Is Pyrex Oven Safe? Here’s Safety Guide & FAQs

In the past, Pyrex was a popular baking ware due to its ability to distribute heat evenly. However, recently many people have filed complaints of these bakewares shattering in ovens as the temperature changes, leading to severe burns or huge messes in the kitchen.

Now such situations bring us to the question, is Pyrex oven safe? The direct answer to this is yes! Pyrex is oven safe. However, if you are baking bread, a cake, or rolls with Pyrex ware in an oven, you need to take certain precautions.

In this article, we have an in-depth discussion on the safety precautions to follow when using Pyrex bakeware. Read ahead to get an understanding of the information we discovered.

At A Glance!

Can Pyrex Go In The Oven?

As we mentioned earlier, Pyrex is oven safe. So, Pyrex can go in the oven. However, before putting the Pyrex in the oven, you need to take some precautions. First, you need to ensure that the oven is preheated.

See, the key to protecting your glassware is to evade a thermal shock. A thermal shock happens when Pyrex is exposed to drastic temperature changes. An extreme change from cold to hot or vice versa exposes the glassware to pressure, resulting in breakage. Therefore to avoid a disaster from happening, preheat your oven.

Second, you need to ensure that the type of Pyrex you are using is oven safe. If you have doubts about the product, move to their product page and seek information.  The page specifies which Pyrex products are oven safe and which ones are not.

If you adhere to the two precautions, you will achieve your desired results.

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Are Pyrex Lids Oven Safe?

First of all, you need to understand that there are two types of Pyrex lids in the market. We have the glass lids and the plastic lids.

The Pyrex glass lids are oven safe and are used to cover food in the fridge and oven. Plus, Pyrex glass lids also can be used for reheating, warming, baking, and cooking food in the oven.

On the other hand, we have plastic lids that cannot be used in an oven. If you place them in the oven, they melt or break down. So, we recommend you not use the Pyrex plastic lids in the oven.

We recommend that you purchase glass lids that can be used safely in the oven. Nonetheless, make sure that you adhere to the precautions we highlighted earlier. Don’t worry if you have already purchased a plastic lid. You can improvise and use aluminum foil instead. A baking sheet can also serve the purpose.

Are Pyrex Glass Lids Dishwasher Safe?

Yes, Pyrex glass lids are dishwasher safe. Plus, Pyrex glassware is also dishwasher safe. You can clean Pyrex lids and glassware in the dishwasher without any doubt.

Are Pyrex Plastic Lids Dishwasher Safe?

Yes, Pyrex plastic lids are dishwasher safe. So, like Pyrex glass lids, you can also clean Pyrex plastic lids in the dishwasher.

How Can You Tell If Pyrex Is Oven Safe?

If you have a collection of Pyrex ware, you may have wondered at one point if they are oven safe. Well, we will answer that question in this section.

There are several types of Pyrex bakeware, Pyrex containers, Pyrex bowl, Pyrex pan, Pyrex cookware, and Pyrex dishes. However, you can only use some of the Pyrex utensils in an oven. There are three methods to tell if the Pyrex ware is oven-safe. First, read the sticker and ensure it is marked as oven-safe.

Second, place the Pyrex on a baking sheet. Then fill it with some water. Please put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Alongside, place a Pyrex dish that you know is oven-safe and observe if it.

If the Pyrex in question breaks, then you should avoid using similar materials. Don’t worry about the broken pieces. The cookie sheet will hold them together.  

You can also use a microwave to conduct a quick test. Just place an oven-safe utensil along with the Pyrex dish you are testing in a microwave. Then, turn on the microwave on a high for a minute. If the Pyrex dish becomes hot, then don’t use it in an oven. It is not safe.

Last but not least, you can also look at the edge. If the Pyrex utensil has a metallic painted trim, it is not oven safe.

What Temperature Is Pyrex Safe In Oven?

Even though Pyrex vintage cookware is designed for baking, it cannot withstand any temperature above 425 degrees. Therefore, if your recipe goes beyond 425 degrees, we propose that you use metal pans instead.

See, the kind of glass used to make Pyrex dishes today has a low ability to withstand high temperatures. This is because the original Pyrex dishes were made from borosilicate glass. That’s why you are still using a Pyrex dish passed to you by your grandmother in the 20th century.

In addition, the traditional bowl was made of boron, which is highly resistant to high temperatures. Our grandparents were lucky. They didn’t experience any glass shattering. Now, this changed at some point.

Today, the dishes are made from soda-lime glass. The material shift was in a bid to increase durability. Unfortunately, the new material is fragile and can’t withstand high temperatures.

