Bag and related methods

A bag for heating or cooking by heating at least one food item in a microwave oven, the bag comprising:

• a first primary panel and a second primary panel peripherally formed with and/or sealed to the first primary panel to form a containment region within the periphery, the bag being split into at least two zones by a breakable polymeric seal across the containment region to create a lower zone at a base of the bag and an upper zone located or configured to be located above the lower zone, the breakable polymeric seal being adapted to break and be in an open configuration when the containment region is heated thereby causing the at least food item in the containment region of the upper zone to move to the lower zone and mix with the at least one food item in the containment region of the lower zone,
• a line of weakness to facilitate tearing, the line of weakness extending across the bag between two opposite sides of the bag along or adjacent the breakable polymeric seal, the line of weakness functions as a hinge line so that when the first and second primary panels are close to each other, the hinge line allows drooping of the upper zone, and when the first and second primary panels move apart, the hinge line allows the upper zone to be above the lower zone, and
• an openable and re-closable sealing assembly located between a lower compartment of the lower zone and the breakable polymeric seal,
• wherein the base of the bag is of a gusset formation that is configured to spread open thereby providing footing for stability of the bag when the bag is in a standing position.

A method of manufacture of a bag for heating at least one item of commerce, the method comprising:

• providing as a bag for heating the at least one item comprising a first primary panel and a second primary panel peripherally formed with and/or sealed to the first primary panel to form a containment region within the periphery, the bag being split into at least two zones by at least one seal that is a breakable polymeric seal that is configured to open and be in the open configuration upon heating, the at least one seal extending across the containment region to create a lower zone at a base of the bag and an upper zone located or configured to be located above the lower zone, wherein the at least one seal is configured to allow any item in the upper zone to move and mix with any item in the lower zone when heated, the bag comprising a line of weakness to facilitate tearing, the line of weakness extending across the bag between two opposite sides of the bag along or adjacent the at least one seal, the line of weakness functions as a hinge line so that when the first and second primary panels are close to each other, the hinge line allows drooping of the upper zone, and when the first and second primary panels move apart, the hinge line allows the upper zone to be above the lower zone, the bag further comprising an openable and re-closable sealing assembly located between a lower compartment of the lower zone and the at least one seal, wherein the base of the bag is of a gusset formation that is configured to spread open thereby providing footing for stability of the bag when the bag is in a standing position;
• introducing the at least one item into the containment region so that the at least one item is located in one or both of the upper and lower zones;
• and
• closing any opening of the bag by an application of heat and pressure so that there is no leakage of item(s) from the containment region and so that the at least one item in the upper compartment can be separated from the at least one item in the lower compartment at least until a pre-heating stage.