Pots, pans, skillets, and bakeware come in many materials. Copper pans and aluminum are the best heat conductors. But glass cookware is a versatile and practical option for baking, microwaving, food storage, and serving various dishes. Its transparency, non-reactive surface, and suitability for various cooking methods make it a valuable addition to any kitchen. However, it’s essential to handle it with care and avoid abrupt temperature changes to prevent breakage and ensure its longevity. That’s where good glass cookware brands come in for even heat in the oven and being easy to clean.
1. When to Use Glass Cookware
Glass cookware is a popular choice for various cooking tasks due to its versatility, transparency, and non-reactive properties. Here are some situations when using glass cookware is particularly beneficial:
- Baking: Glass cookware, such as glass baking dishes and pie plates, is ideal for baking casseroles, lasagnas, brownies, cakes, and pies. The transparent nature of glass allows you to monitor the browning and cooking progress easily, ensuring even baking throughout.
- Microwaving: Glass cookware is microwave-safe, making it suitable for reheating leftovers, cooking microwave-friendly recipes, and steaming vegetables. You can use glass containers with microwave-safe lids for convenient food storage and reheating.
- Food Storage: Glass containers with airtight lids are excellent for storing leftovers, pre-prepared meals, and pantry items. Glass does not retain stains or odors from food, providing a clean and hygienic storage solution.
- Marinating: Glass dishes are great for marinating meats, poultry, and seafood, as the non-reactive surface won’t interact with acidic marinades.
- Serving: Presenting dishes in glass cookware is visually appealing, especially for layered desserts, salads, and dips. The transparent nature of glass allows the colors and textures of the food to be showcased.
- Freezing: Glass cookware is freezer-safe, making it suitable for freezing soups, sauces, and other dishes for later use. Ensure you leave enough headspace in the container to allow for expansion during freezing.
- Oven-to-Table: Glass cookware often features stylish designs, making it suitable for oven-to-table serving. You can prepare and bake dishes directly in the glassware and then serve them straight from the oven to the dining table.
- Non-Reactive Surface: Glass is non-reactive and won’t leach any chemicals or metallic tastes into your food. This makes it an excellent choice for cooking and serving acidic dishes with tomatoes, vinegar, or citrus.
2. When Not to Use Glass Cookware
There are a few considerations to keep in mind when using glass cookware:
- Temperature Changes: Avoid extreme temperature changes to prevent thermal shock, which could cause the glass to crack. For example, don’t transfer a hot glass dish directly to a cold surface or add cold liquid to a hot glass dish.
- Handling: Be cautious when handling hot glass cookware, as it retains heat for longer than other materials. Always use oven mitts or pot holders to handle hot glass dishes.
- Cooking on Stovetop: While glass cookware is suitable for oven use, it is not designed for direct stovetop cooking, especially on open flames. Excessive heat can lead to breakage.
3. Advantages Cooking with Glass Cookware
Glass is free of chemicals with no BPA since it has no plastic in it. It’s recyclable and ecological for the environment. It’s healthy to use and I have much of it in my kitchen.
Cooking with glass cookware offers several advantages that make it a popular choice in many kitchens. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Even Heat Distribution: Glass cookware distributes heat evenly, ensuring that your food cooks uniformly. This property is particularly beneficial for baking, as it helps achieve consistent browning and cooking throughout the dish.
- Visual Monitoring: The transparent nature of glass allows you to see the food while it’s cooking. You can easily check the progress of your dish without opening the oven or lifting the lid, which helps prevent overcooking or burning.
- Non-Reactive Surface: Glass is non-reactive and won’t interact with acidic or alkaline ingredients. This makes it an excellent choice for cooking recipes that include tomatoes, citrus, vinegar, or other acidic components, as it won’t alter the taste or quality of the food.
- Versatility: Glass cookware is versatile and can be used for a wide range of cooking tasks, including baking, roasting, microwaving, and serving. You can prepare and cook dishes directly in the glassware and then use it as a serving dish, reducing the number of dishes you need to clean.
- Microwave-Safe: Glass cookware is microwave-safe, allowing you to reheat leftovers or cook certain recipes directly in the microwave. This convenience makes it a practical choice for quick and easy meal preparation.
- Easy to Clean: Glass is relatively easy to clean and doesn’t retain stains or odors from cooking. Most glass cookware is dishwasher-safe, saving you time and effort in the kitchen.
- Food Storage: Glass containers with airtight lids are excellent for food storage. They provide a safe and hygienic way to store leftovers, pre-prepared meals, and pantry items without worrying about plastic leaching or staining.
