cintinative Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 I have never had Pyrex explode/shatter on me, but over the past five years I have been using glassware almost exclusively for storage. I didn't know they had changed the way they make Pyrex. FYI. eta: This article is from last November so maybe this is common knowledge? https://www.bhg.com/news/pyrex-thermal-shock-resistance/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 It explains a lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 I heard something about it a couple years ago. Last year I looked up info on it because I was going to be refrigerating some stuff to heat on the day of a big meal and wanted to know if I could go straight to the oven or need to let it set out. Some of my dishes are the older kind that I got when I got married, but some are newer and I don't know which is which. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Yes, I knew that. I have some Pyrex from my grandmother and wedding gifts 20+ years ago, and it's definitely sturdier. I've broken several newer Pyrex items in the last few years while the old ones just go on and on. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 It just seems flimsier. But since the destruction of more of them will help them sell more, it's hardly surprising. Our culture around disposable stuff is really going to destroy us. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 They made the change many years ago. It's no longer our mothers' Pyrex. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 It’s why I’m babying every piece I got as a wedding gift or a hand-me-down from grandparents. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted May 6, 2019 Author Share Posted May 6, 2019 I have had some of our pyrex glassware crack off small pieces along the edges. I am guessing this is why. I thought it was from the dishwasher. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 9 minutes ago, cintinative said: I have had some of our pyrex glassware crack off small pieces along the edges. I am guessing this is why. I thought it was from the dishwasher. Same! I wonder if there's a better brand out there...? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 I remember at one time hearing that the only "real" Pyrex (made with borosilicate glass) you can find in the US is in glassware made for scientific uses (beakers, etc). For the past couple decades, US Pyrex has been made of sodalime glass. According to the following video from Consumer Reports, European Pyrex is still made with borosilicate. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Does this include Corningware, does anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Yes, the change happened around 1998 with the bulk of the new product ware being introduced right around 2000. They went from borosilicate glass to tempered soda lime. They claimed it had a higher mechanical strength and was this great improvement.....but it's been horrid. My worst shattered Pyrex experience happened in 2003 (before the shattering was well known) in which very pregnant me had two full lasagnas shatter going from fridge to oven. I was due to take a lasagna to a friend who had just delivered her baby. The lasagna burned all over the inside of my oven and it was just so very, very horrid that my bestie came over to clean up my oven because the fire alarm was going off, I was too pregnant to deal with it, and I had a toddler kid who was crying from the loud alarm. Like, truly, I still wince thinking about it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 CorningWare had major reformulations in 2001 and 2009(?). The Pyrex changes happened from CorningWare acquiring Pyrex. Corningware also sold off good chunks of its consumer products. Most post-2001 CorningWare stuff is actually stoneware. So....depends on the dates of your stuff. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Is there a way to tell if a dish is the old or new kind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Oh yes. I knew it was different. I got quite the education after a 9 x 13 cake pan literally exploded all over my kitchen when it was accidentally set on a hot burner. Glass nuggets EVERYWHERE, and I was super grateful that I had walked just far enough away... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Does it shatter better now though? I only ever managed to break one of the old ones, but wow, the slivers were impossible to clean all up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ealp2009 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 I have had two pieces shatter /explode recently, one was just sitting in the sink but it had been chipped for a while so maybe somehow it was compromised. But there was no temperature change. The other one I set on the counter from the oven and it exploded. Older might be better but avoid the vintage painted stuff because it generally has super high lead content https://tamararubin.com/category/leaded-pyrex/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 53 minutes ago, athena1277 said: Is there a way to tell if a dish is the old or new kind? Yes, there are a number of videos and websites out there on how to tell if your dish is borosilicate or tempered soda lime. There are changes in the typeface of the Pyrex label and you can tell by looking at the glass itself. Since there have been so many iterations, I'm going to point you towards googling rather than try to summarize that all here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 38 minutes ago, Farrar said: Does it shatter better now though? I only ever managed to break one of the old ones, but wow, the slivers were impossible to clean all up. No, IME, it shatters worse. Borosilicate is stronger, harder, more acid-resistant, and more durable. Tempered soda lime is more frangible--meaning it breaks up into smaller pieces (shatters) rather than breaking into larger chunks. Heads up, Instant Pot was recently purchased by Corelle/Corning Ware/Pyrex..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 I guess I'm glad all my corningware is ancient. Thanks for the information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 (edited) Oh, second heads up, borosilicate 9x13 pans are still available for purchase new.... OXO makes a 9x13. There are several other optional available on amazon or at higher end stores. ETA link: https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Freezer-Oven-Baking/dp/B019FHD0FK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=borosilicate+9x13&qid=1557175122&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Edited May 6, 2019 by prairiewindmomma 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 Thanks, cintinative! Can I also just say I love the link in the article to vintage Pyrex tattoos?!? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 16 hours ago, Farrar said: Does it shatter better now though? I only ever managed to break one of the old ones, but wow, the slivers were impossible to clean all up. I recently dropped a (new) Pyrex bowl and glass flew into 2 other rooms. My son said it seemed like the bowl exploded when it hit the counter. I'm sure I'll be finding glass for ages. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyBC Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 On 5/6/2019 at 12:32 PM, athena1277 said: Is there a way to tell if a dish is the old or new kind? https://icedteapitcher.myshopify.com/pages/borosilicate-pyrex-vs-soda-lime-pyrex?fbclid=IwAR0MSLAEIpC_Qy9cykSAi6vF8B5hey0or9Frx9zhdynb-sNiJkGT6wUd39k I read this article a couple of years ago. My newer pyrex measuring cup (with lower case letters) has all the numbers worn off and is pretty useless. My older pyrex measuring cup (with upper case letters) is still perfectly legible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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