Is Pyrex oven safe? In short, yes! From casserole dishes to pie plates, almost all Pyrex dishes are oven-safe, but even the trustiest of Pyrex dishes can fail if you don’t know how to use them safely!
Glass bakeware like Pyrex is popular because it’s easy to clean, heats evenly, and lets you see your food as it cooks, but using it safely isn’t always intuitive. In this post, you’ll learn what Pyrex is made of, what you can (and shouldn’t) do with it, and how to use it safely.
Jillee’s Take:
Table of Contents
What Is Pyrex?
Pyrex is a brand name that eventually became synonymous with borosilicate glass (like “Kleenex” did for tissues). This special heat-safe glass was developed by Corning Glassware Company back in 1915. Corning has since stopped using borosilicate glass in favor of soda lime glass that’s cheaper to produce, but the original name lives on.
Whether you have a big collection of vintage Pyrex or a few newer pieces of glass cookware, you may have wondered at some point whether Pyrex is oven-safe. The answer is a bit complicated, but it’s worth taking the time to understand!
Borosilicate Pyrex Vs. Soda Lime Pyrex
Pyrex’s original borosilicate glass was known for its thermal shock resistance, durability, and non-reactive properties. It was invented by Corning and was used to make Pyrex cookware and laboratory glassware.
On the other hand, modern Pyrex dishes and pans are made from soda-lime glass. This type of glass is less expensive to produce but offers less resistance to thermal shock than its predecessor. Additionally, several companies now produce Pyrex products, not just Corning.
What Type Do You Have?
Not sure if your Pyrex dishes are made of borosilicate or soda-lime glass? These tips can help:
- Check the bottom of the pan. One of the easiest ways to identify older Pyrex is to look at the text on the bottom of the dish. If it says “Not For Lab Or Stovetop Use – Corning N.Y.”, it’s likely the older borosilicate glass variety.
- Look for the Corning logo. Vintage Pyrex pans often have a Corning logo on the bottom, which can be as simple as the word “Corning” or have a more elaborate design. Older pieces may also have the word Pyrex printed in all caps (PYREX).
- Determine if the pattern is vintage. If your dish has a decorative pattern, it can help you determine the age of the dish. Pyrex Love has a great database of vintage Pyrex patterns and would make a good place to start your search.
Is Pyrex Oven Safe?
The short answer is “yes!” Regardless of age, Pyrex bakeware is safe to use in your oven (and microwave) so long as you avoid sudden, dramatic temperature changes.
That’s the most important thing to know, but there are a few more details worth covering so you can use Pyrex as safely as possible.
When Is Pyrex NOT Oven Safe?
Pyrex glassware is not considered oven-safe if it is cracked or chipped. Even minor imperfections in glass can be worsened by exposure to the heat of an oven.
Are Pyrex Bowls Oven Safe?
Yes, Pyrex mixing bowls are safe to use in a pre-heated oven if they are at room temperature beforehand. As with other Pyrex dishes, you should avoid subjecting glass bowls to sudden temperature changes or direct heat.
Does Pyrex Have A Temperature Limit?
Pyrex is oven-safe at most temperatures used for baking. As a rule of thumb, you can consider Pyrex safe to use up to 425° Fahrenheit (218° Celcius).
Can Pyrex Go From Freezer To Oven?
Modern Pyrex made of soda lime glass can tolerate both hot and cold conditions. However, soda lime glass isn’t as resistant to thermal shock as borosilicate glass, making it more likely to fail when suddenly exposed to dramatically different temperatures.
Sudden temperature changes are the enemy of Pyrex, as thermal shock can compromise the integrity of the glass. You can find plenty of anecdotes and horror stories online about glass dishes cracking, shattering, or even exploding due to thermal shock.
That means you shouldn’t, for example, move a Pyrex dish directly from your freezer to a hot oven, but other temperature change scenarios can be problematic too. It’s also unsafe to place a hot glass dish on a wet countertop because even a thin layer of water can be cool enough to cause the hot glass to shatter!
Can Pyrex Go From Fridge To Oven?
No, your Pyrex dishes should not go straight from the fridge to a hot oven. Putting glass that cold in a hot oven is just asking for trouble!
Instead, allow cold Pyrex dishes to rest on your countertop at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before putting them in your oven.
More Pyrex FAQs
Can You Bake In Pyrex?
Pyrex is great for baking! I’ve made pies, cakes, rolls, and casseroles in my Pyrex baking dishes for years with great results. (For safety’s sake, I suggest using a different type of bakeware when cooking or baking above 425°F.)
Is Pyrex Microwave Safe?
It’s safe to use Pyrex in the microwave to reheat cooked food, but it’s not the best choice for cooking food in a microwave. Avoid microwaving empty or mostly empty Pyrex dishes, and don’t heat Pyrex in your microwave any longer than necessary.
Is Pyrex Dishwasher Safe?
Yes, virtually all Pyrex is dishwasher safe, and you can load it into the top or bottom rack. (Accidentally scorched food in one of your glass dishes? See my advice on removing stains and burnt food from pots and pans!)
Can I Use Pyrex On The Stove, Grill, Or Broiler?
Pyrex is oven-safe and microwave-safe, but it isn’t designed for use on direct heat sources. Do not use Pyrex on stovetops (gas or electric), under broilers, in toaster ovens, or on grills.
4 Tips For Using Pyrex Safely
1. Preheat Your Oven
Some Pyrex dishes say “preheated oven only” right on the bottom, because Pyrex is oven-safe as long as you preheat the oven before putting it in. (This may sound counterintuitive, but according to the Pyrex website, the intensity of heat during preheating may lead to breakage.)
2. Be Careful With Liquid
When cooking foods that may release liquid (like fat, juices, or moisture from frozen foods), add a thin layer of liquid to the bottom of the Pyrex dish before putting it in your oven. This will help minimize temperature changes during cooking and reduce the risk of thermal shock.
Also, don’t add liquid to a hot Pyrex dish or handle it with wet oven mitts or potholders. Ensure oven mitts, cloths, and trivets are completely dry before using them with hot glass.
3. Use Cloth Or Wood
When you take a hot Pyrex dish out of your oven, set it down on a dry kitchen towel, dry cloth potholder, wooden trivet, or a heat-safe cooling rack. Do not place hot Pyrex on wet or cool surfaces of any kind.
4. Let It Come To Room Temperature
Whether you want to store leftovers in the fridge or bake something after chilling it, always allow time for a hot or cold pan to come to room temperature beforehand. It may slow you down a bit, but that’s the point — slow temperature changes are safer temperature changes!
Conclusion
The main takeaway from all of this information is to be gentle when heating and cooling Pyrex dishes. Shocking glass with rapid temperature changes can cause cracks (or worse), so a little bit of patience is a small price to pay!
If any of your Pyrex dishes have chips or cracks, the safest option is to retire them immediately.
More Cookware Tips And Tricks
- Learn how to clean and season cast iron cookware.
- Learn the proper way to clean enameled cookware (like your prized Le Creuset pot!)
- Discover a simple hack for stainless steel pans that stops food from sticking.
- Find out if you’re accidentally ruining your nonstick pans.
- Read about the most effective ways to clean baking sheets.
Do you use Pyrex dishes in your oven?