According to manufactures, there is no temperature limit for Pyrex dishes. However, it would be best to remember that the Pyrex is only made to endure average baking temperatures.

Pyrex is acceptable in a 400-degree oven. Anything beyond that temperature will shutter the Pyrex dish into pieces.

Can A Pyrex Dish Go In A 400 Degree Oven?

Yes, a Pyrex dish can go in a 400-degree oven. Pyrex brand dishes are popular due to their ability to withstand high temperatures. For example, they can withstand 400 degrees in an oven.

However, it would be best if you were cautious when putting the Pyrex dish in an oven. This is because Pyrex cooking ware is easily affected by thermal shock. The incidence usually happens when a cold utensil is heated up rapidly.

To prevent thermal shock, ensure that you preheat the oven before placing the Pyrex dish inside. This will prevent your Pyrex from blasting due to the high temperatures. Another tip to prevent the glass from shattering is avoiding recipes that release a lot of liquid.

If you adhere to the two guidelines, your Pyrex dishes will cook anything at 400 degrees.

Why Did My Pyrex Dish Explode In The Oven?

Pyrex dishware explosions are a common phenomenon. Hundreds of people have complained online due to the shattering of the dishware.

Most people claim that the explosions started when Pyrex changed its material composition from borosilicate to soda-lime. Though the statement is true, this is not the main reason.

The main reason why a Pyrex material explodes in an oven is due to thermal shock. Thermal shock happens when you move an object rapidly from cold temperatures to hot temperatures. The result is a crack in the material.

The original Pyrex material was resistant to thermal shock. See, soda-lime glass has an expansion and contraction rate three times higher than borosilicate glass. That’s why most people prefer borosilicate glass instead of soda-lime glass.

Can A Pyrex Dish Go In A 500 Degree Oven?

The original Pyrex dish can go up to 500 degrees. However, tempered Pyrex dishware, it can only go to a maximum of 400 degrees.

As we mentioned earlier in the article, the problem is not high-temperature levels but radical changes in temperature that lead to thermal stress. Therefore, to safely cook at 500 degrees Celsius, make sure you preheat the oven. 

Can Pyrex Go In A 450 Degree Oven?

Yes, Pyrex can go in a 450-degree oven. However, after manufacturers stopped producing borosilicate glass, the glass started being affected by thermal shock.

So, though you can bake at 450 degrees Celsius, you need to allow the dish to first cool in the oven before subjecting it to a cold surface.

Can Pyrex Go In The Oven At 350?

Yes, Pyrex can go in the oven at 350. Typically, Pyrex glass is oven-safe. However, it would be best if you took it from room temperature to moderate or preheated temperature. You cannot just move from temperatures as low as -313 degrees Celsius to 350 degrees Celsius.

What Is The Highest Oven Temperature For Pyrex?

Pyrex dishware temperatures range from -192 to 500 degrees Celsius. However, we recommend 500 degrees Celsius for the borosilicate glass Pyrex dish and 425 degrees for the soda-lime Pyrex dish.

You also need to adhere to other precautions, such as preheating the oven before putting the dish in the oven. In addition, if the food being cooked contains any liquid, ensure that there is a little liquid in the dish before you start cooking. 

Other precautions include slow temperature change, handling with a dry cloth, and no banging.

What Is The Maximum Oven Temperature For Pyrex?

The maximum temperature is 500 degrees for a borosilicate Pyrex dish and 425 degrees Celcius for a soda-lime Pyrex dish. Aside from being heat resistant, Pyrex material is also chemical resistant making it suitable for many roles.

Nonetheless, it would be best if you remembered that the heating and cooling process should be slow. See, Pyrex can endure high-temperature changes. But if they are too sudden, the pyrex ware will crack as a result of thermal shock.

How To Use Pyrex In The Oven Safely?

If you read a Pyrex manual, it warns against radical temperature change to Pyrex ware. It also warns against adding liquid to glassware. If you consider these warnings, your Pyrex ware will last longer. Here are more scenarios to consider when working with Pyrex ware.

  1. Do Not Cook Dry Food In The Pyrex Pan

The Pyrex website indicates that you should put some little liquid in the dish before cooking anything that releases liquid. The main agenda here is to prevent the hot glass from coming into contact with cool liquids, for example, juices that seep out of food as it cooks.

So start the cooking process with some liquid on the Pyrex ware to prevent cold juices from breaking the glass.

2. Make Sure All Oven Mitts Dry Up Before Handling The Pyrex Ware

As you take hot glassware out of the oven, make sure you place it on a dry towel. Avoid cold and wet surfaces such as the counter on your sink.

