Not every dish labeled Pyrex is made from the same glass. U.S. consumer bakeware has been heat-strengthened soda-lime glass for several decades, while Pyrex glassware sold in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is borosilicate. Corning’s capitalized PYREX is a separate borosilicate laboratory-glass brand. To know what a particular dish is made of—and how to use it—check that item’s label and instructions, not just its name.
Why “Pyrex” can mean different things
Pyrex began as borosilicate consumer bakeware in 1915. According to the Corning Museum of Glass, U.S. Pyrex bakeware has been made consistently from heat-strengthened soda-lime glass for several decades. The museum identifies Charleroi, Pennsylvania, as the manufacturing location and says production was first run by Corning and later by Corelle Brands. The source does not establish the exact year the composition changed; Corning’s statement that it stopped making cookware in 1998 is not a date for that change.
There is also a regional split. Pyrex’s Help Center says glassware sold in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is made in France from borosilicate, while soda-lime products are made by Instant Brands for other markets. That means a broad statement about what “Pyrex” is made of can be wrong depending on the product category and market.
Corning distinguishes consumer cookware from its capitalized PYREX laboratory glassware, which it identifies as borosilicate. It says it ceased making cookware in 1998. Laboratory-glass specifications therefore should not be applied to consumer bakeware simply because the name looks similar. Capitalization alone is not a reliable way to identify a dish’s composition.
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- 9x13 INCH: Includes (1) 9x13x2.75 inch glass baking dish with BPA-free plastic lid. This deep baking dish is essential to have in any kitchen as they are versatile in use from prepping to baking and storing.
- GO DEEPER: At up to 50% deeper than the Pyrex basics dishes you know and love, there’s more room to get creative. Deeper size stops spillovers, and more importantly, holds more of the good stuff for your parties and gatherings.
- SNUG FIT LID: Perfectly fitting and BPA-free plastic lid is freezer, microwave, and top-rack dishwasher safe. No need to hold back when warming your food or storing your leftovers for tomorrow.
- GLASS BAKEWARE: High-quality non-pourous glass is pre-heated oven, microwave and freezer safe. Have a peace of mind when storing your food, resisting stains, flavors and odors. Worry less about scrubbing hard to get rid of stains or smells, and enjoy the versatile convenience of this glass bakeware set.
- PYREX IS THE #1 BRAND OF GLASS BAKEWARE*: Loved for generations, experienced cooks and beginners alike have reached for Pyrex brand glassware products, because they’re affordable, durable, and great for all their cooking, serving and storing needs. Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service, dollars and units, 12 ME December 2022
How borosilicate and soda-lime differ
Borosilicate glass contains boron and expands and contracts less as temperature changes. Dr. Glen Cook, chief scientist at The Corning Museum of Glass, says soda-lime expands almost three times as much as borosilicate for the same temperature change. Lower expansion can reduce stress when glass heats or cools, but it does not guarantee that any particular dish will survive a specific temperature change.
Pyrex describes a tradeoff between the materials: soda-lime is “slightly more resistant to impact breakage,” while borosilicate is “slightly more resistant to extreme thermal changes.” Those are manufacturer statements about relative properties, not a promise that either kind of glass cannot break. Both materials can be used for cooking at recipe temperatures when the product’s instructions are followed.
Rank #2
- 7x11 INCH: Includes (1) 7x11x2.75 inch glass baking dish with BPA-free plastic lid. This deep baking dish is essential to have in any kitchen as they are versatile in use from prepping to baking and storing.
- GO DEEPER: At up to 50% deeper than the Pyrex basics dishes you know and love, there’s more room to get creative. Deeper size stops spillovers, and more importantly, holds more of the good stuff for your parties and gatherings.
- SNUG FIT LID: Perfectly fitting and BPA-free plastic lid is freezer, microwave, and top-rack dishwasher safe. No need to hold back when warming your food or storing your leftovers for tomorrow.
- GLASS BAKEWARE: High-quality non-pourous glass is pre-heated oven, microwave and freezer safe. Have a peace of mind when storing your food, resisting stains, flavors and odors. Worry less about scrubbing hard to get rid of stains or smells, and enjoy the versatile convenience of this glass bakeware set.
- PYREX IS THE #1 BRAND OF GLASS BAKEWARE*: Loved for generations, experienced cooks and beginners alike have reached for Pyrex brand glassware products, because they’re affordable, durable, and great for all their cooking, serving and storing needs. Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service, dollars and units, 12 ME December 2022
Why there is no single thermal-shock number to rely on
Thermal shock happens when parts of a glass item change temperature unevenly, creating stress. How quickly heat moves, the temperature difference, and the glass’s condition—including nicks and scratches—can affect whether it fails.
The American Ceramic Society’s discussion of work by Richard C. Bradt and Richard L. Martens gives approximate theoretical temperature differentials of about 100°F for soda-lime glass and 330°F for borosilicate. These are attributed estimates in a technical discussion, not consumer-safe operating limits or manufacturer instructions. They should not be used as a rule for moving a dish directly from one temperature condition to another.
