Stackable vented food container

Abstract

A container suitable for hot foods includes a base having a wall that is slanted or curved outward from its bottom, and a lid having a rim attachable to the base, an intermediate region that rises upward, and an inner region that does not rise as high, such that when an identical container is stacked thereupon, the upper base is entirely supported by the lower lid intermediate region, forming a gap space between the lower lid inner region and the upper base. One or more ventilation holes in the lid inner region, together with channels in the base wall and/or intermediate region, allow vapor from the lower container to escape from the stack through the ventilation holes, gap space, and channels. The intermediate region can be shaped to support an upper container mainly by compressive forces, further enhancing stacking tolerance to weight and heat.