Package assembly including a multi-surface, microwave interactive tray

Package assembly for the storing and microwave heating of a food item comprising:

• (a) an outer package body defining an internal food receiving space;
• (b) a food item within said food receiving space;
• and
• (c) an inner tray member disposed in the food receiving space of the outer package body and having a layer of a microwave interactive material, that is capable of converting microwave energy to heat, disposed on a side thereof;
• and wherein said inner tray member is sized and shaped relative to the food item so as to cradle the food item with multiple surfaces of the food item in sufficient proximity with respect to the microwave interactive layer for producing browning or crisping of said multiple surfaces during heating of the food item within the package assembly in a microwave oven;
• and wherein said outer package is closed in a first condition thereof for shipping and storing and has opening means for venting the food receiving space to the exterior of the outer package body in a second condition thereof for microwave heating of a food item disposed therein, and said inner tray member has a generally U-like cross-sectional shape having a bottom wall and upwardly directed sidewalls and is disposed within the outer package body in a manner defining vent channels, at at least a portion of each of opposite outer sides of the upwardly directed sidewalls of the inner tray member in cooperation with the outer package body, that extend substantially the entire length of the food receiving space and wherein the walls of the inner tray member are provided with vent means for venting gases and vapor released by the food within said inner tray member, past said sidewalls, into said vent channels defined at the opposite outer sides of the inner tray member.