
What happened to Pyrex?
Pyrex made headlines recently, because its parent company made a big move. Corelle Brands, parent company of Pyrex among others, is planning to merge with Instant Brands, maker of the very popular Instant Pot. Terms of deal were not disclosed, and it’s unclear how the merger will affect any of the companies’ products.
Why do Pyrex dishes break?
In court filings, Pyrex’s parent company, Corelle Brands, insists that incidents of breakage result from customers improperly using their products. More on that case in a minute.
Why is vintage Pyrex so popular?
Between avid collectors and other home cooks, the century-old Pyrex brand is still beloved by many. Pyrex can go in the fridge, freezer, oven, and stove top. I haven't had any break, despite dropping them occasionally. Love it! So why is this American dishware so coveted? Vintage Pyrex has been hailed for its durability and longevity.
What is Pyrex made of?
Pyrex (trademarked as PYREX and pyrex) is a brand introduced by Corning Inc. in 1915 for a line of clear, low-thermal-expansion borosilicate glass used for laboratory glassware and kitchenware. It was later expanded to include ware products made of soda-lime glass.

Why was Pyrex discontinued?
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.
Did Pyrex go out of business?
In 1998, the products division of Corning Inc. responsible for the development of PYREX spun off from its parent company as Corning Consumer Products Company, subsequently renamed Corelle Brands. Corning Inc. no longer manufactures or markets consumer products, only industrial ones.
Do they still make Pyrex dishes?
Although the colorful opalware was (sadly) discontinued in the late 1980s, the factory in Charleroi is still making Pyrex pieces. World Kitchen took over the Pyrex brand in 1998, when Corning once again returned its focus to scientific glassware.
Does Corning still make Pyrex?
For 100 years, Corning has developed special glass for use in both chemical and life science laboratories, including PYREX® glass. Made from Type 1, Class A low expansion borosilicate glass, PYREX glassware has become the accepted standard in chemistry labs across the globe.
Which is better CorningWare vs Pyrex?
Essentially, the main difference between Corningware and Pyrex is that Corningware tends to be smaller, and more aesthetically pleasing. No one wants to see grandma's gorgeously glazed holiday ham in a Pyrex dish; presentation is everything!
Is Anchor Hocking the same as Pyrex?
Pyrex and Anchor Hocking use the same glass type for their bakeware and food storage items. The plastic components of containers by both brands are BPA-free. Additionally, the bakeware essentials and containers by both brands are oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher-safe.
What is the rarest piece of Pyrex?
15 Most Valuable Rare Vintage Pyrex PatternsNo.Pyrex PatternPrice1.Turquoise Diamonds Pattern$100 to $6002.Snowflake Pattern$75 to $599.993.Cinderella Pattern$50 to $3504.Blue Stripe (Barcode) Pattern$50 to $30011 more rows
Are Corelle and Pyrex the same?
What Is Corelle? Introduced in 1970 by Corning—the same company that makes Pyrex—Corelle dinnerware became “all the rage” throughout the following decades.
Is Pyrex still the same?
The Pyrex brand continues to be produced by World Kitchen today. Pyrex has become an icon in most American homes, in the forms of clear borosilicate bakeware, sets of patterned opal ware, and stovetop FLAMEWARE.
Is Corelle going out of business?
Corelle Brands, LLC was an American kitchenware products maker and distributor based in Rosemont, Illinois. In 2019, the company merged with Instant Brands....Corelle Brands.TypePrivateDefunct2019FateMerged with Instant BrandsHeadquartersRosemont, Illinois, U.S.Key peopleBen Gadbois, president and chief executive officer6 more rows
Why is Pyrex so popular?
as a line of clear borosilicate glass used in the laboratory or in the kitchen. Its multifunctional use and ability to withstand a high heat made it incredibly popular for home cooks and universities alike.
Who makes Pyrex products?
CorningFor 100 years, Corning has developed special glass for use in both chemical and life science laboratories, including PYREX® glass. Made from Type 1, Class A low expansion borosilicate glass, PYREX glassware has become the accepted standard in chemistry labs across the globe.
