Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A CONTAINER ASSEMBLY FOR FERMENTING FOOD AND A
RELATED METHOD
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a container assembly for fermenting
food and a related
method.
[0002] The present invention has been developed for household use in
fermenting or pickling
food such as vegetables (such as potatoes and cabbage), meats, fruits, fish,
grains, nuts and
olives and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application.
However, the
invention is not restricted to this particular use and also suitable for
creates starters for milk,
cream, yoghurt, butter and sourdough bread, batters, ginger bugs, miso paste,
natto,
condiments (such as mustard), fish sauce, tomato sauce, cheese and soft
drinks.
Background of the Invention
[0003] It is known to ferment food in glass jars that have a sealable lid. The
lid being
modified to allow an air lock valve to be attached. Generally speaking,
fermenting in such
glass jars is inconvenient, messy, difficult and often leads to food spoiling
during the
fermentation process.
[0004] It is important that the food being fermented, and the surrounding
fermenting liquid, be
isolated from the external environment in order to prevent outside air, and
dust airborne
bacteria, establishing itself within the food. If this occurs, mould growth
(both benign and
potentially poisonous) can occur. Creating and maintaining an airtight sealed
container is
difficult as the fermenting process generates gases which cause a build-up of
pressure inside
the jar. If the gas is unable to escape, the seals between the container and
its lid can blow out,
causing leakage of the contents and, in extreme cases, shattering of the glass
jar. The use of
one way airlock valves to vent the gases is known, primarily those suitable
for home brewing
of wine and other alcoholic beverages. The disadvantages of using such valves
is they are
excessively large relative to the size of most jars used for fermenting, they
can be difficult to
operate and they make storage and handling of the jars difficult.
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[0005] The quality and taste of food being fermented can be diminished if they
are are not
isolated from light during fermentation. Known methods of achieving this are
to wrap the jar
in fabric material or placing it in a light free environment for the duration
of the fermentation
process. The disadvantages of these approaches is that the former is often not
particularly
effective at blocking light transmission and the latter restricts where in a
household the
fermenting jars may be stored.
[0006] It is also important during fermentation that the container is
accurately filled with food,
brine and the one way valve with water. If incorrect levels are used, leakage
can occur, the
quality of the food can be diminished and the one way valve may not correctly
function. The
disadvantage of existing containers is overfilling is a common issue, often
leading to leakage
and mess.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a
container assembly for
fermenting food, the container assembly including:
a container having an upper open end communicating with an internal volume for
receipt of food and fermenting liquid;
a pusher at least partially insertable through the opening and having a
pushing surface
protruding into the internal volume for limiting the maximum height of the
food in the internal
volume; and
a lid for the opening with a one way valve therein adapted to allow fluid
communication from the internal volume to atmosphere and prevent fluid
communication
from atmosphere to the internal volume.
[0008] The one way valve is preferably within the external boundary of the
lid. The one way
valve is preferably substantially within the external boundary of the pusher.
[0009] The pusher surface preferably includes one or more openings therein for
passage of the
fermenting liquid, thereby allowing the fermenting liquid to be filled to
above the maximum
height of the food in the internal volume. The pusher preferably includes a
maximum liquid
level indicator therein.
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[0010] The container assembly preferably includes a first sealing gasket
between the exterior
of the pusher and the interior of the upper open end.
[0011] The lid preferably releasably engages with the container with the
pusher sandwiched
therebetween. The lid preferably releasably engages with the container via a
bayonet type
connection. The container assembly preferably includes a second sealing gasket
between the
exterior of the container and the interior of the lid.
[0012] The one way valve preferably includes an upwardly facing reservoir
around an opening
and a downwardly facing reservoir around the opening and within the upwardly
facing
reservoir. The downwardly facing reservoir is preferably part of a cap that is
releasably
engageable with the lid. The cap preferably includes one or more openings
therein through
which fluid can be added to the upwardly facing reservoir.
[0013] The container preferably includes a stainless steel external base. The
container is
preferably transparent. The container assembly preferably includes a removable
opaque outer
sheath, most preferably formed from silicon rubber.
[0014] Accordingly, in a second aspect, the present invention provides a
method for
fermenting food, the method including the steps of:
adding food to an internal volume of a container;
at least partially inserting a pusher into the internal volume to limit the
maximum
height of the food in the internal volume;
adding fermenting liquid to the internal volume to a height above the maximum
height
of the food in the internal volume; and
closing the internal volume with a lid having a one way valve therein adapted
to allow
fluid communication from the internal volume to atmosphere and prevent fluid
communication
from atmosphere to the internal volume, whereby gases generated by the
fermenting process
can escape the internal volume without causing pressurisation of the
container.
[0015] The step of adding the fermenting liquid preferably includes passing
the fermenting
liquid through one or more openings in the pusher.
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[0016] The method preferably includes the step of securing the pusher to the
container using
the lid.
[0017] The method preferably includes the step adding a removable opaque
sheath to the
exterior of the container.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018] Fig. 1 is a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of a container
assembly;
[0019] Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the container shown in Fig. 1;
[0020] Figs 3a-3h are perspective and cross sectional views which sequentially
show the steps
involved in fermentation using the container assembly shown in Fig. 1
Brief Description of Embodiments
[0021] Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an embodiment of a container
assembly 10 for
fermenting food. The container assembly 10 includes a generally cylindrical
glass container
12 having an internal volume of approximately 0.75 liters. Other embodiments
of container
assembly (not shown) have an internal volume of 1.5 liters and 3.0 liters. The
base of the
container 12 is (optionally) covered by a stainless steel part 14 to improve
its strength and
shatter resistance. The container 12 has an upper opening defined by a lip 16.