- Oven-to-Table: Many glass cookware designs are stylish and attractive, making them suitable for oven-to-table serving. You can prepare and bake dishes directly in the glassware and then serve them straight from the oven to the dining table, enhancing the presentation of your meals.
- Freezer-Safe: Glass cookware is freezer-safe, allowing you to freeze soups, sauces, and other dishes for later use. It helps preserve the freshness and flavor of the food.
- Durable: High-quality glass cookware is generally durable and resistant to scratches and stains. With proper care, it can last for a long time.
4. Disadvantages of Glass Cookware and How to Overcome
While glass cookware offers several advantages, it also has some disadvantages that should be considered before using it in the kitchen:
- Fragility: Glass cookware is more fragile than other materials, such as metal or ceramic. To overcome this, handle glass cookware with care and avoid sudden impacts or drops. Place a soft cloth or silicone mat on the countertop to provide a cushioned surface when placing hot glass cookware down.
- Heat Retention: Glass retains heat for longer, making it difficult to handle immediately after cooking. To overcome this, use oven mitts or pot holders when handling hot glass cookware. Allow the cookware to cool slightly before moving or washing it.
- Uneven Heating on Stovetop: Glass cookware is not ideal for direct stovetop use on gas or open-flame stoves. To overcome this limitation, use a diffuser or heat spreader to distribute heat more evenly and reduce the risk of hotspots.
- Thermal Shock: Avoid exposing glass cookware to extreme temperature changes. Allow hot glass cookware to cool down gradually before refrigerating, and vice versa. Preheat the oven with the glass cookware inside rather than adding the cookware to a hot oven.
- Limited Browning: To achieve better browning in glass cookware, preheat the oven with the cookware inside. You can also increase the oven temperature slightly or finish cooking under the broiler for a short period to achieve desired browning.
- Cooking Time: Glass cookware may require longer cooking times due to its slower heat transfer. To overcome this, plan for a slightly longer cooking time, or use recipes specifically designed for glass cookware.
- Not Suitable for Broiling: Avoid using glass cookware under the broiler or with direct high-temperature heat. If you want to achieve browning or a crispy top, transfer the dish to a metal broiler-safe pan for a short period under the broiler.
- Heavyweight: Choose glass cookware with manageable sizes and shapes to reduce weight. If handling heavier glass cookware is challenging, consider using smaller pieces or those with handles for easier maneuverability.
- Limited Versatility with Induction Cooktops: If you have an induction cooktop, look for glass cookware with a magnetic base or use alternative induction-compatible cookware.
- Not Suitable for Metal Utensils: To avoid scratching or chipping the glass surface, use non-metallic utensils, such as silicone, wood, or nylon tools.
Top 10 Best Glass Pots and Pans Cookware
Brussel sprouts casserole not only looks good, it is good baked in glass. It is covered with bacon and cheese and goes straight from the oven to the table.
1. Libbey® Baker’s Basics Covered Casserole Set, 6-Piece
The Libbey® brand makes glass cookware and tabletop items for your everyday celebrations. Model number 56030 on Amazon.com® is a best-selling set of covered glass casseroles with lids that you will enjoy as much as I do. These can be stored in the fridge and freezer with the lids on and then rewarmed in the microwave without a problem and they are dishwasher safe.
These are the best for baking and roasting in glass bakeware sets. Make delicious creamy macaroni and cheese, baked chicken and meat, and deserts easily with this set. I make Jell-O® with fruit for my kids and it sets up beautifully with the lid on in the fridge then is gobbled up within a day!
In the oven you can see all sides when baking. You can cook in the microwave as well. The size and dimensions are embossed on the handles. The glass is lead-free and cadmium-free. The maximum oven temperature is 425-degrees F.
Your set includes 1 each round (not oval) 1-quart-, 2-quart-, and 3.2-quart glass casseroles with lids for each one.
The 3 sizes measure: small 6-3/4-inch diameter x 2-3/4-inches deep; medium 8-1/2 inches diameter x 3-inches deep; and the large is 10-inches diameter x 3-1/4-inches deep.
Never use this best glass bakeware set with lids on the cook stove top or under the broiler! They will crack and break from the extreme temperature.
The casseroles can nest inside each other and the lids work best in a slide-out lid holder.
Customer satisfaction is Libbey’s® goal. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return the merchandise to the Toledo Libbey Factory Outlet location, 205 South Erie Street, Toledo, Ohio 43604, within 45-days of purchase, or contact them at [email protected], or 1-888-794-8469, notifying them and providing a reason for the return. These are made in Monterrey, Mexico.
