Abstract: A microwave heating system configured to heat a plurality of articles is provided. The microwave heating system includes a thermalization zone for adjusting the temperature of the articles disposed therein to be substantially uniform and a microwave heating zone for heating the thermalized articles. At least one of the thermalization zone and microwave heating zone are liquid-filled and may include a plurality of fluid agitators for discharging jets of liquid medium toward the articles at multiple locations within the chamber.

Abstract: A microwave system for heating a plurality of articles and a method of using the same is provided. The microwave heating system comprises at least three microwave launchers and at least three microwave allocation devices for dividing the microwave energy into at least three separate portions. Each allocation device is configured to divide the microwave energy passing therethrough according to a predetermined ratio, and at least one of the allocation devices is configured to divide the microwave energy according to a predetermined ratio that is not 1:1. The resulting energy portions can then be discharged into the microwave heating chamber via the launchers and used to heat a plurality of articles, including foodstuffs, medical fluids, or medical instruments, disposed within the heating chamber.