FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to packaged food products, and more particularly, instant food products including a flavoring or cooking agent that, during cooking, is released and mixed with the other contents of the instant food product.

BACKGROUND

Instant food products generally include a dehydrated food product having a relatively long shelf life and which can be cooked in a relatively short period of time (e.g., a few minutes) by adding hot or boiling water. Many instant food products package the dehydrated food product together with one or more ingredients to improve the taste and/or cooking characteristics of the dehydrated food product. Examples of such ingredients include powdered seasonings, liquid seasonings, oil, and other flavoring and cooking agents.

If stored in direct contact with the dehydrated food product, the ingredients have the potential to shorten the shelf life of the dehydrated food product. To keep the dehydrated food product and the ingredients separate prior to use, the ingredients usually are encapsulated within a packet which provides a barrier between the ingredients and the dehydrated food product.

Conventional packets are typically made of an inedible, water-insoluble material. Consequently, the consumer must tear open, empty, and discard the packet prior to cooking. Performing these tasks is burdensome and diminishes the convenience of the instant food product. In some cases, the consumer may even be required to use scissors to cut open the packet. Moreover, requiring the consumer to tear or cut open the packet increases the likelihood that the ingredients will be spilled.

The present disclosure sets forth instant food products and methods of their preparation that address one or more of the challenges or needs mentioned above.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure includes a packaged product comprised of a cooking container, a first food product, and a packet filled with a second food product. The cooking container may have an interior volume, and the first food product and the packet may be disposed within the sealed interior volume. The packet may be made of a film that is both water-soluble film and edible.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of preparing an instant food product for consumption. The method may include removing a lid from a cooking container containing a first food product and a packet filled with a second food product. The packet may be made of a water-soluble film that is edible. The method may further include adding water to the cooking container to submerge and dissolve the packet.