2. Anchor Hocking® Oven Basics Glass Baking Dishes, Mixed 15-Piece Set
Anchor Hocking® began in 1905 near the Hocking River in Lancaster, Ohio, USA, and is a household name in best glass cookware items, and after 115 years, their glass is still proudly American made!
Their Tempered-Tough Glass™ is built to last and is safe in the microwave, pre-heated oven, freezer, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Glass does not stain or absorb odors.
Be sure to thaw food coming out of the freezer before putting in the oven.
This Anchor Hocking® mixed set of glass bakeware set, model 82210OBL5, contains:
- 1 each 2-quart 8-x11-inch baking dish
- 1 each 1. 5-quart casserole dish with glass cover
- 1 each 1. 5-quart loaf baking dish, 4- x 11.5-inches x 3.5-inches deep
- 1 each 1-quart mixing bowl
- 1 each 9-inch pie plate
- 1 each 8-ounce measuring cup
- 4 each 6-ounce custard cups with 4 plastic lids
The weight is 15.75-pounds.
The glass is lead, cadmium, and heavy-metal-free, and the lids are bisphenol A (BPA)-free and safe to clean on the top rack of your dishwasher.
The baking temperature is 425-degrees F/218-degrees C.
Anchor Hocking® bakeware cannot be used on top of the stove, grill, toaster oven, or under a broiler or use under a flame or other direct heat source.
Anchor Hocking® baking glass is healthier than metal and plastic and will not warp, stain, retain smells, or leach dangerous chemicals into food.
The plastic lids can be used in the microwave but not in the oven.
The glass is not borosilicate glass—it is made from tempered soda-lime-silicate glass.
The shipping weight is 17.4-pounds. You will receive instructions and a 5-year Warranty. The glass is made in the USA.
Anchor Hocking® Bakeware – Tips for Success video.
3. Pyrex® Easy Grab® Pie Plate, 9.5-Inches
The Pyrex® Easy Grab® Pie Plate, 9.5-inches comes with 2 each plates for all your pies, quiches, and more. The fluted edges give you an edge on a crimped piecrust. It is a #1 best seller on Amazon.com® and is affordable for both of them.
To not be confused, they have no handles. The easy grab simply means they are easy to grab under the fluted edges.
Who makes only one pie at a time for their family? You can make freezer, cookie crumb or graham cracker crumb pies, no bake, or bake the traditional flour pie shells.
These are dishwasher safe even on the lower rack. They can be kept in the fridge and used in the microwave and oven.
Do not use pie plates on the stove top ever! They will shatter and break and could explode.
There is never BPA in glass; glass is now lead-free everywhere.
This blueberry cream pie looks absolutely delicious with a crumb crust and meringue on top.
These won’t stain or absorb flavors and odors since they are made of glass.
The outside dimensions are 11-1/4-inches diameter x 2-inches deep; the inner dimensions are 9-1/2-inches diameter x 1-3/4-inches deep. The volume is 56-ounces and the weight is 1.8-pounds.
You will receive instructions and 2-year Limited Warranty on the Pyrex® glass pie plates. Pyrex® glass is proudly made in the USA.
The Pyrex® Easy Grab® 9.5-inch pie plate review video.
4. Emile Henry HR Modern Classics Pie Deep Dish, 9-Inch
Emile Henry makes exquisite pie plates since 1850 in France. I selected this pie dish because it is deep for those chocolate pies and fruit pies you love. It makes good chicken pot pies too! Use it for quiche, casseroles, serving vegetables, and more.
The pie plate is inexpensive made of high-fired burgundy clay using Emile Henry’s HR ceramic (high resistance) and it has even heat diffusion and heat retention. See the item model number 556121 on Amazon.com® in lovely colors to match or coordinate with your kitchen or dinner China.
It is 10.25-inches in diameter x 2-inches deep. Use in the oven up to 520-degrees F., in the broiler, and microwave. Can go in the fridge or freezer then go to a hot oven to the table.
No, it’s not non-stick; it’s ceramic with a hard glaze that won’t scratch or craze. Clean in the dishwasher or by hand with dish detergent and warm water.
You will receive a 10-year Warranty against manufacturing defects when used in a household environment. The pie dish is made in France.
5. Pyrex® Easy Grab® Casserole Glass Bakeware Dish with Glass Lid, 2-Quart
Pyrex® of course makes these easy to grab large ergo handles for removing the lid and taking the casserole out of the oven. The Amazon.com® model number 1085801 is also available in a 2-pack for the 2-quart casseroles. These are affordable, will not warp or stain and never absorb food tastes and odors. The gorgeous glass bakeware casserole with lid is durable and classic.
