A microwave heating construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven using microwave energy of a given wavelength comprising: a tray including at least one upstanding wall extending upwardly from a base; the base and the wall of the tray defining a cavity for receiving a food item; a cover; at least a first microwave energy interactive element on the tray, the base of the tray including the first microwave energy interactive element, the cover including at least a second microwave energy interactive element, the first microwave energy interactive element being annular in shape and having an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein with the cover disposed over the tray, the first microwave energy interactive element and the second microwave energy interactive element are in an aligned relationship in the cavity; wherein the first microwave energy interactive element is dimensioned and arranged to extend along a peripheral region (Fp) of the food item received in the central portion of the cavity, the first microwave energy interactive element is dimensioned and positioned within the construct relative to the food item received in the central portion of the cavity so that when the first microwave energy interactive element is exposed to microwave energy of a given wavelength an electrical current is generated along the inner edge and, in turn, an electric field is generated along the inner edge that provides direct heating to the adjacent food item received in the central portion of the cavity, and the first microwave energy interactive element has an inner perimeter length approximately equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of the microwave energy used in the microwave oven in which the construct is heated; wherein the first microwave energy interactive element and the second microwave energy interactive element reduce heating along the peripheral region (Fp) of the food item received in the central portion of the cavity, when the first microwave energy interactive element is exposed to microwave energy. a tray including at least one upstanding wall extending upwardly from a base; the base and the wall of the tray defining a cavity for receiving a food item; a cover; at least a first microwave energy interactive element on the tray, the base of the tray including the first microwave energy interactive element, the cover including at least a second microwave energy interactive element, the first microwave energy interactive element being annular in shape and having an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein with the cover disposed over the tray, the first microwave energy interactive element and the second microwave energy interactive element are in an aligned relationship in the cavity; wherein the first microwave energy interactive element is dimensioned and arranged to extend along a peripheral region (Fp) of the food item received in the central portion of the cavity, the first microwave energy interactive element is dimensioned and positioned within the construct relative to the food item received in the central portion of the cavity so that when the first microwave energy interactive element is exposed to microwave energy of a given wavelength an electrical current is generated along the inner edge and, in turn, an electric field is generated along the inner edge that provides direct heating to the adjacent food item received in the central portion of the cavity, and the first microwave energy interactive element has an inner perimeter length approximately equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of the microwave energy used in the microwave oven in which the construct is heated; wherein the first microwave energy interactive element and the second microwave energy interactive element reduce heating along the peripheral region (Fp) of the food item received in the central portion of the cavity, when the first microwave energy interactive element is exposed to microwave energy.