Saturday, November 14, 2020

As if we needed something else to worry about... glass pans

 I have always used glass pans for baking bread, cakes, supper recipes, desserts. My mother always had Pyrex pans, and I continue to use them. 

Three nights ago, I was roasting a 7x11 pan of potatoes and onions. It was covered in tin foil and the temp was 400º, just like always. It was a relatively new pan, but I'd used it a few times since buying it. We were in the living room watching Autumnwatch on BritBox when we heard a crash, a kind of explosion in the kitchen. And this is what we discovered.


The side of the pan was bowed out


We were stunned, to say the least. We thought it must be the new pan, though why it would have been alright before and not that night we couldn't figure out. So, I went online and was very surprised to discover that this is a thing! Hot glass pans can explode!! Some sites said that the new glass isn't like the ones in the past. Pyrex and Anchor say it is strong. Though they do add some directions like never put your dish right out of the oven on your stove or on a cooling rack - both things I have done forever. They say it needs to go on a cloth or potholder. That right there is pretty weird. I read that sometimes they explode after you've removed them from the oven - one family had sat down to Christmas dinner when it happened and they found pieces of glass three feet away! 

Well, being a quick-thinker and a cautious person, I went right to Amazon and ordered all new cooking pans - stainless steel. Old dogs can indeed learn new tricks!

33 comments:

  1. Now you have me scared. Is this going to happen to me someday? maybe my old glass pans will be okay and I'll just resolve not to buy new.

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  2. Yes,I've been reading about this lately too and it worries me! I have a couple of old Pyrex dishes that I've used for many years, but now? As you said, something else to worry about.
    Love your header - such clarity!
    Mary

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    1. Oh my gosh! You've heard of this??
      Thank you about the picture. It does seem to have a special glow. The gate, the pasture, the mountains.

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    2. In her Oct.16,2020 post,Cup on the Bus blog notes her pyrex exploding in the oven. I went online as you did and it seems there's a lot of it.

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    3. Wow! I'll visit and read about it. Thank you. I wonder what else we don't know about. haha

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  3. Scary! Good to know. I don't cook much anymore, but will be sure to use metal pans in the future.

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    1. Is it because you don't feel well, or do you just not like cooking?
      I find it is one of the things that has helped me (is helping me) through these times.

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  4. Wow! I had a dish crack once when I set it on the stovetop after taking it out of the oven, but I've never had any problems with my 9x17 glass dishes. I would hate to have a dish of enchiladas or lasagna (which is what I usually cook in those dishes) explode! I'm glad nobody was hurt. Like Marcia, I won't buy any new ones and will hope that they are safe.

    As always, a lovely new header!

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  5. For goodness sakes. I had never heard of such a thing. I haven't bought a new glass pan in forever. I think I would pass on one now. You may have saved someone's Thanksgiving dinner.

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    1. Wouldn't that be just awful to have that happen at the table?!

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  6. That's worrying. I'm still using Pyrex dishes which were wedding presents, so you can imagine how old they are! I thought they were indestructible.

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    1. I did, too!! And maybe the old ones are. I've still got a couple of my mother's but I'll not use them now just because they are special to me and I don't want to take the chance.

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  7. I do know someone that had this happen when cooking a roast in pyrex. I've never used glass plans over 350 degrees. For high temps I use stainless or my LeCreuset (pricy but worth it). Sorry this happened to you but, glad no one was hurt.

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  8. That's so scary, especially the thought that a family might have the hot casserole dish on the table where they're eating. I do love my old Pyrex and Anchor Hocking casserole dishes but from now on will be wondering if it could happen. I might start using my stainless pans for everything I can now instead of grabbing my glass ones. Thanks for sharing this, I hadn't heard about it.

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    1. If it ever does happen, let me know!!!
      Weird year in even little ways!

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  9. I've not ever heard of this happening either. All my Pyrex and Corningware are really old. Some were from our wedding (40 years) and some belonged to my mother and even my grandmother. I've not bought a new glass baking dish for decades. I will say that in thinking about it, I always put a dish on hotpads. Maybe a few times on the stovetop, but not often. I think most thing I've cooked in them were 350 or 375 max. I usually roast on metal pans - like cookie sheets. These days, I don't use my bigger glass pans much. We're not big leftover eaters and so I'm trying to cook for two and not much more. Glad this didn't turn out worse. Enjoy your new pans!

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    1. I don't even know what hotpads are. ha!
      Tom could live on leftovers, but I only like a meal when I've first cooked it.
      So far, I'm happy with them. Make a blueberry/strawberry crunch and it turned out great.

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  10. Wow, thanks for the heads-up on this, Nan. We use the glass pans in the oven all the time, and while some of ours have been with us a long, long time, it's good to know that the newer ones can be so dangerous. I always just figured they would crack if the sudden temperature change was too much for them to handle, not that they would shatter like this.

    Oh...and that photo in your heading is absolutely magnificent. Is that one of yours?

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    1. I did have a mixture of old and new. I kept the old ones for sentimental reasons and will use them in another way, but it's stainless steel all the way for me now!
      And yes. That's the gate to the lower pasture. Thank you!!

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  11. Oh, this is very distressing to read. I, too, rely on my glass baking dishes and Pyrex loaf pans. Most, if not all, were shower or wedding gifts from 1972, and so should be safe. But I shall be extra careful not to break any and therefore need to replace them!!

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    1. As always, good to see you!
      I'm not positive if it is only the new ones that break or not. I won't be doing any experiments to find out, either! :<)))

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  12. JANET E DUNCAN
    As I understand it, the old pyrex (made in USA) is fine, but the stuff made in China is crap. If you want to bake in glass just check the bottom of the pan. You can still find the good stuff at garage sales and sometimes Goodwill.

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  13. All of mine is old and I've never had any issues. I have Corningware and Pyrex from years past. I have one or possible two clear glass pans, which I rarely use. I probably won't buy anything new or anything made in China. Thanks for the heads-up. That's more excitement than I want with my meals!

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  14. That must have been scary! And a good way to ruin a relaxing TV show as well as dinner! But of course could have been so much worse. I’m off to check (or maybe chuck) my three Pyrex pans, all that I have here I think. Our oven in Florida is a microwave-convection combo and glass pans were recommended. I hope that is true there.

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    1. Wow, that's really interesting that glass was recommended! I guess maybe I've heard that microwaves don't take metal.

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  15. That is a dreadful story! My sister once had a glass bowl shatter as she passed it across the dining room table. No one felt like eating dinner after glass flew everywhere - I think they had to order pizza! My oven is still recovering from my accidentally melting my plastic cake carrier. Every time I think there cannot be a shred of melted plastic anywhere there is a horrible smell.

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  16. Nan! I am just reading about your glass breaking in the oven. Here's the thing- the new pyrex that is made now is NOT the same PYREX from years ago! Notice that it is spelled with a little "p", if you kept any of your old PYREX, I think it is either with a capital "P" or all caps. I have never used it in the oven (even my old PYREX) above 350 degrees though, but I know I have friends who did and with the old stuff, I think they were okay. It is true, that they don't make things the way they used to!

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    1. Very, very interesting about the capitals! Wouldn't you think glass is glass. I know nothing. haha

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