Patent ID: 6083544
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: A23L,B65B

Abstract:
A method for making a cooked, room temperature, shelf-stable solid or semi-solid ready to eat meal, the method comprising the steps of:providing the food that will comprise said solid or semi-solid ready to eat meal;exposing said food to a pulsed electric field sufficient to inactivate microorganisms in said food to sterilize said food and impart room temperature shelf-stability to said food;packaging said food in a retort pouch, either before or after the step of exposing, andtreating the pulsed electric field treated sterilized packaged food to a rotational retort process to heat the food under conditions that are sufficient to produce the cooked ready to eat meal, the heating being performed without adversely affecting the sensory characteristics and so that a reduction of nutritional value of the food is minimized.