Microwave Food Packaging Material and Package Designs

Growing consumer demand for microwavable food products worldwide increases the requests for durable, highly stable, convenient, and sustainable microwavable packaging materials. The role of packaging in microwavable food products is regarded to be more crucial and interactive than in many other products since it can control and alter the processing conditions to various extents. The selection and design of proper microwave packaging are prominent technical considerations that have significant effects on the efficiency of microwave treatment, food quality and safety, and shelf-life of food products. This chapter introduces the knowledge of how microwave affects the packaging material properties and food/packaging interactions, general requirements for microwavable materials, and advancements of microwave packaging materials, and discusses recent development of innovative microwave packaging systems.