Ventable storage container and method of use

A method for venting a storage container, the method comprising:

• filling a container body of the storage container with food, the container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upward from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim;
• covering the container body with a removable lid, the removable lid including a rigid central cover portion and a flexible sealing lip traversing a perimeter of the rigid central cover portion, wherein the flexible sealing lip is configured to sealingly engage at least one of the sidewall or the peripheral rim of the container body;
• rotating a latch hinged to the removable lid in a first rotational direction to a latched position in which (i) a sealing portion of the latch covers a venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid, and (ii) a gripping portion of the latch grips the container body to secure the latch to the peripheral rim of the container body, wherein the sealing portion of the first latch includes a sealing protrusion sized and dimensioned to be inserted into, and sealingly close, the venting aperture when the latch occupies the latched position;
• and
• rotating the latch in a second rotational direction to an unlatched position in which the sealing portion of the latch uncovers the venting aperture and vents an interior cavity of the container body to the atmosphere.

A storage container comprising:

• a container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim;
• a removable lid including a rigid central cover portion and a flexible sealing lip traversing a perimeter of the rigid central cover portion, wherein the flexible sealing lip is configured to sealingly engage at least one of the sidewall or the peripheral rim of the container body;
• a first venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid;
• a first latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position;
• and
• the first latch including a gripping portion and a sealing portion, wherein the gripping portion is configured to grip the container body and removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position, and wherein the sealing portion is configured to cover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the latched position and uncover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the unlatched position,
• wherein the flexible sealing lip includes a wiper seal configured to slidably and sealingly engage an inner surface of the sidewall.