Create delicious casseroles, meat loaf, chicken, beef, and fish in a beautiful looking dish that you can take right to the dinner table. Make no-knead bread or if you’re ambitious, make bread that you knead by hand and bake in the glass bakeware Pyrex®.
Make cakes, brownies, pound cakes and cobblers in the dish with no problems. Put the lid on and store in the fridge or freezer.
Make escalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, lasagna, and bake whole small vegetables.
The maximum glass cookware temperature is 490-degrees F.
The outside of the casserole is 12-1/2-inches long x 8-1/8-inches wide x 3-inches high and the glass lid is 11.6-inches long x 8.1-inches wide x 1-inch high; assembled it’s 12-1/2-inches long x 8-1/8-inches wide x 3.5-inches high; and the inside is 9-inches wide x 7-1/8-long x 2-5/8-inches high.
You will receive instructions and a 2-year Limited Warranty on the Pyrex® glass. Pyrex® glass is proudly made in the USA.
6. CorningWare™ Visions® Dutch Oven, 5-Quart
CorningWare™ has been making glass cookware since 1958 and is a superb cookware company. Their CorningWare™ Visions® Dutch oven item number 1055278 on Amazon.com® cooks on the stove top, in the oven, and microwave. The see-through glass lets you see what’s cooking at a glance.
Cook on electric, gas, and not induction because there are no magnets on the bottom inside of the glass.
This round 5-liter (5.2-quart) Dutch oven can be used as a serving dish and can be stored in the refrigerator and freezer. Two handles are on each side for easy lifting with a knob on top for the lid.
It is made of a non-porous glass-ceramic material that will not absorb food flavors or odors and will never leach with acid-based foods.
It is total convenience to you being dishwasher safe, and able to be used in the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven, broiler, and stovetop. The temperature can go to 500-degrees F.
The outside dimensions are 12-5/8-inches diameter x 5-1/4-inches tall. The Dutch oven weighs 5-pounds and 15-ounces. The lid is 10-1/8-inches x 4-3/4-inches.
You will receive instructions and a 10-year Limited Warranty. The pot is made in France and the lid is made in China.
CorningWare™ Visions® Glass Ceramic cookware video.
7. CorningWare® Stovetop™ Pyroceram® Blue Cornflower Casserole, 4-Piece Set
The CorningWare® Stovetop™ Pyroceram® new vintage Blue Cornflower glass ceramic casserole set is a Limited Edition and the best set ever! I’ve had this same 2-piece set for over 20-years, and it is just like the day I bought them. This is a CorningWare® glass collectible to pass to the next generation.
The set came with handles when I bought it to lift on and off the stove. Yes, these are stove top safe for gas and electric cooktops, but not on induction because there are no magnets inside the cookware. Use in the toaster oven and microwave.
Pyro relates to fire and ceram refers to ceramic therefore the name, Pyroceram®. It was developed in the 1950s by Corning® Inc.
The item number A-423C-BF on Amazon.com® is a stovetop set from the past and still today. This set was made by Corning® in 1958. This set is durable, chip resistant and can be used in the oven, broiler, microwave, and stored in the refrigerator to rewarm again.
The set includes a 2.11-quart casserole with Pyrex® glass lid, and a 3.17-quart casserole with Pyrex® glass lid.
Be sure to preheat your oven before putting the casserole dishes in. These are dishwasher safe, yet I wash mine by hand to maintain the bright blue cornflower colors.
Being non-porous, the surface does not absorb food odors, flavors or stains. I do not use sharp knives to cut anything baked because it will make marks forever in the bottom. I use and highly recommend wood, rubber, or silicone spatulas or serving spoons for this cookware.
Gift-wrapping is available for someone you know that loves this blue cornflower casserole set. You will receive a 10-year Limited Warranty on Pyroceram® bakeware and a 2-year Limited Warranty on the Pyrex® glass lids. These are made in France and Corningware™ is located in New York, USA.
CorningWare® Stovetop™ Pyroceram® Blue Cornflower Casserole, 4-Piece set review video.
8. OXO Good Grips Glass Bake, Serve, and Store, 14-Piece Set
The OXO model number 11182400 glass with snap-on-lids for the small round containers is a top seller on Amazon.com.
This OXO bakeware is also available in a 14-piece set, 16-piece set, and single pieces with or without lids.
The borosilicate glass bakeware assures you that it can go directly from the freezer to the stove’s oven never needing to be thawed out and never breaking.
