Pyrex is not the same borosilicate glass that it once was.
http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/...ports-of-shattering-cookware-on-the-rise?lite
http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/...ports-of-shattering-cookware-on-the-rise?lite
Glass Dishes Going to Pieces
- Thread starter tomturbomatic
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At least not in the US
Shame that it appears that the Pyrex name abroad is more true to form, I saw several claims that Arc International is still using Borosilicate glass instead of Soda Lime. Soda Lime glass has a thermal coefficient of expansion of 3 times that of Borosilicate. I'd imagine that no matter how its tempered or annealed, setting a Soda Lime dish hot from the oven on a damp hot pad is a recipe for disaster. Its a pity that the trade name has been weakened.
I'm not sure this is related but a number of years ago a shock went through the astronomy community when we learned that large Pyrex 7740 blanks were no longer being made. These blanks are used for telescope mirrors over 10" typically. The low coefficient of expansion helps insure the mirror holds its figure during thermal excursions. There are other products like Zerodur and Aerosital made in Europe but Pyrex always had the best cost/performance of all of them. Now astronomers with big amateur telescopes have to pay a bit more attention to thermal acclimation.
Shame that it appears that the Pyrex name abroad is more true to form, I saw several claims that Arc International is still using Borosilicate glass instead of Soda Lime. Soda Lime glass has a thermal coefficient of expansion of 3 times that of Borosilicate. I'd imagine that no matter how its tempered or annealed, setting a Soda Lime dish hot from the oven on a damp hot pad is a recipe for disaster. Its a pity that the trade name has been weakened.
I'm not sure this is related but a number of years ago a shock went through the astronomy community when we learned that large Pyrex 7740 blanks were no longer being made. These blanks are used for telescope mirrors over 10" typically. The low coefficient of expansion helps insure the mirror holds its figure during thermal excursions. There are other products like Zerodur and Aerosital made in Europe but Pyrex always had the best cost/performance of all of them. Now astronomers with big amateur telescopes have to pay a bit more attention to thermal acclimation.
*shrug*
It's funny that they took a product whose reputation revolved around its thermal capabilities--fridge to oven. Then they substituted one that needs careful handling. It's not that you can't have a safe, pleasant experience with soda-lime glass, but you have to follow a set of instructions that weren't quite so critical with borosilicate glass.
They'd almost have done better to rename it "Bakex" or something other than Pyrex, to prevent mistaken transference of Pyrex's properties to the new product in the mind of the public, although I'm sure they were riding the wave of Pyrex's famed reputation.
Now, all they can do is tarnish the equity the Pyrex brand would have otherwise had. You know, sort of like Amanatags.
It's funny that they took a product whose reputation revolved around its thermal capabilities--fridge to oven. Then they substituted one that needs careful handling. It's not that you can't have a safe, pleasant experience with soda-lime glass, but you have to follow a set of instructions that weren't quite so critical with borosilicate glass.
They'd almost have done better to rename it "Bakex" or something other than Pyrex, to prevent mistaken transference of Pyrex's properties to the new product in the mind of the public, although I'm sure they were riding the wave of Pyrex's famed reputation.
Now, all they can do is tarnish the equity the Pyrex brand would have otherwise had. You know, sort of like Amanatags.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Um....
....This meme about shattering Pyrex has been making the rounds for some time, and like many memes, there is some truth - but as Mark Twain once said, "the truth with some stretchers."
First, a lot of Pyrex pieces have been made from tempered soda-lime glass since the 1940s; the change from borosilicate glass for all Pyrex pieces is not recent (borosilicate is still used in Europe).
Second, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) has looked into the stories of exploding Pyrex. There are certainly some instances of Pyrex exploding, no argument there. But not a huge number, and when Consumer Reports interviewed over 150 people who claimed thermally-caused breakage, they found that a number of those people admitted that their use of Pyrex was not in accordance with glass bakeware of any kind, including borosilicate.
Snopes.com has also looked into this story, and has found that some parts of the commonly circulated rumors are true, and some untrue. Here's a link, where you can read and judge for yourself:
http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/pyrex.asp
....This meme about shattering Pyrex has been making the rounds for some time, and like many memes, there is some truth - but as Mark Twain once said, "the truth with some stretchers."
