Construct for Supporting Food Items

Abstract

A construct for supporting a food item comprises a plurality of divider walls and a plurality of base panels. The divider walls are spaced from one another along a length of the construct. Each base panel is located between a pair of adjacent divider walls and connecting the adjacent divider walls. A microwave energy interactive element may overlie a surface of the construct.

1 . A microwave heating system comprising:
 a pair of sleeves arranged in a spaced apart, upright configuration for receiving a food item therebetween, each sleeve of the pair of sleeves comprising a plurality of panels that define an interior space of the sleeve, at least one panel of the plurality of panels comprising microwave energy interactive material; and   an upright member extending into the interior space of each sleeve of the pair of sleeves for maintaining the respective sleeve in the upright configuration,   wherein each sleeve of the pair of sleeves is operative for being flexed away from the other sleeve of the pair of sleeves by the food item between the pair of sleeves.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels comprises a first pair of panels opposite one another and a second pair of panels opposite one another. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upright member extends upwardly from a base. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the upright member is removably joined to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the upright member comprises a peg removably seated within a slot in the base. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the upright member is seated on a shoulder extending upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the microwave energy interactive material is supported on a polymer film, and   the polymer film defines a food-contacting portion of the sleeve.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein
 the polymer film is a first polymer film, and   the pair of sleeves each further comprise
 a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material, and 
 a second polymer film joined to the moisture-containing layer in a patterned configuration, thereby defining at least one closed cell between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one closed cell is operative for inflating in response to sufficient exposure to microwave energy. 
     
     
         10 . A microwave heating system comprising:
 a first sleeve and a second sleeve mounted in an upright configuration, the first and second sleeves each comprising microwave energy interactive material, the microwave energy interactive material being operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy,   wherein the first and second sleeves each comprise a first panel and a second panel in an opposed, spaced apart relationship, the first and second sleeves each being configured so that the first panel of the first sleeve and the first panel of the second sleeve are spaced from one another for receiving a food item therebetween, wherein the first panel of the first sleeve and the first panel of the second sleeve are operative for being flexed away from one another.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first panel of the first sleeve and the first panel of the second sleeve are spaced a distance from one another, and   wherein the first panel of the first sleeve and the first panel of the second sleeve are operative for being flexed away from one another to increase the distance between the first panel of the first sleeve and the first panel of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second sleeves each further comprise a third panel and a second panel in an opposed relationship with one another, wherein the first panel, second panel, third panel, and fourth panel define an interior space of the respective sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising
 a base,   a first member extending upwardly from the base into the interior of the first sleeve, and   a second member extending upwardly from the base into the interior of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first member and the second member each comprise a pair of pegs. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each peg of the pair of pegs is removably seated within a slot in the base. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each peg of the pair of pegs is seated on a shoulder extending upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein
 the microwave energy interactive material is supported on a polymer film, and   the polymer film defines a food-contacting surface of the first sleeve and the second sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein
 the polymer film is a first polymer film, and   the first sleeve and the second sleeve each further comprise
 a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material, and 
 a second polymer film joined to the moisture-containing layer in a patterned configuration, thereby defining at least one closed cell between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one closed cell is operative for inflating in response to sufficient exposure to microwave energy. 
     
     
         20 . A microwave heating system comprising:
 a base having a pair of opposite edges extending in a first direction;   a plurality of pegs extending upwardly from the base, the plurality of pegs including
 a first pair of pegs disposed proximate to the opposite edges of the base, and 
 a second pair of pegs disposed proximate to the opposite edges of the base; 
   a first sleeve enwrapping the first pair of pegs; and   a second enwrapping the second pair of pegs, so that the first sleeve and the second sleeve each extend in a second direction transverse to the first direction,   wherein
 the first sleeve and the second sleeve each comprise microwave energy interactive material, and 
 the first sleeve and second sleeve are spaced from one another to define a space for receiving a food item therebetween. 
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve each comprise
 a pair of opposed panels, each panel including
 a pair of opposite ends adjacent to the respective pairs of pegs, and 
 a central portion disposed between the opposite ends, and 
   an interior space disposed between the pair of opposed panel, wherein the central portion of each panel is operative for being flexed towards the interior space of the respective sleeve.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein each peg of the pair of pegs is removably seated within a slot in the base. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein each peg of the pair of pegs is seated on a shoulder extending upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the microwave energy interactive material of each of the first sleeve and the second sleeve comprises a portion of a microwave energy interactive insulating material, the microwave energy interactive insulating material of each of the first sleeve and the second sleeve comprising
 the microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film, the first polymer film comprising a food-contacting layer,   a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material, and   a second polymer film joined to the moisture-containing layer in a patterned configuration, thereby defining at least one closed cell between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one closed cell is operative for inflating in response to sufficient exposure to microwave energy, so that the microwave energy interactive material of the first sleeve and second sleeve is urged towards the food item disposed between the first sleeve and second sleeve. 
     
     
         26 . A method of heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:
 arranging a pair of sleeves in a spaced apart, upright configuration, each sleeve of the pair of sleeves comprising a plurality of panels that define an interior space of the respective sleeve, at least one panel of the plurality of panels comprising microwave energy interactive material operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy, wherein arranging the pair of sleeves comprises arranging the pair of sleeves with an upright member extending into the interior space of each sleeve of the pair of sleeves to maintain the sleeves in an upright configuration;   positioning a food item between the pair of sleeves, the food item having a surface that is desirably browned and/or crisped; and   exposing the food item positioned between the pair of sleeves to microwave energy so that the microwave energy interactive material converts at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy and browns and/or crisps at least a portion of the surface of the food item.