If Pyrex Isn't Safe Anymore, Which Brand of Glass Bakeware Should You Buy? (2024)

We did some digging and found an answer!

By

Meghan Glass

If Pyrex Isn't Safe Anymore, Which Brand of Glass Bakeware Should You Buy? (1)

Meghan Glass is a professional chef who has always sought ways to help her community through food outreach. She has loved the art of cooking since she watched Julia Child sear veal as a small child. After working in other fields, she decided to return to school to pursue her true passion, food.

Published on March 11, 2023

Trending Videos

If Pyrex Isn't Safe Anymore, Which Brand of Glass Bakeware Should You Buy? (2)

Looking for a glass bakeware set that is durable, easy to clean, and safe shouldn't be rocket science, but not all glassware is created equally. Certain glass bakeware can crack or even shatter at moderate to high temperatures, causing burns, cuts, or other serious injuries. Knowing what type of glass will hold up best to high heat from your oven is essential to picking out the brand that's right for baking the best casseroles, quick breads, and coffee cakes.

What are the different types of glass for bakeware?

There are three basic types of glassware: soda-lime, tempered, and borosilicate.

  • Soda-lime glass is the most common glass type in kitchens, found in cups and jars, and is more susceptible to breaking from extreme temperature changes, and therefore is not a good option for the heat tolerance required of bakeware.
  • Tempered glass is actually heat-treated soda-lime glass. The heat treatment makes it more durable, but it’s not as resilient to temperature shifts, like what occurs when moving a casserole dish from the fridge to the oven, as borosilicate glass.
  • Borosilicate glass is made with boron trioxide, which has a low thermal expansion, meaning it won't break when exposed to major temperature shifts.

What is the safest glass for baking?

Because borosilicate is the most durable when it comes to withstanding temperature changes, it is generally considered the safest choice for glass bakeware. When it comes to purchasing new or used glass bakeware, it’s important to pay close attention to labels, since some brands, like Pyrex and Anchor Hocking once used borosilicate but now use tempered glass.

What should I look for when I shop for glass bakeware?

If you're determined to have the strongest stuff out there, consider purchasing from a brand still making glassware out of borosilicate, such as OXO. These bakeware dishes and glass meal prep containers come with or without lids in a variety of sizes for all kinds of food storage needs. They also make recognizable and resilient non-glass measuring cups.

If you’re considering buying Pyrex bakeware, look for the label in all-uppercase letters (PYREX), which generally indicates it is made with borosilicate glass.

Is borosilicate glass bakeware more expensive?

A bakeware set, as well as individual baking dishes, made with borosilicate are typically going to be pricier than cookware made with other glass, so look for sales or coupons to help lower the price. But keep in mind that borosilicate bakeware should be higher in quality as well. It doesn't hurt to search local antique shops for a lucky vintage Pyrex find or two, but don’t hesitate to treat yourself to a new set if top-notch quality is your thing.

What are some basic safety rules when cooking with glass bakeware?

Always make sure to read about proper handling, heating, cleaning, and storage of glass products to avert dinner disaster. Avoid putting hot dishes directly onto wet countertops or countertops without trivets. Another tip for preventing glassware from cracking is to avoid transferring glass dishes directly from the fridge to the oven and vice versa. Give your dishes time to reach room temperature. Remember: rapid changes in temperature will make the glass expand or contract, potentially resulting in breakage or damage to the dish. And when your dish has come out hot from the oven, been savored around the table, and the leftovers cooled and stored in the fridge for a lucky recipient, here’s how to make your prized glass bakeware shiny and clean as new.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

If Pyrex Isn't Safe Anymore, Which Brand of Glass Bakeware Should You Buy? (2024)

FAQs

If Pyrex Isn't Safe Anymore, Which Brand of Glass Bakeware Should You Buy? ›

If you're determined to have the strongest stuff out there, consider purchasing from a brand still making glassware out of borosilicate, such as OXO. These bakeware dishes and glass meal prep containers come with or without lids in a variety of sizes for all kinds of food storage needs.

What to use instead of Pyrex? ›

OXO Good Grips Glass 3 Qt Baking Dish

Borosilicate glass has minimal thermal expansion, and is more resistant to thermal shock than any other common glass.

What type of glass is best for bakeware? ›

Today, all U.S. manufactured glass bakeware, regardless of manufacturer, is made from tempered soda-lime-silicate glass. Tempered or heat-strengthened bakeware is designed to strengthen the glass to be more durable and stronger than other glass products.

Which Pyrex is not oven safe? ›

Pyrex: Brand name for cookware brand. pyrex: Lowercase indication of containers that should not be heated in the oven or microwave. These are most likely made of soda-lime glass. PYREX: Uppercase label on cookware that is made of borosilicate glass and can be heated in a microwave or oven.

