Package for heating a food product

Abstract

An ovenable container for pizza or other heatable food products includes a vent in the upper portion of the container and a metal region on the lower portion of the container. The container gives more consistent heating of the food product with reduced edge dryness.

1 . An ovenable container for heating a food product, comprising: 
 upper and lower container portions defining an enclosure for the food product, the upper and lower container portions being formed from a heat resistant material;    a vent formed in the upper container portion, the vent defining an open area; and    a metal region on the lower container portion so as to be within the enclosure, the metal region having an area less than or equal to the open area of the vent.    
     
     
         2 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vent is formed in a central region of the upper container portion.  
     
     
         3 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper container portion has an upper surface area, and the open area of the vent occupies between 5% and 80% of the upper surface area.  
     
     
         4 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the open area of the vent occupies between 20% and 60% of the upper surface area.  
     
     
         5 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the food product has a shape, and the open area of the vent has a shape which is substantially the same as the shape of the food product.  
     
     
         6 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the food product has a thickness, and the enclosure has a height which is between 100% and 150% of the thickness of the food product.  
     
     
         7 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lower container portion has a lower surface area, and the area of the metal region occupies between 5% and 80% of the lower surface area.  
     
     
         8 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the food product is in the form of a circle having a diameter, and the metal region is in the form of a circle having a diameter which is between 25% and 40% of the diameter of the food product.  
     
     
         9 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the open area is in the form of a circle having a diameter, and the metal region is in the form of a circle having a diameter which is about 75% of the diameter of the open area.  
     
     
         10 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper container portion is hingedly connected to the lower container portion.  
     
     
         11 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vent has an initial condition in which the open area is closed, and a use condition in which the open area is open.  
     
     
         12 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a plastic film for closing the open area of the vent in the initial condition.  
     
     
         13 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of an oil resistant material overlying the metal region.  
     
     
         14 . The ovenable container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an embossed support surface on the lower container portion for supporting the food product.