The ubiquitous Chinese food to-go container was invented to carry oysters.



"The rise of Chinese food couldn’t have come at a better time for the oyster pail. Pollution, disruption to the mollusk's environment, and over-harvesting had caused oyster numbers to dwindle to alarming levels, forcing a scaling back of consumption and rise in prices. Chinese takeout, however, remained cheap and tasty, and the oyster pail’s design is ideal for Chinese takeout and delivery. Eating out of the container is ridiculously easy with chopsticks, and hell, it's downright romantic. Usually made from bleached paperboard with a coated interior, the pails are inexpensive and microwave-safe with the metal bail removed."

Article: The Chinese Takeout Box is As American As Baseball and Apple Pie