Package for frozen foods for microwave heating

A packaged food item intended to be heated by microwave heating, comprising:

• an outer carton having a top closed major surface, a bottom closed major surface spaced apart and parallel to the top, a pair of spaced, parallel closed side elements, and a pair of spaced, opposed open sides defining an interior food cavity, said carton being fabricated from a dielectric material, wherein each of said major surfaces and closed side elements include a microwave shield layer, wherein each closed side element has a window and wherein the bottom surface has a window;
• a tray having a bottom positioned within said cavity for supporting the food;
• a plurality of food pieces mounted in the tray;
• a first lower browning means mounted in the bottom of said tray intermediate the tray and the food pieces capable of converting microwave energy into heat for browning a lower surface of the food pieces located within said tray;
• a first spacer positioned intermediate the first browning means and the bottom closed major surface said spacer having a thickness ranging from about 1 to 25 mm. thereby defining a first plate separation between the microwave shield and the first browning means ranging from about 1 to 25 mm.;
• a second upper browning means for converting microwave energy into heat for browning an upper surface of the food positioned above and resting upon the food;
• and
• a second spacer positioned intermediate the second browning means and the top closed major surface said spacer having a thickness ranging from about 1 to 25 mm. thereby defining a second plate separation between the microwave shield and the second browning means ranging from about 1 to 25 mm.