Package for microwave cooking

• US 20040238534A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Micro CHEF Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro CHEF Incorporated
• Inventors: Mast, Roy Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/447,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20040238534A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3466 Microwave reactive material applied by vacuum, sputter or vapor deposition
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3467 Microwave reactive layer shaped by delamination, demetallizing or embossing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3477 Iron or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3479 Other metallic compounds, e.g. silver, gold, copper, nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3495 attached to the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3497 attached to the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3498 attached to the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/302 combined with a slot provided in an adjacent side wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6664 combined with flaps or tabs provided at the side edges of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

A microwavable package may include one or more microwave-absorbing regions, microwave-shielding regions, and/or embossed regions designed to enhance microwave cooking of food products including raw meat, poultry, and fish as well as breaded, battered, and dough containing items. Microwave-absorbing regions (i.e., solid susceptors) may promote thermal cooking, browning, and/or crisping of food products. Microwave-shielding regions (i.e., patterned susceptors) may promote uniform cooking and inhibit overcooking of food products. A patterned susceptor may be a conductive grid or a grid of conductive or non-conductive shapes (e.g., squares, triangles, circles). In an embodiment, solid susceptors and patterned susceptors may be formed from a common thin metal film on a common polymer barrier layer and laminated to a common structural backing layer. An embossed region of a microwavable package may promote crisping of a food product by allowing air to circulate between the food product and an interior surface of the microwavable package.

Claims

1. A microwavable package for cooking a food product using microwave energy, comprising:

a lid member;

a base member;

wherein the lid member and the base member are configured to form a seal during use;

wherein an interior surface of the microwavable package comprises a patterned susceptor configured to control heat transfer and to shield the food product from incident microwave energy; and

wherein the microwavable package comprises paperboard.

2. The microwavable package of claim 1, wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a thin metal film.

4. The microwavable package of claim 1, wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a conductive grid.

12. The microwavable package of claim 1, wherein the seal allows the microwavable package to maintain a pressure above atmospheric pressure such that the food product is thermally cooked at least with heated substances evolved from the food product during cooking.

13. The microwavable package of claim 1, wherein the seal allows the microwavable package to vent above atmospheric pressure to releasing moisture from the microwavable package.

14. The microwavable package of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises double embossing.

15. The microwavable package of claim 1, wherein the food product substantially fills the microwavable package.

3. (cancelled)

5-11. -11. (cancelled)

16-36. -36. (cancelled)

37. A method of packaging a food product to be cooked with microwave energy, comprising:

placing the food product in a microwavable package such that the food product is adjacent to a patterned susceptor formed of a thin metal film on a first interior surface of the microwavable package, wherein the patterned susceptor shields the food product from microwave energy during microwave cooking; and

sealing the food product inside the microwavable package, wherein the microwavable package comprises paperboard.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a thin metal film.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a conductive grid.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the food product substantially fills the microwavable package.

43. The method of claim 37, further comprising placing the food product in the microwavable package such that the food product is adjacent to a solid susceptor on a second interior surface of the microwavable package.

39. (cancelled)

41. (cancelled)

44-49. -49. (cancelled)

50. A method of packaging a food product to be cooked with microwave energy, comprising:

placing the food product in a microwavable package, wherein the microwavable package comprises paperboard;

placing the microwavable package in a sealable microwavable container;

flushing the sealable microwavable container with inert gas; and

sealing the sealable microwavable container.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the microwavable package comprises an embossed susceptor.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the microwavable package comprises a solid susceptor.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the microwavable package comprises a solid susceptor, and wherein the solid susceptor comprises a thin metal film.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the microwavable package comprises a solid susceptor, and wherein the solid susceptor comprises a thin aluminum film.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein the microwavable package comprises a patterned susceptor.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein the microwavable package comprises a patterned susceptor, and wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a thin metal film.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein the inert gas comprises nitrogen.

59. The method of claim 50, wherein the sealable microwavable container comprises one or more components.

60. The method of claim 50, wherein flushing the sealable microwavable container with inert gas comprises substantially removing oxygen from inside the sealable microwavable container.

61. The method of claim 50, further comprising wrapping the sealed sealable microwavable container with a thin plastic film.

62. The method of claim 50, wherein sealing the sealable microwavable container substantially inhibits air from entering the sealed container.

57. (cancelled)

63. A method of cooking a food product with microwave energy, comprising:

exposing a microwavable package containing the food product to the microwave energy, wherein the microwavable package comprises paperboard; and

allowing a patterned susceptor on an interior surface of the microwavable package to shield at least some of the microwave energy from the food product.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a thin metal film.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a conductive grid.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein the patterned susceptor comprises a grid of conductive shapes.

69. The method of claim 63, wherein the microwavable package further comprises a solid susceptor.

70. The method of claim 63, wherein the microwavable package further comprises a solid susceptor, and wherein the solid susceptor comprises a thin metal film.

65. (cancelled)

68. (cancelled)

71. (cancelled)

72. (cancelled)