Corningware Stovetop Cookware in Pyroceram is Back!
Were you even aware that stove-top-safe Corningware had gone off the market for a few years?
For the past dozen years or so, any home cook wanting to purchase Corningware cookware – that could be used on the stove top – had to settle for “vintage” pieces they could find on eBay or at garage sales. That’s because the company that bought the Corningware name in the late 1990s decided that the Pyroceram technology was too expensive to produce anymore.
It just wasn’t cost-effective… when the original cookware didn’t seem to ever wear out and was handed down from grandmothers to mothers to daughters (and sons, too).
The substitute products apparently worked okay, but you couldn’t take them from the freezer and place them directly into a hot oven, like you could with the Pyroceram pieces. And they had a stamp on the bottom saying they were not for stove-top cooking.
Well… shoot! My trusty old Blue Cornflower casserole dish is kind of the Superman of cookware.
And it came with a detachable pot handle for stove-top cooking.
Pyroceram was even used on the nose cones of anti-aircraft missiles in the late 1950s because of its ability to withstand extreme temperature changes.
Just like the Corning pots in my kitchen.
Here’s why the original Pyroceram Corningware is sought after
With my “vintage” Corningware pans, I can:
- Reheat frozen leftovers in the oven (or microwave) without thawing first.
- Saute onions, mushrooms or whatever on the stove top on medium-high – or high – heat.
- Bake macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes and more in the oven.
- Create killer cheese sauces when a “heavy” pan is called for.
- Safely heat foods in the microwave.
- Soak my casseroles in water with dish liquid and clean off any stuck-on food easily. Repeat, easily.
- Store food in the freezer… because all my dishes have tight-fitting glass lids.
In short, we “vintage” Corningware owners got used to depending on cookware that was versatile, sturdy, and safe. And that didn’t crack or shatter under extreme temperature changes.
Can I cook CorningWare on glass top stove?
Can you use CorningWare on a cooktop?
However, the ceramic formula was changed in the 1990s, and the new CorningWare was more fragile. Depending on the type of CorningWare you have, it may or may not be safe for use on cooktops. The original CorningWare was made of pyroceramic glass that could be taken from freezer to oven and back without cracking or breaking.
Is CorningWare safe to use in a toaster oven?
Since CorningWare holds heat so well, it could cook foods on lower temperatures, which saved energy. The first CorningWare dishes were also safe to use in conventional, toaster and convection ovens and under broiler units. However, the Pyrex lids are not safe for use under broilers or in toaster ovens.
Is it time for blue and white CorningWare to shine?
It’s finally time for blue and white CorningWare to shine. CorningWare was first introduced in 1958 by Corning Glass Works—the same company that manufactured our beloved Pyrex —featuring unique glass-ceramic (Pyroceram) cookware resistant to thermal shock.
How much does CorningWare bakeware cost?
First is the CorningWare 60th Anniversary 6-Piece Baking Set priced at $49.99. The set has three dishes with three corresponding lids. You can also grab a set of their Bakeware Collection, which includes four bowls with perfect measurements for baking extravaganzas.