Oh, you lucky blighters!

[joeekaitis]

I'm talking about YOU in the UK! You can STILL buy stovetop CorningWare while we Yanks have to settle for stoneware labeled "CorningWare" that goes to pieces with normal everyday use.

The "glass-ceramic" part (they don't call it Pyroceram) appears to be Arcoflam by Arcoroc, once sold in the USA by Village Kitchen, topped with American-made Pyrex lids.

And, just like the dear departed CorningWare Pyroceram, British CorningWare has a 10-year warranty on the pans, 2 years on the lids.

Bugger!

http://www.worldkitchen.co.uk/SubCategory.aspx?CatId=29

 

[panthera]

Ah, Joe,

Your can add the Netherlands and Germany to your hate list.

The only people who can't get it anymore are the Americans.

(speaks and runs)

If it makes you feel any better, my American stuff from the 1960's and 70's is of enormously better quality.

 

[joeekaitis]

My consolation:

Cathy bought two pieces of French White Pyroceram from probably the final production run before we were married. Still looks like new.

 

[petek]

Must be new to the UK from the sounds of it

Looks like there also flogging the Visions lineup as well. We had a set of Visions years ago. I never liked it and tossed it all when we moved after it languished unused in the cupboard forever. Way too heavy and slow, sort of like regular white Corningware but not as pretty. I'm not even that big a white Corningware fan only for it's vintageyness LOL

 

[panthera]

Vision

I had a Vision pan explode (was only boiling water, thank goodness) back in the early '90s. Put a sudden end to my love affair with the material.

I never encountered anything which was as difficult to clean.

Ever.

The 'traditional' pyroceram is kinda neat, tho'. I like to cook foods which are highly acidic or will be cooking for many many hours in this material. Stainless Steel from China, hmmm - wonder just how much free nasties are in those alloys.

 

[j2400]

I have mixed feelings about the Visions line. It needs careful handling, or else the pans break. The plain pans were hard to clean. On the plus side, though, they were, as I recall, dirt cheap. And they were probably better, overall, than most dirt cheap pans. (Think: stainless steel that's paper thin, and can burn water, no matter how careful one is. Or non-stick alumimnum, which is thin, and has a non-stick coating that doens't last, and is easily scratched, exposing the aluminum.)

 

[launderess]

Knew Arcoroc, was behind this somewhere, see my post under "Swedish Meatballs" thread.

Was never really big on Corningware, though my mother's generations swears by the stuff. As for the Vision's line, had one large pot, which was mainly used for cooking rice and even then it was hard to keep clean. Got chucked into the rubbish and never bothered with the stuff again.

Being as all this may, am going to try some of the Corningware microwave browning stuff, but don't see the need for the "Electromatic" skillet. Do not need yet another Johnny One Note cooking applinace at the moment. Though the thought of a portable induction cooktop has been stirring in my mind.

 

[launderess]

From The Freezer, To The Oven, To The Table

IIRC,

Dow Corning sold off "Corningware" and "Corelle" ages ago in the United States. Just wasn't that much demand for the stuff, versus cost of production.

Many people do not realise much of the "new" Corningware (and by new we mean stuff produced late in the US production run as well), is not range top safe, as the older stuff was. Strictly broiler, microwave heating only.

 

[petek]

I guess that's why they're flogging it over in Euroland now. Can you imagine the language of some German Hausfrau when she finds her sugary strudel burned in a Corningware dish and tries to clean it LOL

 

[petek]

I forgot to say,,, for many people Corningware and Visions was
Freezer to Oven to Trashcan

 

[launderess]

Well There Is That

One could also add much of the appeal to Corningware was when most housewives reheated meals either on top of the range or in the oven(as my mother did). Once microwaves came on the scene, and began to become smaller,affordable, and people began to see their virtues for reheating, especially when one can use almost any container, Corningware and it's ilk loss much of their appeal.

Corningware did have a range of microwave goods, including browning skillets and such, but they came late to the game, after such names as Anchor-Hocking and others.

Corningware also came out with small single serving dishes for microwave use (Grab-Its), but there again so many others already offered similar dishes. Besides when I reheat something, tend to simply make a plate of whatever else is going to be eaten, and reheat the lot together.

L.

 

[jerrod6]

I use my grab-it( I have two - given to me from work as a safety prize) every day when cooking oat bran cereal for breakfast. Guess I am going to hold on to them.

 

[launderess]

Oh Don't Get Me Wrong

Grab-Its are great. However as one can just as easily make porridge (oatmeal) in breakfast a breakfast china bowl, don't see the need to go out and purchase anything special. Same goes for soup or anything else one is going to reheat or cook in the MC that requires a bowl.