A container assembly for fermenting food and a related method

Abstract

A container assembly ( 10 ) for fermenting food ( 50 ). The container assembly ( 10 ) includes: a container ( 12 ); a pusher ( 18 ); and a lid ( 32 ). The container ( 12 ) has an upper open end ( 16 ), which communicates with an internal volume for receipt of food ( 50 ) and fermenting liquid ( 52 ). The pusher ( 18 ) is at least partially insertable through the opening ( 16 ) and has a pushing surface ( 24 ) protruding into the internal volume for limiting the maximum height of the food ( 50 ) in the internal volume. The lid ( 32 ) for the opening has a one way valve ( 40 ) therein adapted to allow fluid communication from the internal volume to atmosphere and prevent fluid communication from atmosphere to the internal volume.

1 . A container assembly for fermenting food, the container assembly including:
 a container having an upper open end communicating with an internal volume for receipt of food and fermenting liquid;   a pusher at least partially insertable through the opening and having a pushing surface protruding into the internal volume for limiting the maximum height of the food in the internal volume; and   a lid for the opening with a one way valve therein adapted to allow fluid communication from the internal volume to atmosphere and prevent fluid communication from atmosphere to the internal volume.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one way valve is within the external boundary of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the one way valve is substantially within the external boundary of the pusher. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the pusher surface includes one or more openings therein for passage of the fermenting liquid, thereby allowing the fermenting liquid to be filled to above the maximum height of the food in the internal volume. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pusher includes a maximum liquid level indicator therein. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container assembly includes a first sealing gasket between the exterior of the pusher and the interior of the upper open end. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid releasably engages with the container with the pusher sandwiched therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the lid releasably engages with the container via a bayonet type connection. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the container assembly includes a second sealing gasket between the exterior of the container and the interior of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one way valve includes an upwardly facing reservoir around an opening and a downwardly facing reservoir around the opening and within the upwardly facing reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the downwardly facing reservoir is part of a cap that is releasably engageable with the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the cap includes one or more openings therein through which fluid can be added to the upwardly facing reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a stainless steel external base. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is transparent. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the container assembly includes a removable opaque outer sheath. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the removable opaque outer sheath is formed from silicon rubber. 
     
     
         17 . A method for fermenting food, the method including the steps of:
 adding food to an internal volume of a container;   at least partially inserting a pusher into the internal volume to limit the maximum height of the food in the internal volume;   adding fermenting liquid to the internal volume to a height above the maximum height of the food in the internal volume; and   closing the internal volume with a lid having a one way valve therein adapted to allow fluid communication from the internal volume to atmosphere and prevent fluid communication from atmosphere to the internal volume, whereby gases generated by the fermenting process can escape the internal volume without causing pressurisation of the container.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of adding the fermenting liquid includes passing the fermenting liquid through one or more openings in the pusher. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the method includes the step of securing the pusher to the container using the lid. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the method includes the step adding a removable opaque sheath to the exterior of the container.