
         11 . A packaged food product intended for concession or fast food, grab-and-go sales, the food product comprising:
 a food item having a generally cylindrical exterior and having a longitudinal extent defined between opposing ends and an exposed exterior surface;   the food item being wrapped with a plastic shrink wrap film so as to surround and encapsulate the food item, the shrink wrap film which is used to encapsulate the food item being formed as a laminate of at least two plies of shrink wrap film which are adhered together by heat;   the food item being cooked to form a finished packaged food product.   
     
     
         12 . The packaged food product of  claim 11 , wherein the food item is cooked prior to wrapping. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged food product of  claim 11 , wherein the food item is cooked after wrapping. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged food product of  claim 11 , wherein the shrink wrap film includes a lap seal region along the longitudinal extent of the food item, allowing the packaging to be pulled apart by a consumer. 
     
     
         15 . The packaged food product of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plies of the shrink wrap has marking indicia applied on an inner side thereof, prior to lamination.