Microwavable container with steam vent valve

A nonmetallic microwavable container for storing and heating foodstuffs, comprising:

• a housing having a lateral wall, a bottom wall, and an interior partition wall dividing the interior of said housing into a food storage chamber and a first chilling chamber, said interior partition wall having opening means defining an opening communicating between said food storage chamber and said chilling chamber, said opening means being located at the top of said interior partition wall, whereby a liquid may be stored in said chilling chamber and vapors generated by boiling the liquid may migrate into said food storage chamber;
• a lid sealing said food storage chamber and said first chilling chamber;
• and
• a valve for venting steam, located on said lid of said container and disposed in fluid communication between said food storage chamber and the exterior of said microwavable container, said valve comprising
• a valve body having a stem attached to and depending from said valve body, said stem having a flange, and a handle attached to and projecting upwardly from said valve body, whereby said valve body is readily grasped and rotated into an open position and into a closed position,
• said lid of said container having a bore for receiving said stem, said bore configured to be just large enough to enable rotation of said stem, said bore having a groove corresponding to and receiving said flange of said stem, thereby maintaining said valve body in contact with said container, whereby contaminants are excluded from said valve means,
• said lid of said container having a depression therein, said value body disposed to occupy said depression, whereby said valve body is unobtrusive.