Abstract: A bacon cooker and method for the microwave cooking of bacon. The bacon cooker includes a cover unit for releasably retaining a microwave permeable container having an open end with an annular, laterally projecting rim. The cover unit is designed to extend over the open end of the container and includes a plurality of cam locks which engage the container rim and force the rim into engagement with the underside of the cover unit. The cover unit is provided with a steam vent which includes an elongate, open ended shaft extending outwardly from the cover into the container. A plurality of radially extending arms are affixed to the shaft in spaced relationship to the cover. A hydrophilic material isi placed in the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A microwave steam tray is made of a thermo-formed co-polymer polypropylene quality food grade plastic. The microwave steam tray comprises a plastic container having a dish portion and a connected lid. The dish portion includes a bottom surface with four sidewalls extending therefrom to define a dish interior. A plurality of ribs are raised from the bottom surface to provide a cooking plane. Steam channels are formed between the ribs. The ribs extend radially from a moisture reservoir positioned within the dish interior. The moisture reservoir includes a retaining wall having a cup portion formed within the retaining wall. Recesses are formed within the retaining wall. Liquid based food products may be placed in the moisture cylinder during cooking. Steam generated from the moisture reservoir easily travels down the radial steam channels.

Abstract: Packaging (3) for causing the outside surface of a food product to crisp and/or brown when the food product is heated in a microwave oven. The packaging comprises a corrugated sheet (5) of a susceptor material (e.g., metalised polyester) adapted to be wrapped at least partially around the food product. The corrugated sheet may have adhered thereto a backing sheet (7) of paper or cardboard.

Abstract: A cover for microwavable containers is formed of a composite of textile materials which enhance microwave cooking. One layer provides insulation to hold heat within the microwavable container, while another retards splattering. The device allows steam ventilation from the container without the requirement of lifting a corner of the container, or otherwise taking steps to provide ventilation. The cover is machine washable. The cover has an elastic perimeter which allows the cover to be placed over the container, with the elastic holding the cover in place against the container, and allows the cover to fit a range of variously sized and shaped microwavable containers.

Abstract: The invention is a valve for a microwavable container having a flexible lid. The valve has two posts extending from one side of a body member, and the posts correspond to two apertures in the lid. The cross-sectional area of the posts are larger than the apertures in the lid, and the distal portions of the posts are larger than the proximal portions. When the posts are engaged with the apertures a liquid-tight seal is formed. One post can be removed from its corresponding aperture to create a vent for microwave cooking, while the other post remains engaged with the lid to anchor the valve to the lid. The body portion of the valve extends beyond the vent post and preferably flares upwardly and fans laterally to form a tab to facilitate opening of the vent. The body portion also preferably has a thin between the posts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line of the posts to facilitate hinging of the valve.

Abstract: A microwave cooking system is provided for cooking a food product in a microwave field to produce a food product with a texture and taste similar in quality to food products prepared in a conventional oven. The system utilizes a microwaveable tray comprising a microwave susceptor material laminated to a thin paperboard sheet for supporting and heating a food product to be cooked thereon. A single sheet corrugated plate is attached to a lower surface of the microwaveable tray in order to provide space beneath the microwaveable tray for the circulation of heated air. The tray containing the food product thereon is sealed in a polymer bag having microwave shielding material on the inner surface of the upper side of the sealed polymer bag for minimizing the amount of direct microwave transmission contacting the food product contained therein. The sealed polymer bag has a pressure regulation port for releasing and maintaining pressure which builds inside the sealed polymer bag during cooking.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use in microwave ovens to heat the exterior peripheries of food items to temperatures such that moisture is evaporated from the outer regions of the food items which are adjacent to the exterior peripheries. The apparatus includes an enclosure which is permeable to microwave energy and which defines a sealed interior cavity in which an inert gas is disposed. The inert gas is of the type that will be energized to generate radiant heat when exposed to the microwave energy of a conventional microwave oven. The enclosure defines an exterior heating surface which is placed adjacent to and transfers the heat from the inert gas directly to the peripheries of the food items. The apparatus preferably further includes a second enclosure having a second heating surface for disposing adjacent to a second side of the periphery of the food item, opposite that of the first enclosure and first heating surface. A drip pan is provided for catching drippings from the food item being grilled.

Abstract: A food container for cooking through use of a microwave oven includes a container adapted to contain food and having a hole and a pressure regulation valve attached to the food container to close the hole. The pressure regulation valve includes a cover film having an area sufficient to cover the hole, an adhesive layer applied over the surface of the cover film facing the food container, and a separator film disposed between the adhesive layer and the food container and having an area larger than that of the hole but smaller than that of the cover film. When food contained in the container is cocked in a microwave oven, the food is heated so that moisture is produced from the food. Until the vapor pressure within the food container reaches a predetermined level, the pressure regulation valve remains closed. When the vapor pressure within the food container reaches the predetermined level, the cover film partially separates from the food container in order to relieve the vapor pressure.

