Pasteurizable plastic container

A plastic container capable of being filled with a liquid product, sealed, and subject to the heating and cooling steps of a pasteurization cycle without substantial deformation, the container comprising:

• a molded biaxially-oriented plastic container body having an open upper end for receiving a closure, a sidewall, and a closed bottom end, the sidewall having a panel section with a substantially cylindrical panel circumference and a plurality of recessed panels symmetrically disposed about the circumference;
• and
• each panel having a smoothly-curved and shallow central wall which flexes inwardly and outwardy between hinges on opposing edges of the central wall and without stiffening ribs which would prevent outward flexing, the central wall flexing radially outwardly to relieve an increase in internal pressure during heating, and flexing inwardly during cooling to relieve a negative internal pressure during cooling, wherein the panels remain within the panel circumference and prevent uncontrolled permanent distortion of the container body during pasteurization.