The heat emitted by the chemical reaction that must be initiated at the outside walls of the packaging itself can be used to cook food. The chemicals needed for the reaction are contained in containers custom-made to fit within the space inside the lining of the E-Liquid Boxes walls, which is in close contact with the food present within the packaging device. The heat generated by the exothermic chemical reaction heats up the heat conductive layer between the food and chemicals and is conducted right through to the food, heating and cooking it as a result of the whole process. Some excellent applications of this chemical reaction principle can cook food from raw uncooked form to a pleasant tender and completely cooked enjoyable meal. This self-heating food packaging device is usually used to cook main courses. Here are a few examples of how self-heating food packaging can be useful:
Food is stored for longer periods of time
One of the primary benefits of self-heating food packaging is that raw food can be stored in it and then frozen until required. And when freezing is not an option, the heat insulator layer on the outside prevents heat from entering the packaging and touching the food. This allows the food to stay fresh for longer periods of time before being old and expired. This aspect allows the packaging to be used by people who do not often have access to cooking ranges, such as military personnel or field engineers.
On-the-Go Hot and Nutritious Food
Self-heating food packaging also offers a perfect opportunity for people who do not have enough time to cook in their kitchens. All of these people on the go must transport the food stored in the packaging and initiate the chemical reaction by allowing the chemicals to combine inside their storage compartments to begin the heating and cooking process. The heating process generally lasts long enough to thoroughly cook the food; simply stir it to evenly disperse the heat and cook all of the food within the packaging. Leave it like this for a few minutes, before the heating and hissing stops and your hot cooked meal on the go is ready to be served.
Excellent for Baby Foods
This one is for parents who may have to travel regularly with their children. Baby food, including cereals and milk, can be easily stored in some of this self-heating food packaging and heated whenever and wherever needed. The cold milk and other baby foods remain fresh until they are used. And, if necessary, the chemical reaction can be quickly activated to heat up the food so that it is nice and warm and ready for the baby to eat or drink. This choice is also very comforting for parents who do not want the hassle of making trips to the kitchen in the middle of the night; they can easily store cold milk and food for the babies in these packaging containers and simply trigger the chemical reaction whenever the milk is needed by the baby right from the comfort of their cosy beds.
On the Go Hot Drinks
The self-heating packaging industry is still in its early stages, and for the time being, its industrial application is primarily in the on-the-go coffee industry. Coffee mugs are specially made with a heat-producing chemical at the bottom layer. When the coffee is needed, the chemicals can be triggered to start the exothermic chemical reaction that produces the heat required to heat the coffee within the jar. The added advantage to this method of implementation is that the coffee will remain nice and hot for those slow drinkers who want to savour their coffee for a few minutes. This concept is easily adaptable to other hot beverages, such as tea or chocolate drinks.
Requirements for Weight and Space
The chemicals used to cause the exothermic chemical reaction in the self-heating food packaging to take up a lot of space and weigh a lot. To give you a rough estimate, the weight of the chemicals and the containers they must be packaged in is approximately 40% of the total unit weight, including the food and all the layers of packaging, and the space they take is also approximately 40% of the total unit weight. With these factors in mind, implementing self-heating food packaging cannot be appropriate in every case. Special care and money must be dedicated to moving the larger, heavier items alongside the travellers; but, in situations where people may see beyond these size and weight constraints, self-heating food packaging becomes one of the most useful goods for people who have minimal access to kitchens and stoves.
For a long time, the straight tuck end boxes industry has been investigated and examined for improvements. The bulk of this research and creativity is undertaken with the kind of people in mind who are always on the move for different reasons and do not have the luxuries of a cooking range and anything of the like always with them. These people could include the military while they are on various outdoor sites, road hogs who spend much of their time on the road for various reasons, field workers who have to drive a lot to get to different job sites, or just someone who doesn’t have enough time to spend on the stove in the kitchen as well.