Are old Pyrex bowls worth anything?
Some vintage Pyrex can earn up to $3,000, reports NPR—nevermind that it's not dishwasher safe, and it's a pain to lug around compared to modern iterations. Sure enough, we found a 1950s set selling for $1,850 on Etsy, and one from 1960 for $700 on eBay. There's even a rare vintage Pyrex bowl mold going for $1,000.
Is there a difference between Pyrex and Pyrex?
Products with the name 'pyrex' (all lowercase) are made by a company called World Kitchen and are made out of clear tempered high-thermal-expansion soda-lime glass, which has a lower thermal shock resistance, making them susceptible to explosions in the microwave or oven.
Who owns Pyrex cookware?
Corning IncorporatedPyrex® is a duly registered trademark owned by Corning Incorporated and used under license by International Cookware.
Are vintage Pyrex bowls safe to use?
Is vintage Pyrex safe to use? The short answer to this is "I wouldn't use it." This was a common response to the test posted on Facebook. People insisted that since food doesn't come in contact with the outside of the bowls, these tests do nothing more than drum up fear.
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Why is Pyrex so popular?
If the temperature change happens rapidly materials like glass can shatter or seem to explode. Resistance to thermal shock is part of why Pyrex became so popular for cookware; you could move a hot glass pan into a cool spot without worrying about it cracking or shattering.
What is Pyrex made of?
Corning licensed the Pyrex brand to a company called World Kitchen—now known as Corelle Brands—in 1998, and by nearly all accounts, all Pyrex cookware sold in the United States after that year has been made of tempered soda-lime glass. This is where the controversy really heats up.
What happened to Pyrex glass?
Several Pyrex customers who say they experienced exploding glass incidents themselves filed a class action lawsuit in June 2018 alleging that Corelle Brands inadequately warns consumers of the thermal breakage issue and then hides behind warnings and warranties when incidents occur.
Why does Pyrex pan explode?
There’s only one problem. A few years ago, the pans started exploding when they got too hot —which is ironic since Pyrex glass was specifically designed to be heat resistant. Some blamed a change in the glass formula and flocked to thrift stores to buy older models. Others cried hoax.
What is clear glass Pyrex?
Clear glass Pyrex cookware is practically an American icon. With its pleasing heft and remarkable resilience, these famous clear pans have been essential when cooking biscuits, casseroles, and pies since 1915. There’s only one problem.
When did Corning's Pyrex pans expire?
These dates are important because Corning’s patent on the borosilicate glass used to make Pyrex pans expired in 1936. At that time, the company developed a new formula for aluminosilicate glass, which it used to create a line of frying pans called Pyrex Flameware. (This line was discontinued in 1979.)
When was borosilicate glass invented?
Corning Glass Works developed its own recipe for borosilicate glass in 1908, and Corning employee Jesse Littleton discovered a new use for the material after his wife Bessie used a sawed-off borosilicate glass battery jar for baking. Seven years later, Pyrex cookware hit the American market.
Why is Pyrex so popular?
This is partly because the brand is so popular in the US, but also partly because its bakeware used to be less prone to breaking from thermal shock. “Pyrex pieces used to be made of borosilicate glass, which is more resistant to breakage when subjected to extreme shifts in temperature.
How many injuries are reported from Pyrex?
That’s fewer than 10 a month across the entire United States. “To be clear, the 950 reported injuries include glass bakeware from all manufacturers, not specifically Pyrex. According to Davis, the CPSC is unable to release information about specific companies without following a public disclosure process.
Why does glass break?
Handling tempered wares (or any glassware) with care is of the utmost importance. “Thermal stress is another factor that can cause glass to break spontaneously. As Cook told us, ‘Temperature itself isn’t what causes stress. It’s a difference in temperature from one part of the glass to another part of the glass.
Is borosilicate glass more expensive to make than tempered glass?
And borosilicate glass is more expensive to manufacture than tempered or soda-lime glass. What causes tempered glass to shatter spontaneously. “Knowing that tempered glass is more resilient than other types, you may be wondering why there are all these reports of it ‘exploding.’.
Can tempered glass break?
