An element which is punched out in a cover shape for sealing of containers, includes two plies with at least one opening aid which is integrated within these plies, the ply (3) located in the direction of the container having a plastic layer which is provided with perforations or scoring. The layers of the sealing element are cemented by a peelable adhesive layer, the opening aid and the ply which has the plastic layer being free of adhesive in the area of its perforations or scoring. The sealing element enables not only facilitated sealing of food containers, such as microwave containers, since mutual displacement or slippage of the individual plies due to the adhesive layer is prevented, but that any type of penetration of adhesive into the food container, thus into the food, is prevented in any case by the peelability of the adhesive.