A retortable container and an easy-opening closure for hermetic sealing of an open end thereof. The closure includes a metal end ring adapted to be double seamed to an open end of the retortable container, an intermediate area extending radially inward and defining an opening to an interior of the container, and a folded area folded into the interior of the container. The folded area extends radially outward from the opening and substantially parallel to at least an adjacent portion of the intermediate area. A first membrane patch overlaps and is bonded to an under side of the intermediate area of the end ring such that the first membrane patch prevents contamination of contents of the container by the metal end. A second membrane patch covers the opening and is bonded to an upper side of the first membrane patch. The bonds have predetermined shear and tensile force strengths sufficient to withstand shear and tensile forces created during retort processing of the container, while allowing easy-opening of the container by peeling the second membrane patch.