First, a lot of Pyrex pieces have been made from tempered soda-lime glass since the 1940s; the change from borosilicate glass for all Pyrex pieces is not recent (borosilicate is still used in Europe).
Second, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) has looked into the stories of exploding Pyrex. There are certainly some instances of Pyrex exploding, no argument there. But not a huge number, and when Consumer Reports interviewed over 150 people who claimed thermally-caused breakage, they found that a number of those people admitted that their use of Pyrex was not in accordance with glass bakeware of any kind, including borosilicate.
Snopes.com has also looked into this story, and has found that some parts of the commonly circulated rumors are true, and some untrue. Here's a link, where you can read and judge for yourself:
http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/pyrex.asp
Vintage
I like the square straight up sides of older Pyrex with full width handles so I'll start picking it for others who may like it. I was never a fan of Fireking but love the old Glasbake. There used to be a French brand with a slight greenish tinge, called Sorvoir I like.
I like the square straight up sides of older Pyrex with full width handles so I'll start picking it for others who may like it. I was never a fan of Fireking but love the old Glasbake. There used to be a French brand with a slight greenish tinge, called Sorvoir I like.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
If You Want to Shatter Some Pyrex, BTW....
....Make the most common mistake of all:
Take a piece from a hot oven, put it down on a dishtowel in lieu of a proper trivet, and make sure that dishtowel is damp. In case anyone's wondering, a damp dishtowel is usually pretty cool.
You'd be amazed how many people don't have a trivet of any kind, and who aren't paying attention to whether the towel is dry.
BOOM![this post was last edited: 12/21/2012-19:35]
....Make the most common mistake of all:
Take a piece from a hot oven, put it down on a dishtowel in lieu of a proper trivet, and make sure that dishtowel is damp. In case anyone's wondering, a damp dishtowel is usually pretty cool.
You'd be amazed how many people don't have a trivet of any kind, and who aren't paying attention to whether the towel is dry.
BOOM![this post was last edited: 12/21/2012-19:35]
whirlcool
Well-known member
Or they take the pan out of the oven and place it on the electric burners on top to cool. Boom! Uneven cooling due to the uneven contact with the burners.
Maybe a lot of stupid younger people confuse any kitchen heat proof glass with pyroceram. If wealth is ever measured in Corning Ware, many of us will be very wealthy.
On a related note . . .
. . . we always remove the dishtowels from the handle on the oven door when we use the oven. A whopping number of exploding oven window tales are traceable to someone draping a damp towel over the handle before departing the kitchen while the window is still hot or the oven is on a self-clean cycle. The fewest, if any, involve a clean dry oven window.
. . . we always remove the dishtowels from the handle on the oven door when we use the oven. A whopping number of exploding oven window tales are traceable to someone draping a damp towel over the handle before departing the kitchen while the window is still hot or the oven is on a self-clean cycle. The fewest, if any, involve a clean dry oven window.
Will it ever F#@$ing end
Pass off a cheap POS product as the real thing and who gives a damn if it is safe or not as long as we can cheat the US consumer out of their money! I'm getting nauseous thinking that my pyrex may really be shit-ware.
WK78
Pass off a cheap POS product as the real thing and who gives a damn if it is safe or not as long as we can cheat the US consumer out of their money! I'm getting nauseous thinking that my pyrex may really be shit-ware.
WK78
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Whirly:
Please click on the Snopes.com link provided - Corning began switching Pyrex bakeware from borosilicate glass to tempered soda-lime glass in the 1940s. It's entirely possible that you've never owned or used a piece of borosilicate Pyrex.
Please click on the Snopes.com link provided - Corning began switching Pyrex bakeware from borosilicate glass to tempered soda-lime glass in the 1940s. It's entirely possible that you've never owned or used a piece of borosilicate Pyrex.
Sandy:
I did click on the link and read the atricle. I think it sucks that they still make the good stuff in Europe but we get the cheapened version. Although I can't complain too much as I've never had one blow up.
WK78
I did click on the link and read the atricle. I think it sucks that they still make the good stuff in Europe but we get the cheapened version. Although I can't complain too much as I've never had one blow up.
