Sirane launches self-seal steam-cooking bags in the US
The self-seal steam-cooking bags can be cooked in the oven or microwave for healthy, fresh, delicious meals in three minutes.
Consumer demand for do-it-yourself meals
Matthew Banghart, director, sales, Ready. Chef. Go! sales, Elkay Plastics, told BakeryandSnacks, the packs are in response to consumer demand for do-it-yourself meals and recipes.
“Customers can take advantage of the speed, convenience, and versatility of Ready. Chef. Go! cooking bags while crafting their own recipes and infusing their own creativity,” he said.
“While cooking at home typically takes planning, patience, and dedication, Ready. Chef. Go! bags reduce some of those frustrations with speedy cooking times, little clean-up, and by removing the guesswork of cooking.”
Elkay Plastics is based in Commerce, California, and supplies the food service, industrial and healthcare markets. It has seven other US sites, and markets include Mexico and Canada.
The Ready. Chef. Go! cooking bags come with a choice of sauces and flavoured butters.
‘Grab and go’ meal have risen in the last 12 months
According to Sirane, over-the-counter sales - where customers choose a combination or pre-prepared ‘grab and go’ meal has risen in the last 12 months.
The company carried out a pilot Ready. Chef. Go! in-store programme with self-seal steam-cooking bags for fresh seafood with flavoured butters as ready meals, before offering the retail packs direct.
The project was so successful, it reported one store trial in Idaho in 2015 saw a 48% increase in seafood sales.
Meals included Salmon & Asparagus with Brazilian Garlic Butter, Tilapia and Green Beans with Parmesan & Black Pepper Butter, and Peeled Shrimp with Garlic Scampi Butter as a ‘grab-and-go’ fresh seafood ready meal.
Other butters offered include Creamy Bacon Srichacha, Maple Bourbon and Thai Coconut Curry, while sauces offered include Pineapple Teriyaki, Thai Red Curry and Lemon Dill.
Elkay’s Ready. Chef. Go! bags are now available for $5.99 online to all US-based customers for a pack of six bags.
Each retail pack includes an insert that has product usage instructions, recommended cooking times for the oven and microwave, and six kitchen-tested recipes.
Sirane offers cooking bags direct to end users in the UK under the Thinking-Cooking brand.
Thinking-Cooking products include oven/microwave steam-cooking bags, slow-cooker liners, nylon roasting bags, deli-bags, absorbent oven-grill liners, potato bakers and fresh produce shelf-life bags.
