Abstract: A microwave oven includes an oven cavity arranged within a housing. The oven includes a door and a motorized conveyor belt for transporting food items through the oven cavity. A microwave energy intensification system is provided below the conveyor belt to concentrate and intensify a microwave energy field directed into the oven cavity in order to minimize temperature deviations within the food item.

Abstract: A microwave intensification system includes a base frame having a plurality of support members, a microwave transparent, central vessel, and at least one dielectric unit positioned within the central vessel. A cooking surface is formed by covering the dielectric unit with a protective covering. In operation, a food item is placed within a processing container and positioned on the cooking surface over the dielectric unit. The processing container is sized such that an overlap exists between the container and the dielectric unit in order to balance the exposure of the food item to a microwave energy field. With this arrangement, the food item can rapidly undergo a cooking process in a manner wherein central and edge portions of the food item are exposed to a uniform cooking process thereby increasing the quality of the final product.