Quilt packaging enhances microwave heating

The packaging structure incorporates laminated cells or “quilts” that trap steam and inflate during the microwave heating process.

Browning and crisping of microwave foods such as baked goods and sandwich breads are enhanced by QuiltWave™ packaging from Graphic packaging International. The packaging structure incorporates laminated cells or "quilts" that trap steam and inflate during the microwave heating process. The resulting high-heat quilt surfaces come in direct contact with food to promote consumer-pleasing browning and crisping. After microwave heating is completed, the QuiltWave packaging quickly cools down. The packaging material is constructed of PET/adhesive/paperboard/adhesive/metallized PET/release coating.

Billed as the "next generation of microwave susceptor technology," QuiltWave can improve the quality and appearance of various microwave-heated foods—including pizza doughs, dough-enrobed foods such as pizza rolls, egg rolls, and burritos, and a variety of frozen sandwiches.

The first commercial application for QuiltWave is frozen grilled cheese sandwiches produced by Sepp’s Gourmet Foods, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Carl Tillberg, president of Sepp’s bakery division, commented, "We were looking for a way that’s both effective and practical to re-heat and crisp our frozen grilled sandwiches. After three months of collaboration with the research and development engineers at Graphic packaging, we had our answer—a QuiltWave pouch."

Sepp’s launched the new grilled cheese sandwiches in Canada in October 2004, and roll-out is now underway in U.S. markets. According to Tillberg, "The response from the retail trade has been very enthusiastic."