What brands are similar to Pyrex? ›

Pyrex's top competitors include Made In, GetKitch.in, and Le Creuset. Made In is a company that focuses on the production and distribution of professional-quality kitchenware in the consumer goods industry.

What is the safest bakeware to use? ›

Look for bakeware made from materials known for their non-toxic properties. Stainless steel, for example, is a durable and safe choice. Unlike nickel, it doesn't release harmful chemicals when heated, ensuring your baked goods stay pure. Also, pure ceramic bakeware and enameled cast iron are excellent options.

What is the equivalent of Pyrex glass? ›

According to glass supplier Pulles and Hannique, borosilicate Pyrex is made of Corning 7740 glass and is equivalent in formulation to Schott Glass 8330 glass sold under the "Duran" brand name.

Is it better to bake lasagna in a glass or metal pan? ›

Save your glass pans for lasagna, plátanos maduros horneados, baked eggs, piñon, casseroles, and doughnut bread pudding—they're easy to clean, they're so smooth they're naturally nonstick, they'll keep your kugel warm as it sits on the table, they won't cause discoloration or off-tastes when you're slow-roasting ...

Can you bake cake in glass Pyrex? ›

You can bake a perfectly good cake in a Pyrex bowl, and for some specialty cakes you can save a lot of time and effort by using the bowl to achieve a dome shape. Remember to oil the bowl before you bake, allow extra time, and be careful not to "shock" the glass with sudden temperature ...

Is Pyrex better than other glass? ›

Pyrex® is borosilicate glass which differs from other glass types as it possesses unique properties of high resistance to chemical exposure, thermal expansion and thermal shock. This has advantages in laboratory uses, a key one being where glassware is directly heated, in beakers, test tubes or flasks.

Does Pyrex leach chemicals? ›

Glass or Pyrex

Glass is an inert material; it won't leach anything into food. Pyrex is basically a type of glass, and also hasn't ever been called out for any potential health problems.

Why did Pyrex change? ›

Pyrex eventually switched to tempered glass most likely because boron is toxic and expensive to dispose of. Although tempered glass can better withstand thermal shock than regular soda-lime glass can, it's not as resilient as borosilicate. This is what causes the shattering reaction people are talking about.

What's the difference between old Pyrex and new Pyrex? ›

If it's all caps Pyrex, it's vintage, made of borosilicate. If it's lowercase Pyrex, it's new. And it's soda lime. You still have to be careful.

What to use instead of a Pyrex? ›

If you're determined to have the strongest stuff out there, consider purchasing from a brand still making glassware out of borosilicate, such as OXO. These bakeware dishes and glass meal prep containers come with or without lids in a variety of sizes for all kinds of food storage needs.

Are there two Pyrex brands? ›

Corning later licensed the use of the names PYREX and pyrex to two different companies who now produce the glass cookware. You'll now find cooking products labeled PYREX in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, where they are still made with borosilicate glass.

What is the most sought after Pyrex dish? ›

Pattern. Patterned Pyrex—such as the 1956 Pink Daisy or the 1983 Colonial Mist—tend to be valuable as a collector's item. Other popular patterns include the 1957 Butterprint, which features an Amish couple and their crops, and has been valued at a few hundred dollars.

Why is Pyrex not as good anymore? ›

Pyrex eventually switched to tempered glass most likely because boron is toxic and expensive to dispose of. Although tempered glass can better withstand thermal shock than regular soda-lime glass can, it's not as resilient as borosilicate. This is what causes the shattering reaction people are talking about.

Can I substitute a glass baking dish for a metal one? ›

Bakes more quickly than metal: If you need to substitute a glass pan for a metal one, you will need to decrease the oven temperature by about 25 degrees to ensure that your baked good does not bake too quickly and burn.

Is Pyrex cookware non-toxic? ›

Glass is a naturally non-toxic cookware material and the baking dishes are also non-porous, so odors and stains won't seep into them as you cook your food. Pyrex cookware is dishwasher-safe and safe to use in the freezer, microwave, oven, and fridge.

How is Pyrex different from regular glass? ›

Pyrex® is borosilicate glass which differs from other glass types as it possesses unique properties of high resistance to chemical exposure, thermal expansion and thermal shock. This has advantages in laboratory uses, a key one being where glassware is directly heated, in beakers, test tubes or flasks.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carlyn Walter

Last Updated:

Views: 5943

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carlyn Walter

Birthday: 1996-01-03

Address: Suite 452 40815 Denyse Extensions, Sengermouth, OR 42374

Phone: +8501809515404

Job: Manufacturing Technician

Hobby: Table tennis, Archery, Vacation, Metal detecting, Yo-yoing, Crocheting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.