DUNCAN, S.C. (Jan. 3, 2003) - Demand for convenience and simplicity in meal preparation is keen among consumers, as is the need for product quality. Cryovac/Sealed Air has developed a revolutionary heat-and-serve package to give consumers the convenience they crave without compromising quality.

Unlike other heat-and-serve formats, which can require handling and cutting open a hot and steamy package, Cryovac® Simple Steps™ heat-and-serve package permits consumers to complete product preparation in three simple steps. They just: 1) remove the tray from its outer packaging; 2) heat for the designated time (usually about four minutes) and let cool; and 3) pull the easy-open tab to remove the film and serve. Simple Steps™ eliminates the need to puncture ventilation holes in the package before heating. Instead, the vacuum-skin film "tents up" as the product reheats, then self-vents and relaxes over the food. The "stay cool" side handles reduce the risk of burns or spills as the tray is removed from the microwave.

According to focus group research conducted by Cryovac*, consumers like the faster, easier and cleaner cooking process afforded by Simple Steps™, especially the ease of handling after the product is heated. The focus group participants observed that there is no steam coming out of the package when they peeled back the film after heating. "It’s not going to burn your hands," stated a focus group participant.

Consumers also indicate that entrées packaged in Simple Steps™ are much easier to prepare and create less mess while preparing. "I like the fact that you don’t have to deal with opening packages and making a mess. You just peel the film back after heating and you’re done," observed another focus group participant.

Simple Steps™ enables processors to fully cook and distribute center-of-the-plate entrées, such as beef tips, pot roast, pork roast, pulled pork and chicken breasts, in the same package. While the cook-in technology is more efficient for processors, it gives shoppers a high-quality entrée that has undergone minimal handling.

Vacuum-skin packaging enhances the food’s visual appeal because it contours to the shape of the product providing the most appetizing presentation and makes it easier for shoppers to identify their dinnertime selection. It also keeps meat looking juicy and fresh, and enables the product to be frozen in its original packaging and reheated later. Simple Steps™’s total seal also helps to keep food stationary in the tray, and its greater seal area reduces leakers so shrink is less of a problem.

For more information about Cryovac® Simple Steps™, contact Cryovac/Sealed Air via e-mail at cryovac.mkt@sealedair.com or click here.

*Research conducted by The Link Group on behalf of Cryovac, May to August 2001.