Produce keeper
View Patent ↗A fresh produce keeper includes a vessel having a floor and upwardly extending sidewalls. Holes in the floor allow the vessel to be used as a colander or strainer to rinse produce, while a lid fits over the floor to retain water within the vessel, thereby allowing the same vessel to be used for both rinsing and service or storage. An internal divider and air vent is also provided in some examples of the invention.
1. A food storage device, comprising:
a vessel having a floor, a sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the floor, the sidewall forming an interior space and terminating at an upper rim, the floor having a plurality of holes formed therein to allow the passage of water through the floor, the floor further having a central region that is bowed downwardly in a direction away from the upper rim;
a base secured to the vessel and extending downwardly and outwardly from the perimeter of the floor to form a wide skirt having interior skirt sidewalls extending laterally beyond the perimeter of the floor, the base terminating in a lip and having an opening to allow the passage of water from the floor through the opening, and
a lower lid removably secured to the base wherein a volume is defined between the base, the floor, and the lower lid, the lower lid forming a water-tight seal to retain the water passing through the plurality of holes.
2. The food storage device of claim 1 , further comprising an upper lid, the upper lid removably secured to the upper rim of the vessel to form an airtight seal.
3. The food storage device of claim 2 , further comprising a central divider positioned within the interior space, the central divider separating the interior space into two separated spaces.
4. The food storage device of claim 3 , wherein the central divider further comprises a plurality of through-holes formed therein.
5. The food storage device of claim 3 , wherein the central divider is removable.
6. The food storage device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the upper lid or the lower lid further comprises a means for removably retaining the central divider.
7. The food storage device of claim 5 , wherein the upper lid further comprises at least one post, the at least one post being sized and positioned to be received by at least one of the plurality of through-holes formed on the central divider to retain the central divider adjacent the upper lid in a nested position for storage.
8. The food storage device of claim 1 , further comprising a vent formed in the sidewall, the vent allowing the passage of air into and out of the interior space.
9. The food storage device of claim 8 , further comprising a vent cover, the vent cover being positioned to selectively cover the vent to prevent the passage of air into and out of the interior space.
10. The food storage device of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is devoid of holes.
11. The food storage device of claim 3 , further comprising a pair of slots formed on opposing interior surfaces of the sidewall, the pair of slots receiving the divider to retain the divider in position within the interior space.
12. The food storage device of claim 11 , further comprising a vent selectively configurable to allow air to flow from outside the vessel into the interior space, the vent having a first passage formed within the sidewall for allowing air to flow into a first one of the two separate spaces and a second passage formed within the sidewall for allowing air to flow into a second one of the two separate spaces.
13. The food storage device of claim 12 , further comprising a vent cover, the vent cover configured to selectively cover and uncover the first passage and the second passage.
14. The food storage device of claim 4 , wherein the central divider is removable, the upper lid further comprising at least one peg sized and configured to be received within at least one of the plurality of through-holes to removably secure the central divider to the upper lid.