An insulating container for controlling the transfer of heat from a hot object contained therein, the insulating container including a first half-shell and a second half-shell configured to couple together to form a sealed enclosure. The container further includes a first insert and a second insert sized and shaped to be received within the first half shell and the second half shell, respectively, and having inner surfaces that are shaped to surround and substantially conform to the hot object enclosed within the sealed enclosure, and wherein the first insert and the second insert are built up from a plurality of planar pieces of insulating material.