Abstract: A vacuum sealed preservation container comprises a container main body and a lid made of a synthetic resin which is heat resistant and cold resistant and has microwave permeability, in which the lid has on the upper surface thereof a check valve constituted such that gases in the container flow out only in one direction to the outside of the container through a vent hole and a packing mounted in a packing case disposed in contiguous with the circumferential edge thereof, and the container is constituted such that the lid and the container main body are in airtight contact with each other by way of the packing.

Abstract: A sealed bag for microwave heating composed of a film having a fusing layer inside, said bag being sealed by fusing both sides of said film longitudinally with each other and both ends thereof laterally, wherein both sides of the film are turned outside to form two rows or turned-up faces, a turned-up line formed by said two rows of turned-up faces is covered with an easily openable fusing tape having an easily openable film inside and reinforced with a base material outside, said tape being fused with the turned-up faces of the film, and at least one end of the fusing tape not fused by a length which can be taken with fingers is left as a pick-up flap in the laterally fused area. When cooked food for a few people is hermetically packaged in this sealed bag and heated with a microwave oven, the bag is not broken until the internal temperature thereof approaches 100.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention provides a sealed, expandable, automatically self-venting container for cooking microwavable foods in a microwave oven. The container has a pull-tab lid, a vent-hole, a vent-hole cover, an expandable casing, and a microwavable food charge such as corn kernels.

Abstract: A container for storing and cooking food, especially microwave cooking of popcorn, and for use as a container in which to serve the popcorn after it is popped. The container of the invention comprises a bag having front and back panels that define a cooking chamber between them, and a fold-over flap that projects from the back panel and defines an expansion chamber in communication with the cooking chamber. A microwave susceptor is provided in the front panel to absorb microwave energy during microwave cooking to heat and cook the popcorn in the cooking chamber, and as the popcorn expands during the popping cycle, the cooking and expansion chambers expand to form a single large interior volume for containing the popped popcorn. The front and back panels and the fold-over flap define a tripartite structure which is folded flat during shipment and storage, and which is placed flat on the front panel when it is desired to pop the popcorn.

Abstract: A microwavable tortilla bowl making device including an exterior rounded bowl portion having a plurality of vertically disposed slots therethrough in a spaced relationship. The exterior rounded bowl portion receives a flat tortilla therein. An interior rounded bowl portion is dimensioned for positioning within the exterior rounded bowl portion. The interior rounded bowl portion has a plurality of vertically disposed slots therethrough in a spaced relationship. The interior rounded bowl portion is positioned over the flat tortilla within the exterior rounded bowl portion whereby the flat tortilla conforms into a bowl-shape.

Abstract: A food container having provision for storing a freezable chilling medium and having a valve for venting steam. The food container is divided into a food storage chamber and a chilling chamber for holding the chilled medium. These chambers are separated by a wall having an opening at the top enabling fluid communication between these chambers. The container is closed by a removable lid. A steam relief valve is disposed in the lid, sunken into a depression formed in the lid, so that the valve body is substantially flush with the lid. A handle in the form of ears projects from the valve for easy grasping. The valve is opened for microwave cooking of stored food, and closed for chilled storage. When heating, the chilled medium is removed. Optionally, water is placed in the empty chilling chamber, and steam generated upon heating migrates into the food storage chamber, thereby steaming the food.

Abstract: A container for use in connection with the exposure of edible matter to microwave radiation. The container comprises a base tray and a lid. The lid is formed from a sheet of material which absorbs microwave radiation and is heated by it, and has a plurality of openings formed in it to allow escape of moisture during heating of the product. The lid is so folded or constructed that the distance through the openings from one side to the other side of the lid is greater then the thickness of the material of the lid.

Abstract: An apparatus for allowing air to circulate around food being heated in a microwave oven serves to expose a substantial surface area of the bottom of the food to the air circulating in the microwave oven under the control of the microwave oven fan. The apparatus has a base (25) which, in use, is normally supported on a rotating turntable of the microwave oven and rotates with the turntable. The apparatus also has a plurality of spaced apart support structures (29) or raised legs which extend upwardly from the base (25) and support the food in spaced relation thereto so that air may circulate in the space between the bottom of the food and the base (25). Slots (28) passing through the base may be present and these will allow air to flow from beneath the base (25) to the space around the support structures (29). Additionally, the apparatus may include air flow directional structures (27) which extend downwardly from the base (25) and can be supported on the turntable.

