I’m guessing that you already know that casserole dishes can comfortably go into the oven. Often, they are considered oven-safe. However, it might also interest you to know that there are varieties of glass containers that can safely go into the oven.
In most cases, we store leftovers in glass containers, so is your storage container safe for oven use? This will all depend on the type of glass. Even with the casserole dishes considered oven-safe, there’s a maximum temperature limit they can withstand. Also, there might be incidents where it’s not safe to use casserole dishes in the oven.
All these are valid concerns worth considering even for glass. And because you’ll be using the freezer for all your leftovers, there are certain precautions you need to observe when heating or cooling glass.
So let’s find out if glass can safely go to the oven. Shall we?
Can Glass Go in the Oven?
Yes, glass can comfortably go to the oven as long as it’s oven-safe. But do remember not all types of glass are safe to use inside the oven. Only those glasses that have been marked as “oven safe” (look for symbol) should be used in the oven. Do follow the temperature guidelines.
When measures are observed correctly, glass can safely go in the oven. However, it would help if you took note of potential concerns that may cause glass breakage when exposed to heat. We’ll preserve these reasons for our next topic.
But before then, below are some of the commonly used kitchen items you may want to check out, as they are NOT SAFE for oven-use:
- Paper Towels
- Aluminum Foil
- Plates
- Pots
- Cardboard
- Cast Iron Skillets
- Wax Paper
Is Pyrex Glass Safe for Oven-use?
YES. Pyrex is oven-safe glass cookware and can be used for baking, warming, reheating food, among other heat-related kitchen activities. Like any other glass product, it would be best to observe a high level of care when using pyrex for cooking food at high temperatures.
The European bakeware can withstand high temperatures of up to 450 degrees, but not higher than that. However, many manufacturers recommend this bakeware to be oven and freezer-safe. Pyrex is also safe when used according to instruction prompts.
Meanwhile, here are the three significant risks related to using glassware for cooking:
- Glasswares are more likely to crack or even break when subjected to a sudden temperature change.
- Glass cookware can easily break due to careless handling, such as banging or dropping.
- Sadly, one may easily get burnt when handling hot bakeware or cookware.
Can Glass Withstand Temperatures of up to 350?
Yes, stoneware, ceramics, metal, enamelware, and tempered glass like pyrex are considered oven-safe in temperatures up to 350 Fahrenheit. As for hand blown glass, please don’t put it in the oven.
What Happens if You Use Glass in the Oven?
Your glass is likely to crack or even break due to the reasons noted above. However, glass can safely go in the oven when precautions are observed. Such include proper handling, right cooking temperatures, among other measures. Meanwhile, take note of the potential concerns when heating glass to avoid unnecessary breakage.
Can You Put a Glass Cover in the Oven?
Yes. Heat-resistant glass can safely go in the oven. If you have several glass lids lying in your kitchen cabinet, it’s time you check out if they are oven-safe. Corning ware glass lids, for example, can withstand any temperature, but make sure first to preheat your oven.
How Do You Know if the Glass Is Oven-Safe?
Usually, ovenproof glassware includes notations like “oven-safe” or oven pictorials on the bottoms. The wavy lines inscriptions and temperatures below 300 Fahrenheit suggest that the glassware be used in low-oven temperatures, but not for baking.
What Type of Glass Can Withstand High Heat?
Any heat-resistant glass can accommodate high temperatures. Such glasswares are often made of silica or soda-lime, a heat-resistant material with a high melting point and low expansion coefficient. Most heat-resistant glassware is designed to hold out against thermal shock. Such glasswares are way better than any other ordinary glass.
These glasswares are often used in kitchen and industrial applications due to their ability to accommodate temperature changes. Unlike ordinary glassware that would shatter once exposed to sudden temperature change, this glass type is an exception. If you’re looking for such, outlined are the sources you should check out:
1. Chemically Tempered Glass
This is the process of hardening for use in thin soda-lime glass. It makes the surface tougher with no internal stress, thus helping to keep flatness. Even more, rest assured that this process will scale up the strength of your glass by factor three. However, it is essential to note that this will not be safety glass, but you can fabricate it later. Simulated tempered glasses have the following features:
- Can go up to 450 degrees
- You can get these glasses from .020 inches to ⅛ inches thick
- Suited for thin glasses.
2. Pyrex Glass
- Temperatures range between 450 degrees to 914 degrees.
- You can get these glasses in 0.20 inches to 21/4 inches thick.
- These glasses are available in red, blue, amber colors with polished surfaces.
- You can use these glasses in the oven, at the fireplace, or for high temp lenses.
- There is an option to temper these glasses.
3. Pyroceram Glass
- Temperatures range from 1300 degrees to 1427 degrees
- Thickness – 0.20 inches
- You can find these glasses in clear and white colors
- You can use these glasses in the oven, as cooking tops, at the fireplaces.
4. Quartz Glass
- Temperatures range between 1700 degrees to 2200 degrees.
- These glasses are available in transparent colors with polished surfaces.
- These glasses are mostly used in high-temp areas.
5. Robax Glass
- Temperatures range between -400 degrees to 1400 degrees.
- Thickness – .118 inches to .197 inches
- You can get these glasses in many colors, including carbon black, brocade, lava black, amber gold, satin silver, anthracite, copper, and polar white.
- These glasses are available in a myriad of textures.
- You can use these glasses in the oven, fireplace, and wood-burning stove windows.
