Abstract: A container that includes a microwave interactive web at least partially overlying and joined to a three-dimensional support, wherein the three-dimensional support may be formed prior to having the microwave interactive web mounted thereto. The three-dimensional support may be a preformed container that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally stable for use in containing food.

Abstract: A microwave heating construct comprises a base, a wall extending upwardly around the base for defining a cavity for receiving a food item, and a microwave energy shielding element overlying a lower margin of the wall, the microwave energy shielding element having an upper edge including a substantially incurved portion.

Abstract: A container that includes a microwave interactive web at least partially overlying and joined to a three-dimensional support, wherein the three-dimensional support may be formed prior to having the microwave interactive web mounted thereto. The three-dimensional support may be a preformed container that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally stable for use in containing food.

Abstract: A construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven includes a base, a wall extending upwardly from the base, a microwave energy shielding element overlying at least a portion of the wall, and a microwave energy diffusing element circumscribed by the microwave energy shielding element. The microwave energy diffusing element includes a plurality of microwave energy reflective elements within a microwave energy transparent area.

Abstract: A microwave heating construct comprises a base, a wall extending upwardly around the base for defining a cavity for receiving a food item, and a microwave energy shielding element overlying a lower margin of the wall, the microwave energy shielding element having an upper edge including a substantially incurved portion.

Abstract: A microwave energy interactive structure includes microwave energy interactive material supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, and a plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments circumscribed by the microwave energy interactive material. The plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments define a pattern of loops that may be dimensioned to induce resonance of microwave energy during microwave heating of a food item on the structure. The structure may also include a plurality of microwave energy transparent elements that are operative as fuses to prevent overheating of the structure.

Abstract: A microwave heating construct has a platform including microwave energy interactive material and a plurality of venting features. The venting features include a plurality of tabs that are urged out of the plane of the platform to define an aperture. The tabs are disposed beneath the platform to define a void in communication with the aperture.

Abstract: A container includes a microwave interactive web at least partially overlying and joined to a three-dimensional support, wherein the three-dimensional support may be formed prior to having the microwave interactive web mounted thereto. The three-dimensional support may be a preformed container that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally stable for use in containing food.

Abstract: A construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven includes a base, a wall extending upwardly from the base, a microwave energy shielding element overlying at least a portion of the wall, and a microwave energy diffusing element circumscribed by the microwave energy shielding element. The microwave energy diffusing element includes a plurality of microwave energy reflective elements within a microwave energy transparent area.

Abstract: A construct for preparing a food item in a microwave oven includes a plurality of heating regions including an inner heating region and an outer heating region. The inner heating region includes a susceptor including a plurality of annular microwave energy transparent areas, and the outer heating region includes a plurality of susceptor projections extending radially from the susceptor of the inner heating region.

Abstract: Various blanks and constructs formed therefrom are provided. The various constructs include features for supporting a food item at an elevated position to enhance the heating, browning, and/or crisping of the food item in a microwave oven.

Abstract: A susceptor structure includes a layer of conductive material supported on a non-conductive substrate. The conductive layer includes a resonant loop defined by a plurality of microwave energy transparent segments and, optionally, a microwave energy transparent element within the resonant loop.

Abstract: A microwave heating package includes a dimensionally stable first component for supporting a food item and a flexible second component dimensioned to receive the dimensionally stable first component. Each of the first component and the second component may include a microwave energy interactive element for altering the effect of microwave energy on a food item within the package.

Abstract: A system for heating a food item in a microwave oven is provided. The system may include an inner container and an outer carton including an opening feature that allows for easy opening thereof. The system also may include a microwave energy interactive element.

Abstract: Indentation patterns in microwave packaging materials can enhance the baking and browning effects of the microwave packaging materials on food. The indentation patterns can provide venting to either channel moisture from one area of the food product to another, trap moisture in a certain area to prevent it from escaping, or channel the moisture completely away from the food product. The indentation patterns can cause the microwave packaging material underneath a food product to be slightly elevated above the cooking platform in the base of a microwave. The indentation patterns can lessen the heat sinking effect of the cooking platform by providing an air gap for insulation. Elevating the base of the microwave packaging material further allows more incident microwave radiation to propagate underneath the microwave packaging material to be absorbed by the food product or by microwave interactive materials in the microwave packaging material that augment the heating process.

Abstract: Indentation patterns are scored in microwave packaging materials to enhance the baking and browning effects of the microwave packaging materials on food products. The indentation patterns provide venting to either channel moisture from one area of the food product to another, trap moisture in a certain area to prevent it from escaping, or channel the moisture completely away from the food product. The indentation patterns cause the microwave packaging material underneath a food product to be slightly elevated above the cooking platform in the base of a microwave. The indentation patterns lessen the heat sinking effect of the cooking platform by providing an air gap for insulation. Elevating the base of the microwave packaging material further allows more incident microwave radiation to propagate underneath the microwave packaging material to be absorbed by the food product or by microwave interactive materials in the microwave packaging material that augment the heating process.

Abstract: A container has a patterned susceptor region in the bottom, a fold region between the bottom and the sidewall of the container, a sidewall region, and a flange region that forms a flange or lip of the container. The patterned susceptor region includes arrangements of microwave-interactive features disposed generally along respective close plane curves, which reduces overheating and increases the filling temperature of the food product. The fold region contains microwave transparent features that minimize de-lamination of the container in the folded region, and also create a generally transmissive area in the vicinity of the heel of the food product to improve the cooking thereof. The sidewall region shields the periphery of the food product so that it is not overcooked while promoting an appropriate degree of pie dough shell browning. The flange area is transmissive to promote an appropriate degree of cooking of the food product crust.

Abstract: An abuse-tolerant microwave food packaging material includes an array of solid shapes of microwave energy reflective material, for example, of aluminum foil, disposed on a substrate. The an array of shapes of microwave energy reflective material shield microwave energy from a food product while remaining substantially resistant to arcing or burning under abusive cooking conditions in an operating microwave oven.

Abstract: A variety of etching bath-based demetallizing processes for making various products involve immersing a web of metal-containing material in a bath of aqueous etchant. The metal-containing material is protected by a pattern of etch-resistant material during the demetallizating process to form functional features having a function in the product in the metal-containing material when the web has been demetallized. The metal-containing material is also protected by a pattern of etch-resistant material over areas of the metal-containing material that serve no function in the product, but rather function in one or more ways to improve the chemical milling process, such as, for example, by extending the etchant bath life, preventing excessive heat generation in the etchant bath, maintaining the etchant bath stable and controllable, increasing web rigidity, and imparting predetermined flex characteristics to the web.

Abstract: An abuse-tolerant microwave food packaging material includes repeated sets of microwave energy reflective material segments disposed on a substrate. Each set of reflective segments is arranged to define a perimeter having a length equal to a predetermined fraction of the effective wavelength of an operating microwave oven. The repeated sets of segments act both as a shield to microwave energy and as focusing elements for microwave energy when used in conjunction with food products, while remaining electrically safe in the absence of the food products.