Microwave foodstuff packages and methods of making and using the same. The microwave foodstuff packages include only a single gusset and/or a Z-fold configuration.

A popcorn funnel assembly for directing popcorn from a popcorn bag includes an inlet end having an inlet opening that is arranged to fit a popcorn bag and an outlet end having an outlet opening suitable for conveying popped popcorn into the mouth of a person who is eating popcorn. The funnel assembly includes a funnel portion and a sleeve portion. The funnel portion includes a transversely oriented inwardly curved lower wall that is adjacent to the outlet end of the funnel portion and that presents a transversely arranged pattern of holes that are pear shaped with wider lower portions and that are of a suitable size for rejecting popped popcorn and for receiving un-popped kernels and directing them out of the funnel portion and into a receiving space for retaining kernels, the receiving space being enclosed by the inwardly curved wall of the funnel portion and the sleeve portion.

A microwaveable popcorn container may be fashioned from glassine or similar materials to provide a susceptor-free, biodegradable, and/or compostable container for cooking microwave popcorn. The material of the container may be translucent in order to advantageously permit inspection of contents during cooking, as well as to permit evaluation of the completeness of kernel popping after microwaving.

A microwavable bag for cooking food is disclosed. The bag may have holes or vents that may allow the release of steam and heat from the interior of the bag during the microwave cooking process. The bag may also include a top lid and a bottom lid that may be configured to lock together when the bag is in a compact state. This allows for easy transportation of the bag. The bag may expand during the microwave cooking process and be opened safely to consume the food. Food to be cooked within the bag may include popcorn kernels or other food.

A packaging and cooking device includes a bottom, top and four side walls, each including a first fold line parallel to and slightly distant from the bottom, a second fold line parallel to the first line, two opposing side walls including two diagonal fold lines in the portion of the side walls located above the first line, the top including two flaps, each having a free edge and connected to two opposing side walls and a hooking system enabling flaps to be held in closed position. The hooking system includes a tab connected to the free edge of a first flap and a cut-out, provided in a second flap for inserting the tab in an insertion direction, the cut-out extending in a direction approximately perpendicular to the insertion direction and including a projecting shape offset relative to the ends thereof and oriented in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.

The invention relates to a bag, based on the conventional structure of a bag of this type, characterised in that the free end vertices (7) thereof have a bevelled or rounded configuration, which, during the unfolding caused by the increase in volume due to the cooking of the corn grains inside said bag, prevents the bag from being able to remain blocked or held back against the lateral walls of the microwave, preventing the rotation thereof, which ensures a homogeneous distribution of heat over the corn grains, thereby preventing a large number of grains from not cooking properly, as occurs with the conventional popcorn bags.

A device for cooking corn kernels for making popcorn comprising a non-folding volume and a folding volume. The folding volume is configured to take up at least two positions, a first position in which the folding volume is folded and a second position in which it is unfolded. The folding volume includes four walls and at least two walls include a diagonal fold. The device includes a top that delimits the folding volume in at least the second position. The top is formed by two flaps that are each secured to at least two side walls. The flaps are biased in the closed position and are opened by squeezing the vertical edges of the device together.

Microwave cooking packages suitable for use as microwave popcorn packages include at least one panel (e.g., first and second panels) formed of a vertically rigid material. A flexible portion is attached to the panels. The flexible portion may be formed of a polyester film material such as a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, which may be at least partially transparent. The flexible portion (and panels) defines a bag construction configured to contain a popcorn charge and to be expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration when the popcorn charge is subjected to a popping operation. The microwave cooking package may include a vent assembly configured to at least partially open when the bag configuration is in an expanded configuration to vent the bag construction. The vent assembly includes a first portion a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion.

A carton for holding a product in a liner. The carton includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a front panel, at least one rear panel, and at least one side panel. At least one end flap is foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The at least one side panel includes at least one expansion feature for transitioning the carton between a first configuration and a second configuration. The at least one expansion feature is foldably connected to the front panel and the at least one rear panel.

Microwave cooking packages suitable for use as microwave popcorn packages include at least one panel (e.g., first and second panels) formed of a vertically rigid material. A flexible portion is attached to the panels. The flexible portion may be formed of a polyester film material such as a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, which may be at least partially transparent. The flexible portion (and panels) defines a bag construction configured to contain a popcorn charge and to be expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration when the popcorn charge is subjected to a popping operation. The microwave cooking package may include a vent assembly configured to at least partially open when the bag configuration is in an expanded configuration to vent the bag construction. The vent assembly includes a first portion a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion.