Metal container and use thereof in a microwave oven

A method for heating an object by microwave radiation comprising:

• (a) placing the object to be heated in a metal container having an interior and an exterior defined by a bottom and at least one side wall and adapted to receive the object into the interior of the container through an open top, each of said at least one side wall having a height less than about 40 percent of the wavelength of the microwave radiation used to heat the object contained therein and having a microwave transparent bottom and side wall electrical insulator means for electrically insulating the exterior of the container by preventing physical contact between the exterior surfaces of the metal container and other objects, said insulator means being disposed on the exterior surface of each of said at least one side wall and on that part of the bottom which, in the absence of said insulator means, would contact the floor of the oven, the interior surfaces of each of said at least one side wall and bottom lacking electrical insulator means;
• (b) disposing a microwave transparent electrically insulating cap means on the top of the container, said insulating cap means preventing physical contact between any part of the top of the container not physically isolated from other objects by the side wall insulator when said electrically insulating cap means is disposed over the top of the container;
• and
• (c) irradiating the object in the container with microwaves for a time sufficient to heat the object.

A method of storing an object and subsequently heating the object by microwave radiation comprising:

• (a) placing the object to be stored in a metal container comprising having an interior and an exterior defined by a bottom and at least one side wall and adapted to receive the object into the interior of the container through an open top, each of said at least one side wall having a height less than about 40 percent of the wavelength of the microwave radiation used to heat the object contained therein;
• microwave transparent bottom and side wall electrical insulator means for electrically insulating the exterior of the container by preventing physical contact between the exterior surfaces of the metal container and other objects, said insulator means being disposed on the exterior surface of each of said at least one side wall and on that part of the bottom which, in the absence of said insulator means, would contact the floor of the oven, the interior surfaces of each of said at least one side wall and bottom lacking electrical insulator means;
• and sealing the container with removable seal means;
• (b) storing the object in the container until ready to heat the stored object;
• (c) removing the seal means from the container;
• (d) disposing a microwave transparent electrically insulating cap means on the top of the container, said insulating cap means preventing physical contact between any part of the top of the container not physically isolated from other objects by the side wall insulator when said electrically insulating cap means is disposed over the top of the container;
• and
• (e) irradiating the object in the container with microwaves for a time sufficient to heat the object.