Rank #3
- PREMIUM LARGE BAKING PAN SET: Our baking dishes are made of borosilicate glass, can be used in microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher
- TIGHT FITTING LIDS: 8-piece baking dishes set includes 4 baking dishes and 4 gray plastic tight fitting lids, which are designed to keep your food fresher longer. Made with a special non-slip design, you can stack these 4 containers with lids on top of each other in your fridge or freezer for space saving storage. Also they are sloshproof to stop spilling while storing or on the go. The ideal set for baking, serving and storing food
- ELEGANT DESIGN: The clear glass baking pan makes a nice, attractive presentation for enjoyable baking time, a charming decoration in your dining table and kitchen. It also lets you monitor the baking process, serve your meals in a stylish and elegant fashion and easily identify leftovers
- CONVENIENT HANDLES: The edge of the bakeware is round and smooth, with a widened, thickened, and anti-scalding handle design, providing a secure grip while taking to and from the oven
- VERSATILE USE: This bakeware set includes 4 pieces bakeware of difference dimensions ( includes the ears' size): 1Quart (10 x 5.9 x 1.8-inch), 1.7Quart (11.6 x 6.7 x 2.1-inch), 2.3Quart (13.6 x 8.1 x 2.1-inch), and 3.2Quart (15.5 x 9.3 x 2.1-inch). Great for baking desserts, casseroles, stews, lasagna, spaghetti, brownies,chicken, meat, beef, fish, veggies, and all your favorite delicacies, as a serving dish for added convenience and reheating leftovers and etc
The same article reports that Consumer Reports tested glass cookware from multiple makers after reports of shattering. In some test conditions, soda-lime samples failed more often and borosilicate samples were more resilient. Those reported results are not a current, comprehensive comparison of every product on the market, and they do not establish how a particular dish will behave in a household kitchen.
What the 2016 court ruling did—and did not—decide
World Kitchen sued the American Ceramic Society and researchers over statements about cookware thermal resistance, including a reported 99°F figure. In its 2016 bench-trial decision, the court reviewed the disputed statements and evidence and concluded that the record did not show the contested figure to be false. That ruling addressed the claims and statements before the court; it was not a universal safety certification and did not establish that all soda-lime or borosilicate cookware is safe or unsafe in every use.
Rank #4
- 6-PIECE BAKEWARE SET: 6-piece set of 3 oven-safe glass baking dishes and 3 lids for making casseroles, desserts, stews, and more
- FOOD-SAFE BOROSILICATE GLASS: Made with BPA-free borosilicate glass; microwave and freezer-safe; oven safe up to 752°F, tolerates thermal shock up to 270°F
- BAKE AND SERVE SET: Includes non-slip, stackable storage lids for easy travel and serving
- DISHWASHER-SAFE: Dishwasher-safe for quick and convenient cleaning after use; place lids on top rack
- DISH SIZES: 7.8 x 6.6 x 2.2 in. (0.26gal); 11 x 7.8 x 2 in. (0.42gal); and 15.3 x 9.4 x 2.6 in. (0.95gal)
How to identify and use your dish
Check the exact product and its instructions
- Look at the item’s label, packaging, or manufacturer’s usage guide for its stated material and permitted uses.
- Use the product’s instructions rather than assuming that another dish with the same brand name—or the same appearance—has the same composition or limits.
- Consider the product category and market: consumer bakeware, laboratory glassware, and products sold in different regions are not interchangeable evidence of composition.
Follow the stated heating restrictions
Pyrex says its bakeware is intended for use in a fully preheated conventional or convection oven at recipe temperatures when its safety and usage instructions are followed. Its instructions say not to use the bakeware on a stovetop or under a broiler. Consult the guide for your specific item rather than treating general material properties as permission to use it in other heating conditions.
Account for condition and temperature changes
Do not treat any glass dish as unbreakable. Abrupt temperature changes and uneven heat transfer can create stress, and damage such as chips or scratches is relevant to failure. If you are choosing between two products, compare their stated composition, permitted heating and cooling uses, relative thermal-shock and impact resistance, condition, market, and care instructions.
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Best Value
- 3 QT: Includes (1) 3 quarts glass baking dish with BPA-free plastic lid. This deep baking dish is essential to have in any kitchen as they are versatile in use from prepping to baking and storing.
- PERFECT CAPACITY: This baking dish provides ample room for your favorite recipes, ensuring you can easily prepare and share delicious meals with family and friends.
- SNUG FIT LID: Perfectly fitting and BPA-free plastic lid is freezer, microwave, and top-rack dishwasher safe. No need to hold back when warming your food or storing your leftovers for tomorrow.
- GLASS BAKEWARE: High-quality non-pourous glass is pre-heated oven, microwave and freezer safe. Have a peace of mind when storing your food, resisting stains, flavors and odors. Worry less about scrubbing hard to get rid of stains or smells, and enjoy the versatile convenience of this glass bakeware set.
- PYREX IS THE #1 BRAND OF GLASS BAKEWARE*: Loved for generations, experienced cooks and beginners alike have reached for Pyrex brand glassware products, because they’re affordable, durable, and great for all their cooking, serving and storing needs. Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service, dollars and units, 12 ME December 2022
Sources
- The Corning Museum of Glass: Pyrex and Other Glassware
- Pyrex Help Center: Frequently Asked Questions
- Corning: Glassware
- The Corning Museum of Glass: Why Doesn’t Pyrex Break When You Put It in the Oven?
- The American Ceramic Society: Why Glass Cookware Shatters and What You Can Do About It
- 2016 court decision concerning cookware thermal-resistance statements
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