Microwaveable packages having composite susceptors and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, composite susceptors for cooking microwaveable foods (12, 14) in a microwave oven are provided. The composite susceptors may include, for example, a first layer that is a standard microwave susceptor (30) and a second layer (32) comprising mobile charges, wherein the second layer is at least substantially metal free. The second layer comprising mobile charges can both shield the standard susceptor from microwaves, and act as a conductor to increase the conductivity of the standard susceptor. The composite susceptors of the present disclosure provide improved surface heating patterns that are similar to surface heating patterns of conventional ovens, while also providing the benefits of microwave cooking.

A microwave popcorn bag for containing and heating popcorn kernels in a microwave oven. The bag is constructed of a laminated fibrous material and comprises a base panel, top panel, side panels, and interior space. The side panels have gussets with fold areas and fold lines that are adjacent to the base panel and that enable the bag to expand. An oil-resistant microwave susceptor film is laminated with the fibrous material and extends laterally across the base panel and the fold lines into the fold areas. Microwave interactive material is confined to the base panel. As the popcorn is heated, the bag expands and the microwave susceptor film forms a tray structure that collects oil and resists it penetrating through the fibrous material.

A container for holding a food product. The container can comprise a base layer and a liner at least partially attached to an inner surface of the base layer, a flange comprising a central panel of the base layer, an opening extending in the central panel, and a sidewall comprising at least a panel foldably connected to the central panel along the opening.

Methods are generally described herein for structuring food for microwave heating. In some examples, food with high dielectric loss factor is dispersed in a matrix of foods with low dielectric loss factors to promote uniform heating and efficient heating. In other examples, microwave susceptors are sandwiched between layers of food and attached to a handle whereby said microwave susceptors can be removed by pulling on the handle after microwave heating.

Carbon dioxide, such as may be used for a carbonated beverage, is produced by microwave thermal decomposition of a starting material. An apparatus for the process includes a microwave generator, a microwave chamber, a capsule received in the chamber containing starting material(s) and one or more channel(s) for recovering CO.sub.2 generated in the process.

An oven may include a cooking chamber configured to receive a heat modulating material (HMM), a radio frequency (RF) heating system configured to provide RF energy into the cooking chamber, and a cooking controller configured to control the frequency of RF energy provided by the RF heating system into the cooking chamber. The MINI may be configured to contain a food product and may include a thermally active section. The thermally active section may include a base matrix and a particulate material dispersed in the base matrix.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus attachable to a container and usable to secure the container closed. The apparatus is transitionable from a nonuse configuration to a use configuration to form an (at least partially) elastic loop attached to the container and usable to circumscribe the container to secure the container closed.

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 container for holding a food product. The container can comprise a base layer and a liner at least partially attached to an inner surface of the base layer, a flange comprising a central panel, an opening extending in the central panel, and a sidewall comprising a plurality of panels. Each panel of the plurality of panels can be foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one panel can be foldably connected to the central panel along the opening. A bottom wall can comprise at least first and second bottom panels foldably connected to respective panels. The second bottom panel at least partially overlaps the first bottom panel so that the second bottom panel extends along the inner surface of the base layer, and the first bottom panel extends along the inner surface of the base layer at least via a cutout in the second bottom panel.

A method of manufacturing the microwave oven cooking utensil includes: an upper heating body and a lower heating body each of which absorbs a microwave and generates a heat; and a heating space for heating a food material located between the upper heating body and the lower heating body, the heating being performed from above and below at the same time. Here, the upper heating body and the lower heating body are each formed by including a heat generating part containing ferrite and a molded foam body.