Food storage and cooking vessel

A vessel for one of cooking and storing one or more food items, comprising:

• a) a container having a bottom and an upward extending sidewall that terminates in a rim that defines an upper opening of the container, the upward extending sidewall having an external surface and an internal surface;
• and
• b) a removable lid for the container, the lid comprising:
• i) a central portion having an outer peripheral region;
• ii) an annular gasket positioned to surround a perimeter of the central portion, the annular gasket comprising:
• (1) an upper portion coupling the gasket to the central portion;
• (2) a vertical portion descending downward from the upper portion of the gasket, the vertical portion having an outer side that is positioned horizontally inward from an external edge of the upper portion of the gasket;
• and
• (3) a flexible skirt extending horizontally outward from the outer side of the vertical portion of the gasket, wherein the flexible skirt is configured to be in contact with the internal surface of the sidewall of the container when the lid is positioned on the rim of the container, wherein the flexible skirt is further configured to deform upward and inward from an un-deformed state when the lid is positioned on the rim of the container so as to seal the storage vessel;
• iii) an annular lid rim positioned to surround a perimeter of the upper portion of the gasket, wherein the annular lid rim has an external edge that extends horizontally outward past at least the internal surface of the sidewall while the storage vessel is sealed by the lid so as to prevent the annular lid rim from being vertically displaced below the rim.

A removable lid for a container of a vessel, comprising:

• a) a central portion having an outer peripheral region;
• b) an annular gasket positioned to surround a perimeter of the central portion, the annular gasket comprising:
• i) an upper portion coupling the gasket to the central portion, the upper portion having an inner groove for receiving the outer peripheral region of the central portion, wherein the outer peripheral region of the central portion is positioned within the inner groove of the upper portion;
• ii) a vertical portion descending downward from the upper portion of the gasket, the vertical portion having an outer side that is positioned horizontally inward from an external edge of the upper portion of the gasket;
• iii) a flexible skirt extending horizontally outward from the outer side of the vertical portion of the gasket, wherein the flexible skirt is configured to be in contact with an internal surface of a sidewall of the container when the lid is positioned on a rim of the container, wherein the flexible skirt is further configured to deform upward and inward from an un-deformed state when the lid is positioned on the rim of the container so as to seal the storage vessel;
• and
• iv) an annular lid rim positioned to surround a perimeter of the upper portion of the gasket, wherein the annular lid rim has an external edge that extends horizontally outward past at least the internal surface of the sidewall while the storage vessel is sealed by the lid so as to prevent the annular lid rim from being vertically displaced below the rim.

A method, comprising:

• a) positioning a vessel within an interior of a microwave oven, wherein the vessel is for one of cooking and storing one or more food items, the vessel comprising:
• i) a container having a bottom and an upward extending sidewall that terminates in a rim that defines an upper opening of the container, the upward extending sidewall having an external surface and an internal surface;
• ii) a removable lid positioned on the lid of the container, the lid comprising:
• (1) a central portion having an outer peripheral region;
• (2) an annular gasket positioned to surround a perimeter of the central portion, the annular gasket comprising:
• a. an upper portion coupling the gasket to the central portion;
• b. a vertical portion descending downward from the upper portion of the gasket, the vertical portion having an outer side that is positioned horizontally inward from an external edge of the upper portion of the gasket;
• and
• c. a flexible skirt extending horizontally outward from the outer side of the vertical portion of the gasket, wherein the flexible skirt is in contact with the internal surface of the sidewall of the container while the lid is positioned on the rim of the container, wherein the flexible skirt has an upward curvature in an un-deformed state, wherein the flexible skirt is deformed upward and inward from the un-deformed state when the lid is positioned on the rim of the container so as to seal the storage vessel;
• and
• (3) an annular lid rim positioned to surround a perimeter of the upper portion of the gasket, the annular lid rim applying pressure to one or more portions of the upper portion of the gasket, wherein the annular lid rim has an external edge that extends horizontally outward past at least the internal surface of the sidewall while the storage vessel is sealed by the lid so as to prevent the annular lid rim from being vertically displaced below the rim;
• and
• b) activating the microwave oven while the vessel is positioned within the interior of the microwave oven and further while the vessel is sealed by the lid.