Pyrex, Old and New and Exploding. Other Corning Glass Too.

Pyrex is great cookware. I like being able to see the bottoms of pies and breads. The glass looks clean out of the dishwasher, which aluminum doesn't for us. Here's some interesting history.



I like old Pyrex more than the new stuff. I have also ordered on Amazon (once) to get European-made borosilicate glass because I don't like exploding cookware.



I did have a pyrex casserole dish explode in the oven, when I was roasting a squash at 375F. What a mess. At least no one was hurt.

Corning was once a fantastic manufacturer of kitchenware - Pyrex, Corning Ware (Pac has written about this) which is even better, but opaque, and Corelle dishes for the table. Now the product line is made by "World Kitchen".

Warning on Corelle - there are claims that the vintage dishes have high levels of lead, especially in their painted edging. The manufacturer confirms the presence of lead, and states their old dinner ware should just be used for decorations.



This video wont embed but might be clickable.
https://youtu.be/f9JGGx__IAI?feature=shared

I think that the lead problem, if it is real, isn't just Corelle.

However, snopes.com gives a more detailed and quite complicated picture, and to some extent seems to be saying don't worry about it (I'm paraphrasing). They call concerns "scarelore" and the toxicity claims "unproven". They state "The claims appeared to originate with a single individual (Rubin) testing vintage Pyrex for lead in a non-laboratory environment and using undisclosed methods." I guess that, if it wasn't safe, then something might be seen in the health and behavior of children who grew up on Corelle and are now adults? Who knows? (I'm not making any claims).

History of Corelle. It's interesting to watch. Despite how many families ate on Corelle in the mid to late century in the US, my family used Melmac (melamine). I like the Old Town Blue the most.



The manufacturing process is interesting, at least to me!



So much for talented artisans painting each plate, LOL!

We had quite a collection of Corelle dinner ware. Most just sat in cabinets, so during downsizing we gave it all to Goodwill. I didn't know about the lead concern yet then. I still don't know if that concern is reality. We kept a modern set that was more bright and cheerful.

We also have a set that looks almost identical to Corelle, I think the same process, that looks cheerful. The only difference is the back side has a slight texture, which makes them less "droppable".

 

After the 2cnd pyrex explosion I quit using them

 

I don't blame you at all!

 

I still use the Corelle winter frost white dinner plates and bowls. Below is a copy of an add for the dinnerware.
Corelle® dinnerware is stylish enough to own a room, but stacks up in less space than ceramic plates and bowls. It's non-porous and ultra-hygienic--a healthy choice to keep your food pure and clean. Plus it's easy to clear and clean. At last, beauty without compromise: Corelle®.

Never had any Pyrex explode. Knock on wood. I still use them for holidays. They are very heavy but large and convient for large meals.
Not sure what to do now. As if things aren’t complicated enough hopefully manufactures have better control and equipment today.

 

I have a mix of vintage Pyrex, Corelle and Corning Wear in my cupboards, that I use regularly. I have never heard about exploding glass or lead!
Most of this stuff is from my Mom so I've been eating from it most of my life.

 

@Netty same here.
In the earlier versions of cookware pyrex, corelle , no control standards for toxins were in place, and many of the old glazes used on ceramics, antique or vintage china also contained some level of lead before 1971.

Soooo…here’s a tidbit recently affirmed. Since I have been using these products made before the 70’s I have a legitimate justification for my bit of forgetfulness , a bit of silliness and rambling on and on…

 

A reasonable sounding article about lead in cookware glazes.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesal...your-ceramic-cookware-give-you-lead-poisoning

 

Thank you lead free materials today .

 

Yes, I had a set of Corelle. I used daily until pieces started shattering into tiny bits. Then I went to old fashioned china. Less nerve wracking if the broke. Unlike china corelle never chipped and took a lot of abuse…until it didn’t.

 

Alrighty then to add to the corelle dinner ware saga I found this on the lead issue.
Question : ”How much led leaches in food on Corelle dinner ware?
ANSWER: “As long as a Corelle dish does not have any painted-on patterns or designs, especially on inner surfaces of plates/bowls, the risk of lead exposure is minimal. It is the painted portions that may leach lead into food”.
Phew my family is safe now. All the Corelle I have been using for years have no designs painted in them. They are all in one piece , no chips and they have really taken a beating over the years and all still lookin good.
Of course lately they have been replaced with paper plates… It’s to hot to cook.

 

@Netty… your Corning Ware could be worth a small fortune.

 

@Pacnorwest Wow! I have a pretty big collection of cornflower blue corning wear, and I use it regularly! Maybe if I sold it I'd be able to retire? haha

 

Yasss… retirement sounds perfect.
I was thinkin my cornflower collection might even buy more trees, shrubs, flowers and some fancy garden art pieces. Always thinkin garden …
Or even… a vaca in Europe.

 

Took me some time to watch all the videos in this thread. But I must say, this right now is the most enjoyable topic on our forum!

I've been looking for uranium glass. As that not only has historic relic value for me, but also floresce a most beautiful green under UV light.

I'm sure I had seen something like that once in my early childhood. But be it for whatever reason, I can't find it anymore... I think it was something my mother had bought from a flea market. If I remember correctly, it was s set of salt and pepper shakers, (which fortunately we never used).

I unfortunately didn't have any UV light source at the time. I actually didn't even know what UV light was, or uranium for that matter. As I was too young, (talking about the very early 1980s). But from what I remember, it looked very much like uranium glass.

 

Despite the lead questions, I think Corningware, Corelle, and Pyrex are all remarkable products. I use them all every day.

@S-H, I wonder if Uranium glass would set off alarms in airports? Also, since uranium is heavy, is it enough to make the glass heavier?