Microwave susceptor package having an apertured spacer between the susceptor and the food product

A single-use, combined shipping, display and cooking microwave package for heating a plurality of food pieces in a microwave oven, the package comprising:

• (a) a microwave transparent outer enclosure having a bottom panel and a top panel;
• (b) a bottom panel microwave susceptor located adjacent the bottom panel;
• (c) a bottom panel spacer adjacent the bottom panel microwave susceptor, between the bottom panel microwave susceptor and the food pieces, the bottom panel spacer being adapted to support the plurality of food pieces in a cavity located a first predetermined distance away from the bottom panel microwave susceptor and having a plurality of apertures for passing substantially all of the heat from the bottom panel microwave susceptor through the bottom panel spacer to the plurality of food pieces;
• (d) a top panel microwave susceptor located adjacent the top panel;
• and
• (e) a top panel spacer located adjacent the top panel microwave susceptor, between the top panel microwave susceptor and the food pieces, the top panel susceptor being adapted to support the plurality of food pieces in a cavity located a second predetermined distance away from the top panel susceptor and having apertures sized to pass substantially all of the heat from the top panel microwave susceptor directly through the top panel spacer to the plurality of food pieces.

A single-use, combined shipping, display and cooking microwave package for heating a plurality of edible nuts in a microwave oven, the package comprising:

• (a) a microwave transparent outer enclosure made of cellulosic material and having a bottom panel and a top panel;
• (b) a bottom panel microwave susceptor located adjacent the bottom panel and generally coextensive with the bottom panel;
• (c) a bottom panel spacer located adjacent the bottom panel microwave susceptor, between the bottom panel microwave susceptor and the plurality of edible nuts and generally coextensive with the bottom panel, the bottom panel spacer being adapted to support the plurality of edible nuts in a nut cavity located a first predetermined distance away from the bottom panel susceptor of from about 0.5 inch to about 0.35 inch and having apertures sized to pass substantially all of the heat from the bottom panel microwave susceptor through the bottom panel spacer to the plurality of edible nuts;
• (d) a top panel microwave susceptor located adjacent the top panel and generally coextensive with the top panel;
• and
• (e) a top panel spacer located adjacent the top panel microwave susceptor, between the top panel microwave susceptor and the plurality of edible nuts and generally coextensive with the top panel susceptor, the top panel spacer being adapted to support the plurality of edible nuts in a nut cavity located a second predetermined distance away from the top panel susceptor and having apertures sized to pass substantially all of the heat from the top panel microwave susceptor through the top panel spacer to the plurality of edible nuts;
• the height of the nut cavity is from about 0.25 inch to about 0.75 inch.