Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of magnetic ink within a package without opening the package or altering its contents. The method and apparatus detects items marked with magnetic ink, such as bank checks, in an unopened package independently of the item's location within the package and despite the presence of such magnetic clutter as staples and paper clips. The apparatus and method is designed to eliminate magnetic noise from the equipment itself and from the environment.

Abstract: An improved cooking bag in which, for instance, food can be uniformly cooked by microwave energy in a microwave oven without having to adjust the level of power or stir or reposition the food as is now commonly practiced due to microwave energy being unevenly distributed in contemporary microwave cooking apparatus. The improved bag is of the type having microwave energy moderating wall portions which comprise arrays of complemental-shape microwave reflective areas of electrically conductive material such as aluminum foil, and substantially microwave transparent areas.