Flexis Steam valve

The Flexis Steam valve is suitable for food producers of ready-to-eat meals. The custom-engineered valve allows the measured escape of steam from food packaging during microwave cooking. The self-venting valve is claimed to enable home-heated packaged foods to cook with greater consistency, more thoroughly and faster than foods in conventional steam-release packages.

The valve is recommended for precooked foods that benefit from precise steam heating, including sauces, rice, dumplings and noodles. During the cooking process, the valve actuates at a predetermined temperature and allows a precise amount of steam to escape from the package. Depending on the baffle configuration designed into the valve, more or less steam will be permitted to escape.

For example, a floret baffle design might be specified for a rice, vegetable and protein meal because it retains an additional percentage of moisture inside the package. An ‘X’ baffle design, which releases a bit more moisture and thereby thickens the meal’s sauce, may be better suited to a chicken and pasta dish.

The valve’s precision allows food manufacturers to specify an exact time period for cooking, rather than a range of time. The steam valve system is applied at the package converting stage. Steam valves are clear and can be printed with text, graphics and logos in one colour.