A container such as a Regular Slotted Carton (RSC) with side handles provides an improved alternative to other containers for packing, storing, stacking, displaying, handling and shipping a dense, free-flowing material such as granular clay. An integrated handle places the load of carrying the container over the full width of the hand and fingers. A cavity is created that allows the user's hand or fingers to be easily placed into the handle and prohibits the liner of the container from interfering with placement of the hand or fingers. A pour spout is also provided in the container that allows for access to the liner. The pour spout may be formed by tearing off a perforated portion of the container. A pinch closure may be provided so that the portion of the liner pulled through the spout can be secured.

A package for storing or preparing food or other products includes a flexible pouch within which the product can be sealed, and a box or other container sized to hold the pouch. To seal the product in the pouch, the pouch includes a peelable seal that seals a portion of a first thermoplastic film to a portion of a second thermoplastic film, such films optionally forming walls of the pouch. The package, including the container and the pouch, is configured for beating the sealed product m a microwave oven, in a heated state, pressure inside the pouch increases to expand the pouch, and the container constrains or limits expansion of the pouch in some places but not at an expansion region of the container. A portion of the peelable seal is proximate such region, producing a separation in such peelable sea! portion such that the pouch self-vents through the separation.