Sleeve for crisping and browning of foods in a microwave oven and package and method utilizing same

A food package assembly for use in shipping, storing and microwave heating of food comprising:

• (A) an outer package body defining an inner receiving space;
• (B) at least one item of food;
• and
• (C) at least one microwave browning and crisping sleeve, said sleeve comprising a paperboard strip and a microwave interactive layer affixed over one surface of said paperboard strip, said microwave interactive layer, when subjected to microwave energy, operating as a means for converting microwave energy to heat in an amount sufficient to brown or crisp food in heat transfer relationship therewith;
• wherein said paperboard strip is subdivided end-to-end by fold lines running side-to-side, into at least five panel portions extending across the width of the strip between opposite side edges thereof;
• wherein opposite ends of said paperboard strip are connected end-to-end in a manner creating a paperboard sleeve having the surface to which said interactive layer is affixed as an inner peripheral surface;
• wherein said fold lines are disposed at positions enabling said sleeve to be erected and collapsed between a first configuration in which said sleeve is flattened for shipping and storage and a second configuration in which the inner peripheral surface defines an open-ended space for receiving a said food item with said inner peripheral surface being in heat transfer relationship to top, bottom and side surfaces thereof;
• and wherein said food item and sleeve are disposed within said receiving space with the sleeve being in said flattened first configuration.

A method of microwave heating packaged food comprising the steps of:

• (A) providing a package assembly comprising:
• (1) an outer package body defining an inner receiving space;
• (2) at least one item of food;
• and
• (3) at least one microwave browning and crisping sleeve, said sleeve comprising a paperboard strip and a microwave interactive layer affixed over one surface of said paperboard strip, said microwave interactive layer, when subjected to microwave energy, operating as a means for converting microwave energy to heat in an amount sufficient to brown or crisp food in heat transfer relationship therewith;
• wherein said paperboard strip is subdivided end-to-end by fold lines running side-by-side, into at least five panel portions extending across the width of the strip between opposite side edges thereof;
• wherein opposite ends of said paperboard strip are connected end-to-end in a manner creating a paperboard sleeve having the surface to which said interactive layer is affixed as an inner peripheral surface;
• wherein said fold lines are disposed at positions enabling said sleeve to be erected and collapsed between a first configuration in which said sleeve is flattened for shipping and storage and a second configuration in which the inner peripheral surface defines an open-ended space for receiving a said food item with said inner peripheral surface being in heat transfer relationship to top, bottom and side surfaces thereof;
• and wherein said food item and sleeve are disposed within said receiving space with the sleeve being in said flattened first configuration;
• (B) opening the outer package body;
• (C) removing a food item and a sleeve from the outer package body;
• (D) erecting said sleeve into a said second configuration conforming generally to a peripheral profile of the removed food item;
• (E) arranging said removed food item within said open-ended space with top, bottom and side surfaces of the food item in heat transfer relationship with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve;
• (F) supporting the food item arranged within the sleeve in a microwave oven;
• and
• (G) heating the food within the sleeve in the microwave oven.