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Glass Ceramic and Stoneware
The Familiar Glass Bakeware Set
It is estimated that 75% of all households own at least one piece of Pyrex glass bakeware. The glass bakeware set is indeed a familiar and used item in kitchens. Whether for baking desserts, transporting foods to a pot luck, or roasting everyone's favorite chicken, the glass bakeware set has become an essential item in the kitchen.
A Long And Successful History For Glass Bakeware
It was July of 1913. The wife of a Corning scientist, Bessie Littleton, encouraged her husband to adapt the new fracture resistant glass products used for railroad lanterns for use in the kitchen. The rest is history. Today, Corning and Pyrex are two of the most familiar brands in the kitchen. The remarkable thing is, even with all the new technologies available, glass and ceramic cookware and bakeware have not only endured, but changed with the times offering colors and versatility suitable for any kitchen.
What Comes In a Glass Bakeware Set?
Sets come in several varieties. One can find a 3-13 piece glass bakeware set that has oblong/rectangular bakeware, lids, spatulas, and transportation covers. Others add to these sets prep bowls, mixing bowls, and other shaped glass bakeware pieces. Including ceramic/porcelain/stoneware bakeware sets into the mix, you can get 1.5 quart to 3.5 quart oval/round casserole dishes with glass lids.
Glass Bakeware to the Pot Luck
A number of the standard 9x13 rectangular bakeware pieces are coming now with sealable lids, making them easy to transport. With hot/cold packs, and a transportation cover with handle, bringing a favorite casserole or dessert to a pot luck has never been easier. Since glass retains heat/cold well, thay are very suitable for transportation.
Why Use Glass Bakeware?
While glass does not distribute heat very well, it does retain it exceptionally well. Round glass pie dishes are common because of the uniform browning it can give to a pie crust. Glass bakeware is very durable, being chip and break resistant, in the oven, stovetop, refrigerator, or freezer. Ceramic/Porcelain/Stoneware bakeware adds color, uniform heating, and style. Prices are generally some of the best compared to other cookware materials. They make great bridal gifts or gifts for any occasion. Glass/ceramic/porcelain/stoneware is easy to clean, dishwasher safe, non reactive with foods, versatile, and healthy.
The glass bakeware set is an essential item in any kitchen. It has endured and changed with the times. With it being in an estimated 75% of kitchens, it says a lot. If you are looking for Corning Visions glass cookware, or the familiar ceramic dishes with the blue emblem on the side, be sure to read our article What Happened to Corning Glass Cookware?
Happy Cooking!
Your Cookware Helper
Last Updated on Saturday, 28 May 2011 21:59
What Happened to Corning Glass Cookware?
Let's take a stroll down memory lane and think about Corning, Corngware, and Pyrex glass cookware. Think back to a time when you would watch your mother cook. Picture her as she would whip up some potatoes, create a casserole, fry some chicken, or string green beans. Try to remember what she would use to cook with, and bring out to the table. Chances are, you will see some white cookware with a blue cornflower emblem on the side. That was corning glass cookware. She would bake with it, and since it was presentation quality, she would bring it out to the table for the feast. What happened to that corning glass cookware?
Corning Glass Cookware Has a Rich History
The history of Corning goes back 150 years. Corning Glass Works developed the glass for Thomas Edison's light bulb. It was in July of 1913 when, at the encouragement of a new scientists wife, Bessie Littleton, that Pyrex was born. Over the years they developed lines of glass and ceramic cookware and bakeware that was durable, attractive, easy to clean, and versatile. Though only a portion of their business, it was these consumer products that brought the name of Corning to the publics attention. More than 750 million pieces of CorningWare have been manufactured. In 1998 however, due to slumping sales and retooling of manufacturing plants, Corning sold off the CorningWare and Pyrex lines to World Kitchen, LLC. Under new direction, the CorningWare and Pyrex lines are as strong as ever, although different.
Today's CorningWare and Pyrex
Under the direction of World Kitchens, LLC, CorningWare transitioned from ceramic based products to stoneware. It is described as an evolutionary change to bring more color and versatility to the kitchen. The stoneware based cookware and bakeware is easy to clean, stores food easily in the refrigerator or freezer, non reactive to acidic foods, and can be used to prep, cook, and display meals. The stoneware based CorningWare is not to be used on the stovetop, whereas the older ceramic based products are. The older product lines have been discontinued from production, but are still available from a variety of sources. While the condition of "new" is becoming harder to find, "gently used" items are increasingly becoming popular. The old familiar Corning white ceramic bakeware with the blue cornflower emblem on the side and glass lid, while not rare, is actually starting to show signs of increased value. Items can be found on the internet under the names Corning, CorningWare, or Corelle.
New or old, Corning and Pyrex products are considered healthy since they are non reactive to acidic foods, do not leave trace metals in foods, and are non porous. They are all easy to clean either by hand or in the dishwasher. See the current CorningWare product lines.
If you are looking for stovetop-ready ceramic based cookware, there are choices, but they are harder to find. One such product is available via distributors of Princess House, which offers what they call a vitroceramic cookware line. Emile Henry is a very fashionable and attractive line of ceramic cookware and bakeware, and has recently introduced their "Flame" stovetop line of ceramics.
Corning Visions, Where Art Thou?
The Corning Visions cookware line has been discontinued. While it was heavily rumored that the products fracture or explode under high heat, numerous tests under intense scrutiny could not duplicate any such results. The amber and cranberry colored ceramic-glass cookware is available online from a variety of stores. I found that one of the best places to get Corning Visions cookware is on e-bay. See their selection.
Corning glass cookware is alive and well in kitchens across the globe. Pyrex bakeware is more colorful, useful, and more transportable than ever. Whether glass, ceramic, porcelain, vitroceramic, enameled, or some other material, it plays a vital role in every kitchen.
Happy Cooking,
Your Cookware Helper
Last Updated on Saturday, 28 May 2011 22:08
