Patent ID: 8708184

Claim:
A system for use in storing, heating and/or cooling a food comprising: a ceramic lid having a generally frustoconical protruding lip thereon forming a seal-receiving member; a ceramic container having an interior and an opening with an internal tapered seat to receive the protruding lip of the ceramic lift, and an elastomeric seal received on the seal-receiving member of the protruding lip of the ceramic lid and having a plurality of radially outwardly-extending flexible elastomeric ribs to engage the internal tapered seat of the opening of the ceramic container, the seal further having at least one notch in each of the plurality of outwardly-extending flexible ribs to together form at least one channel within the flexible ribs to facilitate movement of a volume of gas between the atmosphere and the interior of the ceramic container; wherein a pressure differential arising from pressure within the container, fitted with the lid, that is less than the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the container will cause a volume of gas to flow from the atmosphere, through the channel within the flexible ribs, and into the container to thereby prevent vapor lock from seizing the lid onto the container.