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Marketing mussels with a microwave boost

Fresh mussels have a short shelf life and aren’t easy to prepare at home. Microwave pasteurization addresses these issues and provides a 21-day refrigerated shelf life.

Thanks to in-pack microwave pasteurization and modified-atmosphere packaging, refrigerated shelf life on these ready meals is 21
Thanks to in-pack microwave pasteurization and modified-atmosphere packaging, refrigerated shelf life on these ready meals is 21

Dutch seafood marketer Roem van Yerseke is using microwave pasteurization technology to launch a line of refrigerated ready meals consisting of mussels, vegetables, and seasonings. The taste of the meal, says the firm, is comparable to the taste of fresh mussels prepared in the traditional way: steamed. But the advantage to consumers is that the 750-g serving can be prepared in the home microwave oven in less than 5.5 minutes. Also, fresh mussels have a six-day shelf life. Roem van Yerseke’s ready meals—thanks partly to modified-atmosphere-packaging technology—have a 21-day shelf life.

The launch of this new line of seafood targets several demographic groups who are difficult to reach with traditional fresh mussels. People aged 18 to 35 are too impatient to steam mussels and prefer a convenient format that goes into the microwave with no muss and no fuss. Also targeted are the elderly, who can have difficulty with the physical act of preparing mussels. And finally, preparing fresh mussels for a single-person household is impractical, so the ready-meal in a plastic tray with easy-peel lidding is suitable for singles or for families in which not all family members eat mussels.

The technology behind the launch is called MicroPast, which was developed by Creative New Food GmbH. The process engineering partner is International Packaging Systems, a part of Germany’s Schubert Group.

Micropast is essentially a variety of steam pressure cooking in which microwaves function as the source of energy. Because throughput time is in the range of 8 to 12 minutes instead of two to three hours for pasteurization in a steam oven or autoclave retort, MicroPast puts less thermal stress on the food. This leads to increased nutritional value, more attractive color retention, and better food taste and texture. In addition, raw menu components such as vegetables, fruits, and chicken/pork/fish are cooked in one step. There’s no need for pre-cooking operations, so overall prep time is greatly reduced. And finally, energy consumption is minimal.

Live mussels

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