The 14-piece clear glass set includes:
- 1 each glass 3-quart 9×13-inch baking dish.
- 1 each glass 2-quart 8×8-inch baking dish.
- 1 each glass 8.5-x4.5-inch loaf pan for meatloaf and bread baking.
- 1 each glass pie plate that is 10.25-inches rim-to-rim, 8-inches at the bottom, and 2-inches deep being more heavy-duty and deeper than the average pie dish.
- 1 each 1-cup round smart seal snap container with lid.
- 1 each 2-cup round smart seal snap container with lid.
- and 4 Cup Round Smart Seal Container with lid.
Freezer-to-Oven safe Bakeware and storage containers are made from borosilicate glass to withstand extreme temperature changes without the risk of cracking or shattering.
Generous handles provide a safe and secure grip while taking dishes from the freezer to the oven, rotating them while baking, and bringing them to the table.
Smart Seal Containers are leak proof to keep food fresh and liquids contained when all four tabs are locked.
Convenient BPA-free baking dish lids are sloshproof to prevent spilling leftovers while storing or on the go and protects top food layers from getting squashed – no matter how tall your lasagna is.
Glass Baking Dishes and Smart Seal Containers are microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, freezer-safe, BPA-free and PVC-free.
The set weighs 17.5-pounds with Dimensions is 20 x 10 x 15 inches.
The see-through lids count as one piece and are mint green.
The snap-on lids are leakproof when all tabs are locked down in place and I love these for storing small items as leftovers to heat up in the microwave with lids off. The lids are heavy-duty plastic. The lids can go into the freezer but not into the oven!
The best glass bakeware sets and snap containers are microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, freezer-safe, lead-free, bisphenol A (BPA)-free and polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC)-free lids. You cannot put this glass cookware under the broiler or on top of the stove.
OXO guarantees its cookware and the set is made in China.
Tips for Using Glass Bakeware
- First thing to do is to read the manufacturer’s User’s Manual or Instruction Booklet that comes with the product you bought. There is a lot of good information there for how to take care of your item. Also read the WARNING label on the item.
- Always wash your item before using the first time.
- Don’t put hot glass cook or bakeware directly on a cold or wet surface that can cause the glass to crack and break. Never put into cool water or any water until it’s at room temperature. Sit the glass pots, pans, and bakeware on a towel, pot holder, or trivet.
- Don’t put glass bakeware immediately from the freezer to the oven; it can crack. Let it come to room temperature.
- Don’t put hot food in glass or any other container to the freezer or refrigerator until it is at room temperature. Not only can the glass break, but any hot food makes the refrigerator run longer to cool the food.
- Let your oven preheat to the temperature it will bake at before putting in top-quality glass bakeware. This is good to do for metal pans as well to ensure baking accuracy.
- Don’t add hot or cold liquid to your glass cookware that will cause the glass to expand or contract and shatter, crack, and break possibly exploding.
- Cover the bottom of the glass cookware with the liquid you plan to use with your meat or veggies. If you need to add more liquid later, heat it on the stove top or in the microwave, then add.
- Glass bakeware should never be used in the oven hotter than 350-degrees F., unless it’s ceramic such as the CorningWare® Stovetop™ Pyroceram® Blue Cornflower Casserole reviewed above.
- Never ever use glass baking dishes on the stove top or directly under the hot broiler! These will break. Glass baking dishes are for oven use only.
- Throw out or recycle any glass bakeware that is cracked, chipped, or heavily scratched since these can possibly shatter. Don’t take risks with it because it can explode.
- The information above applies to glass teapots on the burner and anything made of glass.
- Know that today’s glass does not have lead in it. BPA (bisphenol A) is never in glass because that chemical is used in some plastics, never glass.
Final Thoughts
The best glass cookware, glass pots and pans and glass ovenware are very safe to use with a little common sense. Even with metal pots and pans, you never want to add cold water to a hot pan that can warp the bottom to never be flat again. Glass ceramic cookware is a little more forgiving when adding hot or cold liquids later in the cooking process. In additional, cooking with glass cookware provides even heat distribution, visual monitoring, and a non-reactive surface for preparing a wide variety of dishes. Its versatility, microwave and dishwasher-safe properties, and ease of cleaning make it a convenient and practical choice in the kitchen. Whether you’re baking, microwaving, serving, or storing food, glass cookware is a valuable and reliable option for everyday cooking needs.
Leave a question, comment, or idea in the comment box below for a quick reply to each one of you. Happy shopping with above glass cookware reviews article!
Glass Cookware Dangers from CBS News video.
