A flexible microwave heating package for food includes a first panel and a second panel joined to one another in a facing relationship, and a third panel joined to the first panel and the second panel. The first panel and second panel define walls of the package and the third panel defines a base of the package. The first panel and second panel may each include microwave energy interactive material operative for reflecting at least a portion of incident microwave energy.

Carriers suitable for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating zone are provided. Carriers as described herein may include an outer frame and upper and lower support structures vertically spaced from one another to provide a cargo volume into which the articles are loaded. At least a portion of the upper and/or lower support structures may be formed of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, the carrier may include removable article spacing members, such as vertical spacing members and dividers, that can be selectively inserted to adjust the size and/or shaper of the cargo volume. Carriers as described herein may be configured to receive a variety of different articles, including trays and pouches, and the articles may be loaded into the carrier in a nested or overlapping manner.

A device for and method of microwave heating with inversion. The device includes a base and a cover defining a heating chamber, with both of the base and cover including a susceptor which will be heated by microwave energy. The cover includes one or more apertures to vent steam from the heating chamber. In operation, the device includes a food product in the heating chamber. The device is placed in the microwave oven resting on the base. The microwave oven is operated for an initial heating period. During this time the food product is heated, and the lower surface of the food product is browned or crisped due to conduction. Also during this time, steam is escaping the heating chamber via the aperture. After the initial heating period the device in inverted and the food product comes into contact with the cover. The device is placed in the microwave oven resting on the cover. The microwave oven is operated for a secondary heating period. During this time the food product is heated further, and the upper surface of the food product is browned or crisped due to conduction.

A method of manufacturing a foil for enclosing or wrapping a product configured to be heated in an oven includes: providing an aluminium layer, applying a first ink material at a surface of the aluminium layer to form a first ink layer, and applying a second ink material at a surface of the first ink layer to form a second ink layer. The first ink layer is positioned between the aluminium layer and the second ink layer, and is configured to absorb radiant energy. The second ink layer is configured to allow radiant energy to pass through to reach the first ink layer. A binder system of the first ink material or the second ink material is based at least in part on polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

A microwavable package including at least one susceptor can be configured for use with microwave heating of a packaged food product. The package can include at least one vent opening, such as on a bottom wall, to vent moisture from the package during microwave heating. The package can further include an absorbent material positioned adjacent the vent opening to absorb moisture therethrough. The package may also include additional vent openings such as at a lid or side walls.

Carriers suitable for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating zone are provided. Carriers as described herein may include an outer frame and upper and lower support structures vertically spaced from one another to provide a cargo volume into which the articles are loaded. At least a portion of the upper and/or lower support structures may be formed of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, the carrier may include removable article spacing members, such as vertical spacing members and dividers, that can be selectively inserted to adjust the size and/or shaper of the cargo volume. Carriers as described herein may be configured to receive a variety of different articles, including trays and pouches, and the articles may be loaded into the carrier in a nested or overlapping manner.

An oven for heating and frying food, particularly a rapid cook oven, includes walls and an openable oven door delimiting an oven space and heaters to heat food in the oven space. Such heaters including: microwave radiation devices, a frying plate having an undersurface, and heat circulating-air devices comprising a flow duct for removing circulating air from the oven space and leading it back into the oven space after cleaning, and a fan installed in the flow duct for creating a circulating-air flow in the said flow duct. The oven additionally includes structure delimiting a cooker space, thermal insulation between the oven space and the cooker space and a heater comprising a cooker situated in the cooker space.

A frangible laminate includes first, second and third webs, and the second web is positioned between the first and third webs. The forming of the frangible laminate includes adhesively bonding a first plurality of sections of the second web to the first web, applying release material in order to inhibit at least some of any bonding between the first plurality of sections of the second web and the third web, and adhesively bonding a second plurality of sections of the second web to the third web. The frangible laminate is separated into a first laminate and a second laminate, so that the first laminate includes the first web and the first plurality of sections of the second web, and the second laminate includes the third web and the second plurality of sections of the second web.

A microwave heating package with a polarized shield includes a tray and a cover and at least one microwave energy interactive element. The microwave energy interactive element is dimensioned and arranged to extend along a peripheral region of a food item in an interior of the tray. The microwave energy interactive element reduces heating along the peripheral region of the food item when the microwave energy interactive element is exposed to microwave energy. The tray and the lid of the construct can each include at least one microwave energy interactive element.

An apparatus for preparing a food item in a microwave oven comprises a tray including a plurality of elevated heating areas and a plurality of channels disposed between the elevated heating areas, the elevated heating areas each including a microwave energy interactive material, a cover pivotably connected to the tray for pivoting the cover relative to the tray between an open position and a closed position, and a locking feature operative for releasably maintaining the cover in the closed position.