Today we find a wide spectrum of packaging that is also designed for ready meals and the fast food sector. Some of these have a built in steam valve. Steam is given off by the food, but inside packaging this steam is enclosed and leads to a steam cooking process. At a predetermined combination of temperature and pressure the valve opens and the over-pressure, in the form of air and steam, is released. The use of such a valve balances pressure in the pack, so that the food is heated gently and evenly.
Research is currently going on into:
- gentle but rapid heating up of food
- packaging with valve systems that create steam chambers
- multi chamber systems
