Energy-Differential Microwaveable Food Package

Abstract

A food package is provided having two different food products disposed within a common flexible film wrapper. A portion of the flexible film wrapper adjacent a first of the food products is adapted to at least partially shield microwave radiation from the first food product to a greater degree than the second food product when both are heated together in the film wrapper in a microwave oven.

1 . An energy-differential microwaveable food package containing at least two different food products, the food package comprising:
 a first food product;   a second food product different from the first food product; and   a common flexible film wrapper surrounding the first and second food products, the film wrapper having a microwave-influencing segment positioned adjacent the first food product and spaced from the second food product such that there is an energy differential input between the first and second microwave food products during microwave heating in the film wrapper.   
   
   
       2 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the microwave-influencing segment includes a microwave shielding material. 
   
   
       3 . The food package of  claim 2 , wherein the microwave shielding material is disposed between an inner layer and an outer layer of the film wrapper. 
   
   
       4 . The food package of  claim 2 , wherein the microwave shielding material includes one or both of a plurality of separated portions and non-shielded zones surrounded by shielding material. 
   
   
       5 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second food products are supported by a rigid support disposed in the film wrapper. 
   
   
       6 . The food package of  claim 6 , wherein the rigid support has feet to elevate the support. 
   
   
       7 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the microwave-influencing segment is adjacent a portion of the first food product and spaced from another portion of the first food product. 
   
   
       8 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the film wrapper includes means for venting moisture from within the film wrapper during microwave cooking. 
   
   
       9 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second food products is disposed in containment means. 
   
   
       10 . A method of packaging at least two different food products in an energy-differential microwave package, the method comprising:
 providing a first food product and a second food product different from the first food product;   positioning a microwave-influencing segment of a common flexible film wrapper adjacent the first food product and spaced from the second food product such that the segment results in an energy differential input between the first and second microwave food products during microwave heating; and   sealing the first and second food products in the film wrapper.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing the first and second food products further includes the step of positioning at least one of the first and second food products on a rigid support. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid support includes elevating means. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of positioning a microwave-influencing segment of a common flexible film wrapper adjacent the first food product and spaced from the second food product further includes the step of surrounding the first and second food products with the film wrapper. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a first food product and a second food product further includes the step of providing at least one of the first and second food products in containment means. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a first food product and a second food product further includes the step of providing each of the first and second food products in separate containment means. 
   
   
       16 . A method of microwave heating a first and second food product, the method comprising:
 placing a package having an outer flexible film wrapper at least partially surrounding separate first and second food products in a microwave oven;   heating the first and second food products together in the microwave oven while the first and second food products are disposed in the film wrapper; and   limiting the microwave energy input to the first food product to a different degree than the second food product during heating of the first and second food products together in the microwave oven at least in part using the film wrapper.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the outer flexible film wrapper has a microwave-influencing segment adjacent the first food product and spaced from the second food product such that microwave radiation is at least partially blocked from the first food product. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of placing a package in a microwave oven further includes placing a package in a microwave oven where the package includes a rigid support for both the first and second food products disposed in the film wrapper.