Popcorn package

A package for storing and preparing an expansible food stuff comprising in combination:

• A. a cooking pan;
• B. a food stuff disposed in said pan;
• C. an expansible cover closing the upper surface of said pan;
• D. a gasket disposed adjacent to said cover;
• 1. Said gasket further comprising an annulus, the outer surface of said annulus being substantially coextensive with the outer surface of said pan and said cover;
• the inner diameter of said annulus being substantially smaller than the outer diameter of said pan;
• 2. An annular score formed in said gasket between said inner diameter and said outer diameter and extending partly through said gasket from the pan side;
• 3. A plurality of straight scores extending from the inner diameter of said gasket to said annular score completely through said gasket material and defining a plurality of fingers which are adaptable to flex about a hinge defined by segments of said annular score;
• 4. Each of said fingers being adhesively connected to the adjacent surface of the cover;
• E. said pan, gasket and cover being held together by crimping the edges of said cooking pan, whereby the integrity of said expansible cover is maintained, retaining steam generated during heating and improving the degree and extent of expansion of the expansible food stuff.