Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation of microwave susceptors and to the susceptors fabricated therefrom for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include certain metal salts as time/temperature profile moderators in addition to a novel microwave absorbing material and a binder. Certain metal salts can be used to dampen or lower the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating the ceramic compositions. Other metal salts can be used to increase or accelerate the final temperature reached upon microwave heating. The microwave absorbing materials comprise selected ceramics in both their native and amphoteric forms. Such useful ceramics are those with residual lattice charges or an unbalance of charge in the fundamental framework or layers such as vermiculite, bentonite, hectorite, zeolites, selected micas including Glauconite, phlogopite and Biotite and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic oxide gels (sometimes also referred to as hydrated oxides, and especially xerogels, compositions which are useful in the formulation and fabrication of microwave susceptors for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include novel microwave absorbing ceramic gel material doped with common salt and a binder. The gel forming materials include alumina, silica, mullite and mixtures thereof. The compositions essentially comprise about 17% to 35% bound water. Preferred materials are xerogels, i.e., ceramic gels dried so as to have a free moisture content of about 0.1% to 10%. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit. The materials are common and inexpensive. The compositions can additionally include common salt as a temperature profile moderator.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation of microwave susceptors and to the susceptors fabricated therefrom for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include certain metal salts as time/temperature profile moderators in addition to a novel microwave absorbing material and a binder. Certain metal salts can be used to dampen or lower the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating the ceramic compositions. Other metal salts can be used to increase or accelerate the final temperature reached upon microwave heating. The microwave absorbing materials comprise selected ceramics in both their native and amphoteric forms. Such useful ceramics are those with residual lattice charges or an unbalance of charge in the fundamental framework or layers such as vermiculite, bentonite, hectorite, zeolites, selected micas including Glauconite, phlogopite and Biotite and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation of microwave susceptors and to the susceptor articles fabricated therefrom for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include a novel microwave absorbing material and a binder. The novel microwave absorbing materials comprise selected ceramics in both their native and amphoteric forms. Such ceramics are those with residual lattice charges or an unbalance of charge in the fundamental framework or layers such as vermiculite, bentonite, hectorite, selected micas including Glauconite, Phlogopite and Biotite and mixtures thereof. These ceramics are activated to their amphoteric form by treatment with either acids or bases. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit which is higher in the amphoteric form than in their native form. The ceramic materials are common and inexpensive.

Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation and fabrication of microwave susceptors for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include a novel microwave absorbing material and a binder. The novel microwave absorbing materials comprise ceramics with neutral lattice charges such as clays, kaolin, talc, silicates, alumina, aluminosilicates and mixtures thereof. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit. The materials are common and inexpensive. Preferred compositions additionally include a temperature profile moderator which can be common salt.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation and fabrication of microwave susceptors for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items and to such articles themselves. The compositions include certain metal salts as time/temperature profile moderators in addition to novel microwave absorbing materials and a binder. Certain metal salts can be used to dampen or lower the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating the ceramic compositions. Other metal salts can be used to increase or accelerate the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating. The microwave absorbing materials comprise ceramics with neutral lattice charges such as clays, talc, kaolin, silicates, aluminosilicates, sodium metasilicate, alumina and mixtures thereof. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit. The materials are common and inexpensive.

Abstract: Disclosed are two-compartment food packages which includes a first lower compartment housing a first food material, e.g., ice cream, and a second upper compartment housing a second food material, e.g., chocolate sauce with the second material being supported on an edible barrier which also serves to define the upper and lower compartments. Preferred embodiments are expecially adapted to packaged food items intended to be heated with microwave energy and further include a microwave shield surrounding the exterior wall surface of the lower compartment.

Abstract: Disclosed are shelf stable food compositions comprising infused, dry, oatmeal flakes useful for the preparation of instant oatmeal. The instant oatmeal is, however, characterized by the oatmeal flake size, appearance, texture and taste of traditional oatmeal. The present oatmeal can be prepared by the consumer by simple addition of hot water and a 30 second steeping. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the improved dry oatmeal. The methods involve infusion of oatmeal flakes or preferably steamed oatmeal groats prior to flaking of between 1% to 35% of the oatmeal flakes of low molecular weight solutes such as sugars and polyhydric alcohols. The infused oatmeal flakes are then dried to water activities ranging from 0.17 to 0.7.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation and fabrication of microwave susceptors for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items and to such articles themselves. The compositions include certain metal salts as time/temperature profile moderators in addition to novel microwave absorbing materials and a binder. Certain metal salts can be used to dampen or lower the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating the ceramic compositions. Other metal salts can be used to increase or accelerate the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating. The microwave absorbing materials comprise ceramics with neutral lattice charges such as clays, talc, kaolin, silicates, aluminosilicates, sodium metasilicate, alumina and mixtures thereof. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit. The materials are common and inexpensive.