6. Tempered Glass
- 450 degrees
- Available in ⅛ inches to 1 inch thick
- Comes in various colors, including cobalt blue, low iron, blue, acid-etches, green, bronze, and grey.
7. Vycor Glass
- Temperatures range between 1700 degrees to 2200 degrees
- Available in ⅛ inches to ¾ inches thick
- It comes only in transparent colors with polished surfaces
- You can use these glasses in coal-burning stoves.
What Causes Glass to Break in the Oven?
Sure, glass is safe to use in the oven. However, there are instances when you can put glass in your oven, and it breaks. So what does this happen, or what causes this breakage? Let’s find out.
1. Drastic Temperature Changes
One of the main reasons why glasses break when used in the oven is because of thermal shock. You should know that some glasses will sustain very high temperatures.
However, glasses cannot sustain sharp fluctuations in temperatures. By this, we mean that a sudden increase and decrease in temperatures. Also, you should never use your glass in the oven directly from the fridge.
2. The Wrong Type of Glass
A wrong choice of glass can also cause breakage of glass in the oven. You now know that tempered glass can safely go in the oven, but non-tempered glass will most probably break when used in the oven. You need to counter check with our list of glasses that can withstand high temperatures as discussed above.
3. Temperatures That Are Too High
Glasses have a temperature limit, which is evident from our list of heat-resistant glasses. You noticed that the glasses above have different temperature requirements. For example, chemically tempered glass can sustain up to 400 degrees while Vycor glasses can sustain up to 2200 degrees. Therefore, it would help if you followed the manufacturer’s recommendations when using the oven glass.
How to Prevent Glass From Breaking in the Oven?
When measures are taken into consideration, keeping your glass from breakage is a no-brainer. To safely use glass in the oven, take note of the following precautions.
1. Don’t Change Temperatures Drastically
Most glasswares are vulnerable to thermal shock. Avoid going from the freezer to the oven; instead, go from room temperature to preheated oven. While you might be doing this without any challenge, you’re putting your glass under the risk of breakage.
The same science applies when taking the glass out of the oven. Refrain from putting the heated glass on a cold surface due to thermal shock. Alternatively, place it on a room-temperature surface like hot pads.
2. Use Tempered Glass
Again, not all glass can safely go in the oven unless it’s tampered or includes the notation, “oven-safe.” More often, manufacturers will include temperature limits for oven-safe glassware, so make sure to stick to the limits.
As for drinking glasses and smaller bowls, don’t use them in the oven, as they cannot accommodate high temperature. The same concept applies to glass lids unless labeled oven-safe.
3. Avoid High Temperatures
Like mentioned before, glassware can withstand a specific temperature limit. Therefore, when using oven-safe glass, make sure to stick to the recommended upper limit. This could range anywhere from 350 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. By staying below the limit, you’ll be enhancing your glass shelf-life.
4. Look for Structural Weaknesses
Let’s face it – oftentimes, we don’t check for any defaults before using kitchen items. Whenever you intend to use glass cookware, make sure to inspect it for cracks or even scratches. Cracks and scratches indicate the weak points, which may easily break when exposed to sudden temperature change.
5. Add Liquids to the Bottom for Dry Foods
This technique mostly applies to baked foods. When baking dry foods, consider adding a little amount of liquid to the bottom of the pot. The dry food will release some water content as it cooks, eventually finding its way to the glass’s surface.
And because this water might be cold, the glass will undergo a thermal shock. So by adding some little amount of water to the bottom of the pan, you’ll be allowing the water to warm up the glass as it cooks.
Why Is It Better to Heat in Glass Containers?
Up to this far, you know that glass is very much safe for use in the oven. You also understand that these glasses have different temperature requirements. However, something is still not clear. Why do people still insist on heating in glass containers? Below are some of the reasons.
1. Non-Toxic
The first and most important reason is that glass is non-toxic. Other materials will, in most cases, have non-stick surfaces, which are known to release toxins. And because scientists are trying ways to eliminate toxins, one of the recommendations they give is glasses. This is why you need to cook with glass.
2. Retains Heat Longer
We know that you always want to get things done faster than you can. Unfortunately, glasses have longer heatings times, which can be frustrating. However, there’s some good news. Glasses can retain heat for more extended periods. And this is why most people use glasses as serving dishes to keep their food warm for longer hours.
3. Clear Surface
This might not be an excellent reason to most people, but let’s face reality. Who wouldn’t want to see the content of the food he or she is cooking? Seeing what you bake is a dream with other bakeware types because the surfaces are not clear to let you know what’s inside. This is a drawback because it’s not easy to tell whether or not your food is ready.
4. Easy to Clean
Time is money, and you need to save every single minute. Washing and cleaning utensils are a daily routine that you cannot avoid. Glasses are easier to clean than other materials. Glass is non-porous, making your work more straightforward when you wash them.
5. Storage and Reheating Advantages
Unlike other cooking equipment, you can store your food in glass cookware. The only thing you need to do is ensure that the food has cooled adequately before storing it. You have the freedom to keep your food using glass cookware in the fridge or the freezer. Best of all is that you can use the same glass cookware to reheat the food if you want to.
Wrap Up
Glass is not only good for baking purposes but also for cooking and reheating food. However, you should pay attention to the glass type you are using. Glasses have different temperature requirements, so you must make sure you use the right glass for the right purpose to avoid breakage.
It would also be best if you remembered only to store food in glass cookware after the food has completely cooled, especially when you intend to put it in the freezer or fridge.