[0022] The container assembly 10 includes a plastic pusher 18. The pusher 18
is generally
cylindrically in shape and has a base 20 with holes 22 therein. The underside
24 of the base
20 defines a pushing surface. The exterior of the pusher 18 includes a rubber
peripheral flange
26 which serves to locate an annular silicone gasket 28. The gasket 28 seals
the pusher 18
against the lip 16 of the container 12. The pusher 18 also includes a level
indicator, in the
form of an internal shoulder 30, the purpose of which will be explained below.
In another
embodiment (not shown), the exterior of the pusher 18 above the flange 26
includes dimples to
aid gipping.
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[0023] The container assembly 10 also includes a lid 32 formed from a plastic
internal part 34
with a stainless steel external part 36. Another annular silicon gasket 38 is
provided around
the exterior of the container 12 adjacent to the lip 16. The lid 32 engages
with the container
12 by way of a bayonet style fitting 39 and seals against the gasket 38.
[0024] The inner part 34 of the lid 32 includes a one way valve 40, which is
almost
completely located within the interior of the pusher 18. The one way valve 40
includes an
upwardly facing liquid reservoir 42 around a central opening 44. The valve 40
also includes a
downwardly facing reservoir 46, which forms part of a cap 48. The cap 48
includes openings
50 therein. The upwardly facing reservoir 42 also includes a level indicator,
in the form of an
internal shoulder 52.
[0025] The use of the container assembly 10 in fermenting food will now be
described with
references to Figures 3a to 3h.
[0026] Fig. 3a shows the empty container 12.
[0027] Fig. 3b shows the container 12 after it has been filled with a food 50.
[0028] Fig. 3c shows the container 12 after the introduction of the pusher 18
and specifically
shows that the pushing surface 24 pushes downwardly against the upper extent
of the food 50,
thereby limiting the maximum height of the food 50 within the internal volume
of the
container 12.
[0029] Fig. 3d shows the container and pusher of Fig. 3c after the addition of
fermenting
liquid, in the form of brine 52, which is filled until it reaches the level
indicated by the
shoulder 30. The brine 52 is poured into the interior of the pusher 18 and
flows into internal
volume of the container 12 by passing through the openings 22.
[0030] Fig. 3e shows the container and pusher of Fig. 3d after the addition of
the lid 32.
Securing the lid 32 to the container 12 also serves to secure the pusher 18 to
the container 12
by sandwiching it therebetween.
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[0031] Fig. 3f shows water 54 being admitted to the upwardly facing reservoir
42, until it
reaches the level indicated by the shoulder 52.
[0032] Fig. 3g shows the addition of the cap 48, with the downwardly facing
reservoir 46
establishing a one way valve in conjunction with the water 54 in the upwardly
facing reservoir
42. Gasses generated during the fermenting process are able to pass through
the opening 44
and through the water 54 in the reservoir 42 before passing through the
openings 50 to
atmosphere. In this way, pressurisation of the internal volume of the
container 12 is
prevented. However, the water 54 in the upwardly facing reservoir 42
simultaneously
provides a barrier to prevent air, and dust airborne bacteria, from entering
the internal volume
of the container 12.
[0033] Fig. 3h shows the container assembly 10 after it is encased within a
two part, opaque,
silicone, flexible sheath 56, which serves to prevent light transmission into
the internal volume
of the container 12. The container assembly 10 shown in Fig. 3h is ready for
storage for the
duration of the fermentation process.
[0034] The container assembly 10 has many advantages. Firstly, it is generally
convenient,
intuitive and easy to use. Secondly, the one way valve 40 in the lid 32 is
easy to operate, and
can have its water level supplemented if required by adding more water through
the openings
50. The valve 40 provides an excellent barrier to isolate the food 50 and the
fermenting liquid
52 from the external environment whilst still allowing venting of gases. In
addition, as the
majority of valve 40 is positioned within the pusher 18, it is unlikely to be
damaged and it
does not represent an external component which could make storage of the
container assembly
difficult or inconvenient. Thirdly, the flexible sheath 56 is convenient and
easy to apply
and remove, whilst simultaneously providing excellent light isolation for the
food 50 being
fermented. Fourthly, the pusher surface 24 of the pusher 18, the liquid fill
level 30 in the
pusher 18, and the liquid fill level indicator 52 in the one way valve 40 made
the container
assembly 10 very easy to accurately fill in order to provide for correct
operation and avoid
food spoilage and spills. Leakage and spills are also avoided by the double
seal/gasket used in
the container assembly. The container assembly is also very easy to pick up
and handle, with
the 0.75 liter and 1.5 liter sizes also suitable for use as serving jars. The
0.75 liter and 1.5 liter
sizes can also fit within a refrigerator, thus allowing the fermented food to
be stored,
refrigerated and served from the same container. The container assembly is
also easy to clean.
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[0035] Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred
embodiment, it
will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be
embodied in many
other forms.