Abstract: Disclosed are edible barriers useful in composite food articles to separate one food phase from another which differ in such properties as water activity, protein concentration, etc. The ebible barriers are especially useful in wrapped or packaged food items. The edible barriers comprise an edible laminate which includes an edible support substrate and top and bottom layers of an edible film coating of low moisture permeability.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation of microwave susceptors and to the susceptor articles fabricated therefrom for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include a novel microwave absorbing material and a binder. The novel microwave absorbing materials comprise selected ceramics in both their native and amphoteric forms. Such ceramics are those with residual lattice charges or an unbalance of charge in the fundamental framework or layers such as vermiculite, bentonite, hectorite, selected micas including Glauconite, Phlogopite and Biotite and mixtures thereof. These ceramics are activated to their amphoteric form by treatment with either acids or bases. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit which is higher in the amphoteric form than in their native form. The ceramic materials are common and inexpensive.

Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation and fabrication of microwave susceptors for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include a novel microwave absorbing material and a binder. The novel microwave absorbing materials comprise ceramics with neutral lattice charges such as clays, kaolin, talc, silicates, alumina, aluminosilicates and mixtures thereof. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit. The materials are common and inexpensive. Preferred compositions additionally include a temperature profile moderator which can be common salt.

Abstract: Disclosed are edible film coating compositions of low moisture permeability and their methods of preparation. The compositions comprise cross-linked, refined shellac and preferably an edible member having a reactive hydroxyl or acid moiety selected from the group consisting of edible sources of polyphenolics, edible sources of benzaldehyde and derivatives, acetylated monoglycerides, polyglycerol esters, edible straight chain mono-carboxylic acid, edible di-carboxylic acids and mixtures thereof. Useful weight ratios of shellac to reactant range from 1:0.001 to 0.1. In the preferred method of preparation, the shellac is cross-linked with the reactants in a dry, molten mixture by heating at 130.degree. to 175.degree. C. for 2 to 15 minutes. The resulting coating compound while molten is dissolved in a food grade solvent, applied to a substrate and dried.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation of microwave susceptors and to the susceptors fabricated therefrom for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include certain metal salts as time/temperature profile moderators in addition to a novel microwave absorbing material and a binder. Certain metal salts can be used to dampen or lower the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating the ceramic compositions. Other metal salts can be used to increase or accelerate the final temperature reached upon microwave heating. The microwave absorbing materials comprise selected ceramics in both their native and amphoteric forms. Such useful ceramics are those with residual lattice charges or an unbalance of charge in the fundamental framework or layers such as vermiculite, bentonite, hectorite, zeolites, selected micas including Glauconite, phlogopite and Biotite and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic oxide gels (sometimes also referred to as hydrated oxides), and especially xerogels, compositions which are useful in the formulation and fabrication of microwave susceptors for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items. The compositions include novel microwave absorbing ceramic gel material doped with common salt and a binder. The gel forming materials include alumina, silica, mullite and mixtures thereof. The compositions essentially comprise about 17% to 35% bound water. Preferred materials are xerogels, i.e., ceramic gels dried so as to have a free moisture content of about 0.1% to 10%. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit. The materials are common and inexpensive. The compositions can additionally include common salt as a temperature profile moderator.

Abstract: Disclosed are edible film coating compositions of low moisture permeability and their methods of preparation. The compositions comprise cross-linked, refined shellac and preferably an edible member having a reactive hydroxyl or acid moiety selected from the group consisting of edible sources of polyphenolics, edible sources of benzaldehyde and derivatives, acetylated monoglycerides, polyglycerol esters, edible straight chain mono-carboxylic acid, edible di-carboxylic acids and mixtures thereof. Useful weight ratios of shellac to reactant range from 1:0.001 to 0.1. In the preferred method of preparation, the shellac is cross-linked with the reactants in a dry, molten mixture by heating at 130.degree. to 175.degree. C. for 2 to 15 minutes. The resulting coating compound while molten is dissolved in a food grade solvent, applied to a substrate and dried.

Abstract: Disclosed are edible film coating compositions of low moisture permeability and their methods of preparation. The compositions comprise cross-linked, refined shellac and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) in a weight ratio of 1:0.001 to 1:2. Highly preferred compositions additionally comprise mono- or di-carboxylic acid adducts such as adipic, succinic, lauric, or stearic acids in a weight ratio of acid to combined weight of shellac and cellulose of 1:33 to 1:10. In the preferred method of preparing, the shellac is cross-linked in a dry, molten mixture with the HPC by heating at 130.degree. to 175.degree. C. for 2 to 15 minutes. The coating compound while molten is dissolved in a food grade solvent, applied to a substrate, and dried. The coating compositions are particularly useful as a moisture barrier in composite food articles having phases in contact which differ substantially in water activity. Effective films range from 0.1 to 5 mils in thickness.