A sealed oxygen-tight cooking device for food comprising a first layer (6) with means for preventing inflation by warm moist air during cooking, a second layer impervious to grease and liquid from the food, a fat-absorbing support layer (1) between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the fat-absorbing support layer (1) has openings (3) there through, said fat-absorbing support layer is adapted to support a food thereon, and the food (5) placed on the fat-absorbing support layer (1), wherein the first layer, the second layer and the fat-absorbing support layer are made from materials suitable for use in an oven.

The present invention is directed to packages having a flexible top sheet sealed to a flexible embossed bottom sheet The flexible bottom sheet comprises a plurality of embossed peaks and valleys wherein each valley has a defined perimeter with a valley base integrally connected to a valley wall which thereby defines an individual liquid containment cell. The packages according to the present invention are heat resistant to allow food packaged therein to be cooked in a microwave oven such that a substantial amount of water and/or grease released by the food during the cooking process is captured beneath a food contact surface in a plurality of embossed individual liquid containment cells, in preferred embodiments, the package of the present invention is a microwavable form-fill-seal package or microwavable vacuum package for storing and cooking a precooked or cured food product with substantial water and/or fat content.

The present invention is an apparatus for cooking bacon and the like inside microwave ovens. The apparatus includes a pan, a cover, and at least one support. The apparatus may also include a grease vessel. The apparatus may be placed in an open position and a closed position. In a non-limiting embodiment, the apparatus includes a pan, a cover or lid, and four supports. Preferably, the pan includes a snout and at least one handle. In another non-limiting embodiment, the apparatus includes a pan, a cover or lid, and two supports. Preferably, the pan includes a snout and at least one handle. During use, at least one of the supports is positioned and secured within the pan; the bacon and the like is positioned upon the supports; and the pan and cover or lid are positioned in a closed position with one another.

A method of heating or cooking liquid-exuding product includes placing the liquid-exuding product onto a package (10). The package includes a porous material (20), an absorbent material (21) and a tray (12). The porous material is attached to or contacts at least a portion of the tray. The absorbent material (21) is located between the porous material and the tray. The method includes heating or cooking the combined liquid-exuding product and package. At least some liquid exuded from the liquid-exuding product during heating or cooking travels through the porous material (20) and contacts at least some of the absorbent material (21).

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein useful to provide convenient, microwavable packages for cooking and crisping food products in a microwave oven are. In some embodiments, the microwavable packaged food product includes an outer package and a quantity of food product contained therein. By one approach, the package has a multilayer microwavable tray having at least three layers including a susceptor layer that includes a microwave energy interactive material thereon and a plurality of discrete openings disposed therein, an absorbent pad layer having a flexible paper-based material suitable for absorbing moisture and grease, and a paperboard base layer that provides a structure by which the susceptor layer and absorbent paper-based layer are supported. In this manner, a microwavable tray or support has at least three macro-layers including a susceptor, an absorbent pad, and a paperboard support, some of which may include additional layers therein as discussed below.

The present invention is directed to packages having a flexible top sheet sealed to a flexible embossed bottom sheet The flexible bottom sheet comprises a plurality of embossed peaks and valleys wherein each valley has a defined perimeter with a valley base integrally connected to a valley wall which thereby defines an individual liquid containment cell. The packages according to the present invention are heat resistant to allow food packaged therein to be cooked in a microwave oven such that a substantial amount of water and/or grease released by the food during the cooking process is captured beneath a food contact surface in a plurality of embossed individual liquid containment cells, in preferred embodiments, the package of the present invention is a microwavable form-fill-seal package or microwavable vacuum package for storing and cooking a precooked or cured food product with substantial water and/or fat content.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein useful to provide convenient, microwavable packages for cooking and crisping food products in a microwave oven are. In some embodiments, the microwavable packaged food product includes an outer package and a quantity of food product contained therein. By one approach, the package has a multilayer microwavable tray having at least three layers including a susceptor layer that includes a microwave energy interactive material thereon and a plurality of discrete openings disposed therein, an absorbent pad layer having a flexible paper-based material suitable for absorbing moisture and grease, and a paperboard base layer that provides a structure by which the susceptor layer and absorbent paper-based layer are supported. In this manner, a microwavable tray or support has at least three macro-layers including a susceptor, an absorbent pad, and a paperboard support, some of which may include additional layers therein as discussed below.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein useful to provide convenient, microwavable packages for cooking and crisping food products in a microwave oven are. In some embodiments, the microwavable packaged food product includes an outer package and a quantity of food product contained therein. By one approach, the package has a multilayer microwavable tray having at least three layers including a susceptor layer that includes a microwave energy interactive material thereon and a plurality of discrete openings disposed therein, an absorbent pad layer having a flexible paper-based material suitable for absorbing moisture and grease, and a paperboard base layer that provides a structure by which the susceptor layer and absorbent paper-based layer are supported. In this manner, a microwavable tray or support has at least three macro-layers including a susceptor, an absorbent pad, and a paperboard support, some of which may include additional layers therein as discussed below.