Abstract: A microwave heating package for containing a food item to be cooked in a microwave oven including a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall. A microwave interactive layer is affixed to the bottom wall for converting microwave energy into heat. The side wall is scored to define a first end flap and a second end flap. Each end flap is partially separable from the remainder of the package along the scoring and is hingedly connected to the bottom wall such that the separable portion of each end flap is pivotable from a first unseparated position to a second position located underneath the bottom wall.

Abstract: A thermal exchange composition made from clay, glycol and/or water for retaining and slowly releasing hot and cold temperatures is provided. The composition can further include polyacrylamide, for mixing with water, and olivine. The composition can be incorporated and used in a variety of applications. For instance, the thermal exchange composition can be used in hot and cold packs for therapeutic treatment to sore areas of the body. Other articles incorporating the thermal exchange composition include food trays, stadium seats, and the like. A thermal delivery device is also provided. The thermal delivery device can be incorporated into a variety of articles, including toys and food containers.

Abstract: A self-venting package adapted for microwave cooking having first and second package walls made from thermoplastic polymeric film where the second package wall is joined at a portion of its perimeter to the first package wall thus creating a product receiving chamber defined between the first and second walls. The chamber is adapted to receive a product to be heated and the package is sealed by at least one multilayered seal strip having a thermoplastic polymeric film construction that is placed between the first and second package walls at an edge of the package. The seal strip consists of a first outer layer, positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the first package wall and adapted to be sealed thereto, a second outer layer, positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the second package wall and adapted to be sealed thereto, and a tie layer disposed between the first and the second outer layers where the tie layer is peelably bonded to the first outer layer and the second outer layer.

Abstract: Microwave cookware of flexible, transparent material displaying an expandable bottom and two opposing walls, one wall containing an aperture, the other opposing wall displaying an extension, the objective being to manually pull the extension through the aperture rendering the bag closed and, vented, leaving the extension as a handling vehicle.

Abstract: A microwave cooking system for releasing moisture comprised of a microwave plate and spherical shaped container. The microwave plate includes a planar circular bottom section with upper and lower surfaces. The periphery of the upper surface of the bottom section includes coupling means for attachment thereupon. It further includes an annular top section formed as a hollow rim, with the hollow interior including a contiguous space extending the entire length of the rim. The rim extends upward from the bottom section, and has interior and exterior side walls shaped to follow the contour of the perimeter of the bottom section. The rim also includes an upper surface and open lower surface adapted to couple to the upper surface of the bottom section. A plurality of apertures in the upper surface of the rim extend into the hollow interior. The system further includes a generally spherical shaped container formed as a hollow sphere.

Abstract: A container constituted of a microwave transparent material for the heating or cooking of foods or comestibles through the intermediary of microwaves at a high degree of efficiency and with an enhanced temperature uniformity.

Abstract: A utensil for use in preparing foods in a microwave oven comprises a microwave transparent, nonconductive, ceramic, opentop food receiving vessel, a microwave transparent, nonconductive, ceramic cover for closing the open top of the vessel, special glaze or coating sintered onto at least the interior surfaces of the vessel and cover or onto both the interior and exterior surfaces thereof; the glaze or coating being comprised of a dielectric matrix and semiconductive particles dispersed throughout the matrix; the percent loading of the conductive particles in the matrix being such that the food contained in the vessel is partially shielded from microwave energy and the glaze absorbs microwave energy and the glaze absorbs microwave energy and converts it to thermal energy concentrated at the utensil so that the outside surface of the food is browned and crisped and the food is cooked from the outside to the inside by the heat transferred to the food from the utensil, as well as being cooked in part from the ins

Abstract: Foods can be cooked, baked or roasted in a microwave oven by enclosing a food-containment dish in a hood. Vent openings in the end wall of the hood permit a controlled escape of steam from the space enclosed by the hood; air heated within the hood provides an updraft condition that induces a flow of steam through the vent openings. Air holes in the hood side wall permit replacement air to flow into the hood to replace air that escapes with the steam. The apparatus achieves a relatively even heating of the food, and a controlled venting of steam from the food throughout the food-cooking process.

Abstract: A microwave cooker capable of cooking an assortment of foods by a variety of methods while maintaining constant pressure. The cooker of the present invention boils and steams foods continuously without pressure build up and without the need to shut off the microwave oven. Food spattering and spillage are prevented by a unique internal baffle rib design and a mechanism that releaseably locks the top cover.

Abstract: A dish cover for use in a microwave oven has first and second generally semicircular portions which may be fastened to the rim of a dish by latch means and secured to the dish by insertion of the rim between an annular flange and lip extending inwardly from the sidewall of the cover. The flange extends into the space over the dish to serve as a pathway for the return of condensate to the dish during cooking. The cover has handles which may also operate to secure the two halves together. The handles allow for removal of a covered dish from the oven using unprotected hands.