Arcelor Packaging says packs made of its Creasteel steel can now be successfully microwaved, with the contents cooked evenly, thanks to the material's suitability to shallow containers with wide openings.
Since microwaves do not pass through steel, food in steel containers conventionally heats only via the top. Consequently, it says, tall narrow containers result in poorly heated food, while broad shallow containers, “easily produced” thanks to Creasteel's “unique mechanical properties”, provide good cooking performance.
With “excellent” deep-drawing performance, Creasteel can also produce complex, eye-catching packaging shapes.
Inspired by the Japanese market, where microwaveable steel containers have been available “for years”, Arcelor has worked with several European packaging manufacturers to develop microwaveable Creasteel packaging since 2004. It says its own tests show food packed in Creasteel containers microwaves “more evenly” than in plastic packs, and expects European applications within a year.
