Packaged Frozen Ready-Made Meal

Abstract

Packaged frozen ready-made meal including a flared receptacle made of a rigid material permeable to microwaves, containing a first frozen food component at the bottom, a second frozen food component having a substantially plate-like shape, having a substantially fluid consistency at a temperature above 0° C., and a closure element, wherein the second frozen food component having a substantially plate-like shape is engaged in the manner of a plug with the internal wall of the receptacle, spaced apart from the first frozen food component.

1 ) A packaged frozen ready-made meal comprising:
 a flared receptacle made of a rigid material permeable to microwaves, containing a first frozen food component at its bottom and a second frozen food component having a substantially plate-like shape, having a substantially fluid consistency at a temperature above 0° C.,   and a closure element,   wherein said second frozen food component having a substantially plate-like shape is engaged in the manner of a plug with the internal wall of said receptacle, spaced apart from said first frozen food component.   
     
     
         2 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , wherein said flared receptacle is substantially cup-shaped and tapered. 
     
     
         3 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , wherein said flared receptacle has substantially an overturned truncated conical shape and the second frozen food component having a substantially plate-like shape is discoidal. 
     
     
         4 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , wherein said first food component is a cereal-based frozen food chosen from the group consisting of: pasta, rice, spelt, barley, filled pasta, gnocchi, vegetables, preferably pasta. 
     
     
         5 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , wherein said second food component is a tomato-, cheese-, oil-, béchamel-based condiment, optionally containing meat or fish, or the like, preferably tomato-based. 
     
     
         6 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaged frozen ready-made meal comprises at the bottom of said receptacle a predetermined quantity of ice or of frozen aqueous solution. 
     
     
         7 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle is made of a rigid plastic material suitable for use in a microwave oven and permeable to microwaves. 
     
     
         8 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure element comprises a film of plastic material sealed on the edges of the receptacle, preferably provided with perforations. 
     
     
         9 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 8 , wherein said closure element further comprises a lid of rigid plastic material, preferably of the same rigid plastic material in which said receptacle is made. 
     
     
         10 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid container, preferably of cardboard, intended to receive and contain said flared receptacle with a clearance such as to create an interspace between container and receptacle, at least at the respective lateral walls. 
     
     
         11 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 10 , wherein said flared receptacle has a bottom and an opposite opening, bordered by an edge folded outwards in a U-shape in such a way as to form perimetrical flanging and an underlying perimetrical grooving. 
     
     
         12 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 11 , wherein, near the free rim of said folded edge and along the entire circumference of said edge there is a series of protrusions facing inwards. 
     
     
         13 ) The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 12 , wherein said container, having a bottom and an opposite opening bordered by an edge, receives in its interior said receptacle, which remains firmly positioned and suitably centred thanks to the engaging of the edge of said container to the perimetrical grooving of the receptacle and thanks to the protrusions of the folded edge  8  of the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 10 , wherein said lid exhibits on its external upper surface a recess circular in shape suitable for receiving, by press-fit engagement, the bottom of said container, thus forming a support stand for such container. 
     
     
         15 . The packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 9 , wherein said lid exhibits a series of protrusions arranged on the internal surface of its edge, near its free rim, which are suitable, once pressed beyond the folded edge of the receptacle, for engaging it and retaining it firmly in position. 
     
     
         16 . A method for the production of the packaged frozen ready-made meal according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a) introducing in said flared receptacle an appropriate quantity of said first food component, optionally frozen;   b) introducing said second frozen food component having a substantially plate-like shape in said flared receptacle containing said first food component in such a way that the second food component is engaged with the internal wall of said receptacle in the manner of a plug and spaced apart from said first component below;   c) closing said flared receptacle by means of said closure element;   d) freezing the lot.   
     
     
         17 ) The method according to  claim 12 , which comprises an additional step of introduction of a predetermined quantity of water or of aqueous solution inside said flared receptacle before performing said step a). 
     
     
         18 ) The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said quantity of water or of aqueous solution is 5% or lower based on the total weight of said first and second food components.