Microwave package

A method of forming a container for holding at least a first food item and a second food item during exposure to microwave energy in a microwave oven having a cutoff frequency, the method comprising:

• obtaining a sidewall blank comprising at least a substrate layer and a microwave energy interactive layer, the microwave energy interactive layer comprising a plurality of apertures, each extending through at least the microwave energy interactive layer, each aperture of the plurality of apertures has a characteristic dimension that is selected based on the cutoff frequency of the microwave oven to be sufficiently small so that substantially all microwave energy incident on the microwave energy interactive layer is substantially prevented from passing through the apertures;
• and
• forming a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the container with the sidewall blank, the forming the sidewall comprising
• forming a shielded interior portion of the interior of the container, the shielded interior portion being at least partially defined by the microwave energy interactive layer of the sidewall, the shielded interior portion being for at least partially receiving the first food item;
• and
• forming an at least partially unshielded interior portion of the interior of the container, the at least partially unshielded interior portion being at least partially defined by the sidewall, the at least partially unshielded interior portion being for at least partially receiving the second food item.

A package for being exposed to microwave energy in a microwave oven having a cutoff frequency, the package comprising:

• a container comprising a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the container, the sidewall comprising at least a substrate layer and a microwave energy interactive layer, wherein
• a shielded interior portion of the interior of the container is at least partially defined by the microwave energy interactive layer of the sidewall,
• an at least partially unshielded interior portion of the interior of the container is at least partially defined by the sidewall, and
• a plurality of apertures extending through at least the microwave energy interactive layer, each aperture of the plurality of apertures has a characteristic dimension that is selected based on the cutoff frequency of the microwave oven to be sufficiently small so that substantially all microwave energy incident on the microwave energy interactive layer is substantially prevented from passing through the apertures;
• a first food item at least partially disposed in the shielded interior portion for being shielded from microwave energy incident on the container by at least the microwave energy interactive layer;
• and
• a second food item at least partially disposed in the at least partially unshielded interior portion.

A method comprising:

• obtaining a container comprising a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the container, the sidewall comprising at least a substrate layer and a microwave energy interactive layer, wherein
• a shielded interior portion of the interior of the container is at least partially defined by at least the microwave energy interactive layer of the sidewall,
• an at least partially unshielded interior portion of the interior of the container is at least partially defined by the sidewall, and
• a plurality of apertures extends through at least the microwave energy interactive layer;
• disposing a first food item in the shielded interior portion;
• disposing a second food item in the at least partially unshielded interior portion;
• and
• exposing the container to microwave energy in a microwave oven having a cutoff frequency, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures has a characteristic dimension that is selected based on the cutoff frequency of the microwave oven to be sufficiently small so that the microwave energy interactive layer and the apertures substantially shield the first food item from the microwave energy.