Can I Put Glass In The Oven? [Pyrex or Otherwise]

CRYSTAL H.  | ,   |   Updated
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“Are glass bowls oven safe?” is a relevant question, given reports of consumer complaints about glass bowls, even Pyrex, exploding and causing potential injury. Read on for what you need to know…

Do you have glassware, a glass bowl, jug, or lid, and wondering can glass go in the oven? The answer is yes but it could also be no — there’s more to it. Here’s my definitive guide on using glass in the oven. This includes Pyrex which you might not know consists of two types.

My newer pyrex jug

Yep, there are two types of Pyrex and these differ when it comes to handling change in temperature and direct heating. If you’re like me, you think — pyrex oven safe glass — it can go in the oven without cracking.

I’m thinking back to my mom’s dishes when Pyrex by Corning was popular. But today’s Pyrex is not the same. I did some research…

>>> To avoid confusion, this article answers questions in relation to Pyrex ® as sold in the US, Asia, and Latin America, but further down I explain the two different types.

Glass in the oven

Glass can go in the oven if it is the tempered type. What temperature is Pyrex safe in oven? Tempered glass is oven safe to 450 ºF. Pyrex is tempered glass.

In general, a lot of cookware have glass lids and these can go in the oven safely up to this temperature or otherwise stated by the manufacturer.

As a guide, the below table indicates the temperatures for different materials, including toughened (tempered) glass. Handles are often what limit use in the oven, as I explain in my article on putting that stovetop pot in the oven.

Chart-can-you-put-that-pot-in-the-oven

Pyrex and heating / Cooling

The Pyrex safety and usage guide clearly states not to use Pyrex with direct heat. Examples of placement they say to avoid

What not to do with Pyrex glass bowls

  • X don’t pour cold water into a hot glass bowl or dish
  • X don’t put a hot glass bowl onto a cold stone or marble countertop
  • X don’t take a glass bowl from a fridge to a hot oven
  • X don”t put a Pyrex baking dish in cold water straight out of the oven

Are Pyrex bowls oven safe? Is Pyrex oven safe? Can Pyrex go in the oven?

Yes, Pyrex can go in the oven. But there are a few precautions to avoid damaging your glassware. One is to preheat the oven first.

Another is to make sure liquid covers the bottom of the glass dish before it goes in the oven with fatty or frozen foods. This will help reduce any potential thermal shock as the contents release fluid into the bowl.

If the Pyrex dish is already hot, don’t add liquid to it as this may compromise it’s strength.

Can I bake in Pyrex glass bowls?

It depends on the particular product whether you can bake in pyrex glass bowls. Theoretically you can if it’s tempered glass, but Pyrex bowls are made for storing and for mixing.

My advice is that it’s safer to use glass dishes specifically designed for baking. I would not want to risk the bowl cracking and glass splinters contaminating my food.

Can Pyrex go from fridge to oven?

No. You risk exposing Pyrex to thermal shock and shattering the glass if you take it direct from the fridge to the oven.

To be safe, let it come to room temperature for about an hour to allow for gradual change in temperature and avoid thermal shock.

Can Pyrex go in a 450 degree oven?

Yes as Pyrex is tempered glass, it can go in a 450 ºF oven. Make sure to preheat the oven before putting in the Pyrex dish and also follow the other tips above for safe oven use.

Can Pyrex go in the oven at 375?

Yes as tempered glass is safe in the oven up to 450 ºF, Pyrex can go in a 375 ºF. Make sure to preheat oven first and follow other safety instructions by the manufacturer.

Can you put Pyrex in a preheated oven?

Yes. You can put Pyrex in a preheated oven. This is recommended. As otherwise placing a pyrex dish in a cold oven and then heating it risks exposing some parts of the dish to intense radiant heat as the oven heats up.

What is Pyrex?

Pyrex is a brand name of glassware, first marketed by Corning. Actually, today the trademark of pyrex ® (lowercase) in the US is licensed to Instant Brands, (who are better known for their Instant Pots) while in Europe, PYREX ® (uppercase) is licensed to International Cookware.

Confused? It all changed some decades ago and then again when Corning moved to manufacturing and marketing industrial products.

Older clear Pyrex was made of borosilicate glass and this type is still made in France in Châteauroux and sold in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Since 1980, pyrex in the US, Asia and Latin America, comprised a cheaper tempered soda-lime glass composite.

My older PYREX jug

Did you know, the older borosilicate glass outperforms the soda lime composite in durability and resilience to thermal shock (caused by rapid heat change).

It’s worth noting however that the soda-lime glass used in the US pyrex is tempered for heat resistance.

Professor Delbert Day, a materials scientist and engineer, stated “tempered soda lime is not designed to withstand extreme temperature changes the way borosilicate is”. Professor Mauro gave the measure of thermal shock resistance, CTE, of the two, with the higher the number having less resilience to thermal shock.

Glass typeCTE
(ppm/K)
Borosilicate1
Soda-lime9–9.5
CTE: coefficient of thermal expansion. Source: Dr John Mauro, Professor of Engineering cited in Gizmodo

ConsumerAffairs.com was the first to report on the dangers of exploding Pyrex dishes in a December 2005 story that reported six peculiar and frightening stories of consumers whose Pyrex baking dishes spontaneously exploded

Consumer Affairs 2008

Bottom line

I love my Pyrex mixing bowls, jugs, and baking dishes. At the same time, I am aware that these don’t hold up to the rigors of the original Pyrex glassware and I treat them with care to avoid thermal shock much the same as I do all my cookware for even metal and ceramic ware can be compromised by thermal stress.

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