3. Don’t Move The Pyrex Ware Directly From The Freezer To An Oven.

This reminder is primarily for individuals who use freezer meals. Unfortunately, people have a poor habit of putting Pyrex directly in the oven from a freezer when they know too well it is a dangerous practice.

When cold Pyrex is placed in an oven, it shatters. It can break into many pieces that can burn people or even damage the kitchen.

Therefore, if you are cooking, remove the Pyrex dish from the freezer and allow it to settle for some time before putting it in the oven. It would be best if you also remembered to preheat the oven.

The new Pyrex model is resistant to breakage, but it cannot withstand extreme temperatures.

If not shattered, the rapid temperature changes can damage the structural integrity of the glassware.

Doing this is even worse when such a container already has a chip or a crack on it.

4. Ensure That There Are No Cracks, Chips, And Scratches On The Pyrex Ware

If you are attached to a cracked or chipped utensil, it is high time you let it go. Perhaps you received the utensil as a gift from a special friend, and you are unable to throw it in the dustbin. Well, if you are not careful, the utensil might cause a disaster. 

Chips, cracks, and scratches accelerate thermal shock cases on your Pyrex ware. Therefore, if you put them in an oven, they shatter or explode! To prevent that from happening, make sure you inspect your Pyrex dishes before placing them in an oven.

5. Allow The Food To Cool Before Using A Temperature Spoon

If you plan to eat your food with a normal temperature spoon, you should allow the Pyrex to cool. If you dig in with a room temperature spoon, the Pyrex cooking ware will crash.

6. Preheat Your Oven Before Adding Pyrex Ware To It

To prevent a thermal shock from happening, make sure you preheat the oven. Then you can add the Pyrex ware after some time.

Dangers To Avoid When Cooking With Pyrex!

Pyrex is oven-safe. However, before using it, you need to adhere to some safety precautions or avoid dangers that can affect the glassware. Below, we have listed some of the dangers to avoid when using Pyrex.

Avoid Putting Extremely Cold Foods In An Oven Using Pyrex Dishes

Tempered Pyrex needs to be at room temperature when placed in a hot oven. Therefore, if your dish has been in the fridge the whole day, don’t just place it in the oven. Instead, allow it to sit on a table for some time as you preheat the oven.

Moving the Pyrex dish from freezing temperatures to high temperatures will cause the Pyrex to explode and shatter. This is extremely dangerous!

Don’t Use Cracked Glass.

Before you subject Pyrex glass to high temperatures in an oven, make sure you inspect it thoroughly. Look for chippings, cracks, or any damage to the dish. Moisture from your food might seep into the cracks and expand your damage. However, if your Pyrex is crack-free, you are good to go.

Don’t Use A Stove To Heat Pyrex.

Even though Pyrex can withstand high temperatures, it cannot withstand heat from a stove. See, heat from an oven or microwave is evenly distributed, but a direct flame is not.

Direct heat can cause the Pyrex to expand and break into pieces. Therefore, we recommend that you don’t use Pyrex glass on your stoves.

Don’t Set Your Oven Above 450 Degrees.

Pyrex is the most preferred cooking appliance due to its ability to withstand high temperatures. However, there is a limit to the amount of high temperature it can be subjected to.

If you want your Pyrex to last for a long time, don’t subject it to temperatures above 450 degrees. Whether you are using a convection or conventional oven, don’t exceed 450 degrees. 

Avoid Cooking Dry Dishes On A Pyrex Pan

Every time you put Pyrex glass in an oven, make sure you add some liquid at the bottom. We do this to avoid subjecting the hot Pyrex to cool liquids that leak while cooking.

Also, when you start with some fluids in the pan, you will prevent cold juices from shuttering the Pyrex. 

Do Not Place Hot Pyrex On A Cool Surface.

Once you remove a hot Pyrex dish from an oven, don’t place it on a cool surface, such as a granite counter, glass counter, or sink. Instead, we recommend that you place the Pyrex on a metal cooling rack or a dry towel.

In addition, avoid damp surfaces or wet towels. They can also make the glass explode.

Don’t Stack Hot Pyrex Dishes Together.

Once you finish using hot dishes, let them cool on a cold counter or dry towel first. The utensils are likely to stick on each other when hot.  If you pull them apart, you will damage them.

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Final Thoughts

Pyrex cooking ware is a must-have in our kitchens. The kitchen tools are durable and can withstand high temperatures.

However, you need to follow the manufacturer’s precautions to avoid disasters from happening. We hope that this article was helpful. Enjoy using your Pyrex cooking ware!  

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