Microwave interactive flexible packaging
View Patent ↗A microwave energy interactive structure includes a layer of indium tin oxide, which may be supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate. In one embodiment, the microwave energy interactive structure may have at least one of an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day and a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/m 2 /day.
1. A microwave energy interactive structure comprising a layer of indium tin oxide supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of:
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/m 2 /day.
2. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the layer of indium tin oxide is sufficiently thin so that the layer of indium tin oxide is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy to thermal energy.
3. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
4. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 57 to about 60 ohms/square.
5. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
6. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of at least about 270 ohms/square.
7. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy transparent substrate is selected from the group consisting of a polymer film, paper, paperboard, and any combination thereof.
8. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy transparent substrate is substantially colorless and substantially transparent.
9. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy transparent substrate comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
10. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy transparent substrate comprises a barrier film selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, and any combination thereof.
11. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a water vapor transmission rate of about 0.01 g/m 2 /day.
12. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein
the microwave energy transparent substrate comprises a first polymer film layer, and
the microwave energy interactive structure further comprises
a moisture-containing layer joined to the layer of indium tin oxide, and
a second polymer film layer joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby forming a plurality of expandable cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer.
13. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 12 , wherein at least some of the expandable cells are operative for inflating in response to microwave energy.
14. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first polymer film layer and the second polymer film layer comprises a barrier film selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, and any combination thereof.
15. A microwave energy interactive structure consisting essentially of a layer of indium tin oxide supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, in combination with a support layer, wherein the support layer is joined to the layer of indium tin oxide so that the support layer and the layer of indium tin oxide are in a facing relationship, wherein at least one of the substrate and the support layer comprises a barrier film comprising silicon oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate.
16. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the layer of indium tin oxide is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy to thermal energy.
17. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , further comprising a support layer joined to the layer of indium tin oxide so that the support layer and the layer of indium tin oxide are in a facing relationship, wherein the support layer comprises a polymer film, paper, paperboard, or any combination thereof.
18. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 17 , wherein the support layer comprises a barrier film selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, and any combination thereof.
19. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 18 , wherein the silicon oxide coated film comprises silicon oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate.
20. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure forms at least a portion of a package.
21. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 20 , wherein the portion of the package is substantially optically transparent.
22. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 1 , in combination with a food item having a surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped.
23. A method of using the combination of claim 22 , comprising exposing the food item and microwave energy interactive structure to microwave energy, so that the layer of indium tin oxide converts at least a portion of the microwave energy to heat and at least one of browns and crisps the surface of the food item.
24. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
25. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 57 to about 60 ohms/square.
26. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of about 250 ohms/square.
27. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
28. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of at least about 270 ohms/square.
29. The combination of claim 15 , wherein the substrate and the support layer each independently comprise a polymer film, paper, paperboard, or any combination thereof.
30. The combination of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the substrate and the support layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
31. The combination of claim 15 , having an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day.
32. The combination of claim 15 , having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/m 2 /day.
33. The combination of claim 15 , having a water vapor transmission rate of about 0.08 g/m 2 /day.
34. The combination of claim 15 , having a water vapor transmission rate of about 0.01 g/m 2 /day.
35. The combination of claim 15 , in combination with a polymer film layer, wherein the polymer film layer is joined to the support layer in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the support layer and the polymer film layer, wherein the closed cells are operative for inflating in response to microwave energy.
36. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 35 , wherein the polymer film layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, bather nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, bather fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, or any combination thereof.
37. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
38. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package.
39. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 38 , wherein the portion of the package is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
40. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 15 , in combination with a food item having a surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped.
41. A method of using the combination of claim 40 , comprising exposing the food item and microwave energy interactive structure to microwave energy so that the layer of indium tin oxide converts at least a portion of the microwave energy to heat and at least one of browns and crisps the surface of the food item.
42. A microwave energy interactive structure comprising:
a first polymer film layer and a second polymer film layer, wherein at least one of the first polymer film and the second polymer film comprises a silicon oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate film; and
a layer of indium tin oxide disposed between the first polymer film layer and the second polymer film layer.
43. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the layer of indium tin oxide is operative for converting at least a portion of microwave energy into thermal energy.
44. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
45. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of about 40 ohms/square.
46. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of about 50 ohms/square.
47. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 57 to about 60 ohms/square.
48. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of about 250 ohms/square.
49. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
50. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of at least about 270 ohms/square.
51. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first polymer film and the second polymer film comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
52. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first polymer film and the second polymer film comprises a barrier film.
53. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 52 , wherein the barrier film comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, or any combination thereof.
54. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the first polymer film comprises the silicon oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate and the second polymer film comprises nylon 6,6.
55. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/ m 2 /day.
56. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/ m 2 /day.
57. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a water vapor transmission rate of about 0.08 g/m 2 /day.
58. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a water vapor transmission rate of about 0.01 g/m 2 /day.
59. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first polymer film and the second polymer film has a thickness of from about 35 gauge to about 10 mil.
60. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , further comprising a third polymer film layer joined to the second polymer film layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby forming a plurality of expandable cells between the second polymer film layer and the third polymer film layer, wherein the expandable cells are operative for inflating in response to microwave energy.
61. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 60 , wherein the third polymer film layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, or any combination thereof.
62. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
63. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package.
64. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 63 , wherein the portion of the package is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
65. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 42 , in combination with a food item having a surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped.
66. A method of using the combination of claim 65 , comprising exposing the food item and microwave energy interactive structure to microwave energy so that the layer of indium tin oxide converts at least a portion of the microwave energy to heat and at least one of browns and crisps the surface of the food item.
67. A microwave energy interactive structure comprising a layer of indium tin oxide supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, wherein
the microwave energy transparent substrate comprises a first polymer film layer, and
the microwave energy interactive structure further comprises
a moisture-containing layer joined to the layer of indium tin oxide, and
a second polymer film layer joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby forming a plurality of expandable cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer.
68. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein at least some of the expandable cells are operative for inflating in response to microwave energy.
69. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein at least one of the first polymer film layer and the second polymer film layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, or any combination thereof.
70. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 20 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 100 g/m 2 /day.
71. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 10 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 50 g/m 2 /day.
72. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 15 g/m 2 /day.
73. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.5 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 1 g/m 2 /day.
74. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.1 g/m 2 /day.
75. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 67 , wherein
the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package, and
the portion of the package comprising the microwave energy interactive structure is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
76. A microwave energy interactive structure comprising:
a layer of indium tin oxide supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate; and
a support layer joined to the layer of indium tin oxide so that the support layer and the layer of indium tin oxide are in a facing relationship, wherein the support layer comprises silicon oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate.
77. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 20 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 100 g/m 2 /day.
78. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 10 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 50 g/m 2 /day.
79. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 15 g/m 2 /day.
80. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.5 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 1 g/m 2 /day.
81. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.1 g/m 2 /day.
82. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/ m 2 /day.
83. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
84. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
85. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy transparent substrate comprises a nylon film having a thickness of from about 35 gauge to about 10 mil.
86. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
87. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 76 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package.
88. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 87 , wherein the portion of the package is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
89. A microwave energy interactive structure consisting essentially of:
a layer of indium tin oxide supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, in combination with a support layer, wherein the support layer is joined to the layer of indium tin oxide so that the support layer and the layer of indium tin oxide are in a facing relationship with one another,
wherein
at least one of the substrate and the support layer comprises a barrier film, and
the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/m 2 /day.
90. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 89 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
91. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 89 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
92. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 89 , wherein the barrier film comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, or any combination thereof.
93. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 89 , wherein
the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package, and
the portion of the package comprising the microwave energy interactive structure is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
94. A microwave energy interactive structure consisting essentially of:
a layer of indium tin oxide supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, in combination with a support layer and a polymer film layer,
wherein
the support layer is joined to the layer of indium tin oxide so that the support layer and the layer of indium tin oxide are in a facing relationship, wherein at least one of the substrate and the support layer comprises a barrier film, and
the polymer film layer is joined to the support layer in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the support layer and the polymer film layer, wherein the closed cells are operative for inflating in response to microwave energy.
95. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the barrier film comprises polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, or any combination thereof.
96. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 20 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 100 g/m 2 /day.
97. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 10 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 50 g/m 2 /day.
98. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 15 g/m 2 /day.
99. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.5 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 1 g/m 2 /day.
100. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.1 g/m 2 /day.
101. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/m 2 /day.
102. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
103. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
104. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 94 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package, and optionally, the portion of the package comprising the microwave energy interactive structure is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
105. A microwave energy interactive structure comprising:
a first polymer film layer and a second polymer film layer, wherein
the first polymer film comprises polyethylene terephthalate or silicon oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate, and
the second polymer film comprises nylon 6 , 6 ; and
a layer of indium tin oxide disposed between the first polymer film layer and the second polymer film layer.
106. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
107. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
108. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 20 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 100 g/m 2 /day.
109. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 10 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 50 g/m 2 /day.
110. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 15 g/m 2 /day.
111. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.5 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 1 g/m 2 /day.
112. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.1 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.1 g/m 2 /day.
113. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.08 g/m 2 /day.
114. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 105 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package.
115. A microwave energy interactive structure comprising:
a first polymer film layer;
a second polymer film layer; and
a layer of indium tin oxide disposed between the first polymer film layer and the second polymer film layer, wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has at least one of
an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.05 cc/m 2 /day, and
a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.09 g/m 2 /day.
116. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 115 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.08 g/m 2 /day.
117. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 115 , wherein at least one of the first polymer film layer and the second polymer film layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, barrier nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, barrier fluoropolymer, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, coextruded nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol/nylon 6, silicon oxide coated film, or any combination thereof.
118. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 115 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 38 to about 71 ohms/square.
119. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 115 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure has a resistivity of from about 270 to about 277 ohms/square.
120. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 115 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
121. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 115 , wherein the microwave energy interactive structure comprises at least a portion of a package.
122. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 121 , wherein the portion of the package is at least one of substantially colorless and substantially optically transparent.
123. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 115 , wherein the layer of indium tin oxide is operative for heating in response to microwave energy.
124. The microwave energy interactive structure of claim 123 , in combination with a food item having a surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped.
125. A method of using the combination of claim 124 , comprising exposing the food item and microwave energy interactive structure to microwave energy so that the layer of indium tin oxide heats and at least one of browns and crisps the surface of the food item.