Abstract: A convenience food product comprising a microwavable pasta packaged in a container which facilitates even cooking in a microwave oven. The product can further comprise an improved hydratable sauce in the form of granules which tend not to form clumps upon the addition of water or milk and requires minimal stirring.

Abstract: A container for microwave cooking having geometric features which improve the efficiency and uniformity of microwave cooking of food products containing liquids and which enhance boiling uniformity while preventing boilover of the contents. The container has a bottom portion and a side panel wherein the bottom portion contains a central segment in the shape of a section of a sphere. The side panel is tapered outwardly as it extends from the bottom portion to an end opening. Sharp corners are avoided within the container. As the result of the geometry of the container, a more uniform distribution of heat within the contents of the container is attained during cooking and the combination of uniform heating, the lack of sharp corners and the tapered side panel causes boiling of the contents without bumping, thereby minimizing the risk of boil over.

Abstract: Disclosed are dispensing devices including an attachable dispensing lid adapted to be fitted to the open end of a package for particulate material especially ready-to-eat cereals. The dispensing device not only aids dispensing the particulate contents but also provides a good seal against moisture pickup. The dispensing lid includes a cover member having a peripheral groove which is adapted to frictionally engage the folded portion of the package formed by folding back the package top end flaps and the inner liner. The dispensing lid further comprises a spout member pivotably positioned within a corresponding opening in the cover member.

Abstract: A foil laminated board having a pattern formed in the metallic foil is placed in close contact with a metallized substrate such as a metallized plastic film. The two metal surfaces are subjected to a microwave energy field which duplicates or copies the foil pattern on the metallized substrate or film.

Abstract: The food package includes a flexible wrapping sheet of dielectric material, such as polyester or paperboard, capable of conforming to at least a portion of the article of food's shape. The dielectric wrapping sheet has a flexible metallic coating thereon, such as aluminum, in the form of a relatively thin film or relatively thick foil, the coating being subdivided into a number of individual metallic islands or pads separated by criss-crossing non-metallic gaps provided by exposed dielectric strips on the wrapping sheet. When the food package is placed in a microwave oven, some of the microwave energy passes through the wrapping sheet so as to dielectrically heat the food item, but a lesser amount of the microwave energy is converted into thermal energy by the metallic coating so as to brown or crispen that portion of the food adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A package combination for storing and preserving a living plant such as lettuce. A bag, formed of a plastic material, is inflated with a gaseous medium. A living plant having an absorbent block attached to its root system, is placed within the bag in such a manner that the block absorbs moisture which condenses within the bag, and makes it available to the plant.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided which moves a column of nested, uniformly shaped chips into a reservoir thereby forming a loop array. The loop array of snack chips is then transferring from the reservoir into a package.

Abstract: Snacked chips of uniform shape and size are nested one within another in closely fitting relationship in a form of a circular or loop array.