WK78
I have plenty of older Corning "Pyrex" bakeware, as well as their white french style baking dishes. Other than the presentation factor, I don't quite see the advantage of glass bake ware. Steel or aluminum gives a better finish/browning, and is far more resilient to rough handling. Other than the glass lids on the French bakeware chipping from being jostled in storage, none of the Pyrex has shattered, but that might be attributable to the fact that I used it mostly for microwave cooking, and rarely in the conventional oven.
[this post was last edited: 12/22/2012-20:59]
[this post was last edited: 12/22/2012-20:59]
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Whirly:
Sadly, we get the cheapened version of a lot of things now.
One of my pet-est peeves is seeing the "Corning Ware" name on inexpensive ceramic bakeware. The Corning Ware name used to stand for one thing, and one thing only - Pyroceram cookware that could withstand freezer-to-burner-to-oven-to-table. The new ceramic pieces cannot, of course, live up to that expectation. Confusing the issue is the fact that there is still Pyroceram Corning Ware available on a limited basis, though it's made in France now instead of the U.S.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where it's assumed we'll respond to respected brand names with our purchase dollars even when the products couldn't possibly live up to the expectations raised by past experiences with those brands.
Sadly, we get the cheapened version of a lot of things now.
One of my pet-est peeves is seeing the "Corning Ware" name on inexpensive ceramic bakeware. The Corning Ware name used to stand for one thing, and one thing only - Pyroceram cookware that could withstand freezer-to-burner-to-oven-to-table. The new ceramic pieces cannot, of course, live up to that expectation. Confusing the issue is the fact that there is still Pyroceram Corning Ware available on a limited basis, though it's made in France now instead of the U.S.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where it's assumed we'll respond to respected brand names with our purchase dollars even when the products couldn't possibly live up to the expectations raised by past experiences with those brands.
Sandy
Unfortunately, this is often what happens when bean counters are allowed to weasel their way into management positions. Too many of them myopically focus on cost and loose sight of the larger picture, wrecking their companies in the process. There's actually a very good movie from 1954 about this subject, called 'Executive Suite'. It's worth a look if you haven't seen it yet.
Unfortunately, this is often what happens when bean counters are allowed to weasel their way into management positions. Too many of them myopically focus on cost and loose sight of the larger picture, wrecking their companies in the process. There's actually a very good movie from 1954 about this subject, called 'Executive Suite'. It's worth a look if you haven't seen it yet.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
David:
I confess I've never seen Executive Suite.
A little June Allyson goes a very long way with me - I try to hold June-sightings down to not more than once per decade.
I will try, but if June's in it, I can't promise I can get through it.
That bad.
I confess I've never seen Executive Suite.
A little June Allyson goes a very long way with me - I try to hold June-sightings down to not more than once per decade.
I will try, but if June's in it, I can't promise I can get through it.
That bad.
Sandy
It's been a while since I last saw this film, so I can't say how often her character appears in it. She plays the wife of one of the main characters, so hers is more of a supporting role. But when I try to think of her in the film, nothing comes to mind. That may be a sign that her role is on the smaller side. For your sake I hope it is. The film makes some very important points regarding the battle between cost and quality that are extremely relevant today, so much so that I think the film should be required viewing for business majors in college. With any luck you'll be able to get through it in spite of June Allyson, but if you can't, I apologize in advance for any suffering you may endure. ; - )
It's been a while since I last saw this film, so I can't say how often her character appears in it. She plays the wife of one of the main characters, so hers is more of a supporting role. But when I try to think of her in the film, nothing comes to mind. That may be a sign that her role is on the smaller side. For your sake I hope it is. The film makes some very important points regarding the battle between cost and quality that are extremely relevant today, so much so that I think the film should be required viewing for business majors in college. With any luck you'll be able to get through it in spite of June Allyson, but if you can't, I apologize in advance for any suffering you may endure. ; - )
Wow ALLEN
thank you for that point, I have always taken my baked chicken out of the oven and placed it directly on the burner to cool properly figuring the ceramic element with the air gaps was the best place for it. So far Mom's pyrex has never ever shattered but why risk it. Dry towel from now on.
And I do hang damp towels on the oven door, never thought of that one!!
thank you for that point, I have always taken my baked chicken out of the oven and placed it directly on the burner to cool properly figuring the ceramic element with the air gaps was the best place for it. So far Mom's pyrex has never ever shattered but why risk it. Dry towel from now on.
And I do hang damp towels on the oven door, never thought of that one!!