Although tempered glass can better withstand thermal shock than regular soda-lime glass can, it’s not as resilient to such stress as borosilicate. And notably, when it does break, it does so suddenly and somewhat violently, shattering into many small pieces.
Does Pyrex explode?
Have you ever wondered why pyrex bakeware doesn’t explode? According to The New York Times: “You may have heard dramatic stories about Pyrex bakeware ‘exploding’ or shattering seemingly out of nowhere. These tales crop up regularly in Amazon reviews and news reports, such as this 2010 investigation by Consumer Reports.
Why is Pyrex so popular?
Another reason that makes Pyrex so popular is that even though it can break due to it still being glass, it almost never does because glass is a pretty strong material. The U.S. Army negotiated with Corning in World War II to create mess-ware they are free to fling against a wall. This is what turned into Pyrex opal ware, which is produced from tempered soda-lime opal glass and the foundation for more than 150 different Pyrex patterns from 1956 to 1987.
What is Pyrex made of?
Pyrex was originally created from borosilicate glass, which was made for usage in science labs since it didn’t contract or expand with heat. The glass was then sold in 1915 to Corning Glassware and was branded under a new name, “Pyrex,” which was used to make different types of kitchenware.
What did Maltby push?
In addition, Maltby pushed the idea that elegance and beauty should and can be affordable to the general public. She had a whole staff of women out in the field, talking to consumers and department stores about what they wanted. There was an entire army of women working behind the scenes.
When did Pyrex start making stoves?
But it wasn’t until the introduction of the Flameware line in 1936 that consumers, for the first time, can cook with glass on their stove burners. And, because the process of manufacturing Pyrex had been automated during 1929, stocking Pyrex in the kitchen became affordable for the first time.
When was Pyrex invented?
In 1915 , Corning Glass Works launched its Pyrex brand, but it didn’t flourish at first. It was initially hard to prove to people that they could put a glass inside the oven without melting or shattering it. As a result, Pyrex looked to marketing and depended on “domestic professionals.” The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Mildred Maddocks and an editor at Ladies’ Home Journal, Sarah Tyson Rorer, did nationwide demonstrations at department stores and primarily promoted the new cookware’s profile. Their efforts bore fruit came 1919 when Corning Glass Works sold more than 4 million pieces of Pyrex to buyers. But it wasn’t until the introduction of the Flameware line in 1936 that consumers, for the first time, can cook with glass on their stove burners. And, because the process of manufacturing Pyrex had been automated during 1929, stocking Pyrex in the kitchen became affordable for the first time.
Who were the first users of Pyrex?
Women were the first users of Pyrex, so they featured them in the ads from the very beginning. The company did lots of marketing that promoted Pyrex to be what you need to have in the kitchen to become a successful housewife. What makes it interesting is that women were also the leading influencers in the background.
Can you go around estate sales without a piece of Pyrex?
Walk into a home, and you’ll most likely find some Pyrex, the almost-indestructible glass bowls, baking dishes, and measuring cups. You can’t even go around estate sales without stumbling on a piece of Pyrex.
Where can I find old Pyrex dishes?
You've definitely seen those old-fashioned Pyrex dishes somewhere. The brightly hu ed container s — often decorated with floral motifs — can be found at yard sales, grandparents' homes or even your own kitchen cupboard.
Is vintage Pyrex good?
Vintage Pyrex has been hailed for its durability and longevity. Once Pyrex changed its formula to soda-lime, instead of the arguably stronger borosilicate, discontinued Pyrex dishes made with the original glass formula became even more valuable.
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Why does glass shatter when removing it from the oven?
It is believed the problem stems from improper tempering of the material – reportedly, soda lime silicate – used to manufacture the product.
Can you file a class action lawsuit for Pyrex?
Now, attorneys are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed on behalf of people who had their glassware explode.
Can you get money back for Pyrex?
If a class action lawsuit is filed and is successful, consumers may be able to get their money back for Pyrex dishware that exploded. Furthermore, a court may order the manufacturers to redesign Pyrex and to divulge whether they changed the material used in the glassware, resulting in an inferior product.
