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AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsMichael D. McCutchan, Steve G. Fishter, Deborah J. Yee
Estimating the term…
A method and package for simultaneously microwave heating or baking a plurality of articles such as brownies, cupcakes, muffins or cookies or the like. The method includes the steps of arranging the plurality of articles in a predetermined, vacant-center array within an ovenable container, non-sealingly enclosing the array of articles in the container so that the articles share a common headspace, and applying microwave energy for a sufficient period of time to effect the heating or baking. The method may further include preparing a bakeable batter, subdividing the batter into a plurality of equal portions with one portion in each of a plurality of like receptacles so that, upon being baked, each of the portions becomes one of the articles. A package is also provided to facilitate practicing the method. A preferred package comprises a mix for preparing a bakeable batter, a plurality of receptacles into which the batter may be subdivided, and a container which is sized and configured to accommodate a vacant center array of articles or batter laden receptacles, and to provide a common headspace above the articles. The package may also include selectively patterned and/or positioned microwave susceptors or reflective materials to further ensure uniform heating or baking of the articles.
A method of simultaneously, uniformly microwave heating a plurality of like articles which are susceptible to being heated by converting microwave energy which directly impinges upon said articles to heat, said method comprising the steps of:
A packaged food product suitable for simultaneously microwave oven heating a plurality of like articles contained therein which articles are susceptible to being heated by converting microwave energy which directly impinges upon said articles to heat, said product comprising a container which is transparent to microwave energy such that a significant portion of an external field of microwave energy may directly impinge upon said articles, and a plurality of like said articles capable of converting microwave energy which impinges upon said articles to heat within said articles, said container including means for being closed but unsealed during said heating, said container and said articles being relatively sized and configured to provide a common closed headspace during said heating such that heat generated by one of said articles can be transferred to cooler said articles via said common headspace, said articles being arranged in a predetermined array having a centrally disposed vacant zone, and said array being so configured that each said article has plural other said articles in side-by-side adjacent relation.
A packaged food product suitable for simultaneously microwave oven baking a predetermined plurality of bakeable comestible articles which are susceptible to being heated by converting microwave energy which impinges upon said articles to heat within said articles, said product comprising a container which is transparent to microwave energy such that a significant portion of an external field of microwave energy may directly impinge upon said articles and having means for being closed but unsealed during said baking, a plurality of like receptacles, and a batter mix, said batter mix being susceptible to becoming a bakeable comestible batter and to being subdivided into plural equal portions with one of said equal portions disposed in each of said receptacles, said portions being capable of converting microwave energy which impinges thereon to heat within said portions, said receptacles and said enclosure being sized and configured to provide a common closed headspace during said baking such that heat generated by one of said portions can be transferred to cooler said portions via said common headspace, and to enable having said receptacles arranged therein in a predetermined array during said baking, said array having a centrally disposed vacant zone and being so configured that each of said receptacles has plural other said receptacles in side-by-side adjacent relation, said vacant zone being about equal in size to the region of said container that is occupied by each of said receptacles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.