Are Pyrex Glass Bowls Oven Safe?

Pyrex bowls are usually made from materials that can withstand high thermal pressures and temperatures.

Although, it is best to follow the manufacturer's cooking instructions, as not every part of a Pyrex bowl is already oven safe. 

Are Pyrex Glass Bowls Oven Safe?

This way you can avoid shattering the glass and prevent the lid from melting in the oven.

It is important that the Pyrex bowls are used in an oven up to the specific temperature range that is indicated in the manual that you will receive with your bowl.

As the manual will provide you with the exact information on temperatures your Pyrex bowl can handle. 

IN this article, we will be discussing whether a Pyrex bowl is oven safe and the temperatures that it can withstand. 

Using Pyrex Glass Bowls Safely In The Oven

Thermal shock is a term that needs to be avoided when referring to glass bowls.

Thermal shock happens when a substance made of breakable glass is exposed to a fast temperature shift. This is usually a quick transition from cold to hot, or hot to cold, can occur.

The side of the glass nearest to the heat source heats up first when the Pyrex glass bowls are placed in a preheating oven.

While the rest of the glass surfaces that are farthest from the heat source remain cool. This leads to uneven pressure development throughout the surface area, which stresses the surface of the glass.

As a result, the glass dish will break into fragments in your oven.

Preheat The Oven

Cleaning your oven after the glass has broken is difficult.

You need to preheat the oven before putting Pyrex glass bowls inside to avoid all the mess and the glass shattering.

By preheating your oven, you are creating a uniform template inside. Therefore, whether the bowl is close to the radiant heat or farther away, every area of the glass will experience a consistent temperature.

Using Room Temperature Glass Bowls

It always helps to use glass bowls that are at room temperature in an oven, despite the temptation to take the bowl of food straight out of the freezer and cook it there.

We would strongly suggest that you avoid shocking the glass by bringing it from a frozen state to a heated one or vice versa.

Your glass bowls will last longer if you stick to  letting the bowls cool or warm up to room temperature.

Hence, before putting the bowl in the oven, you could remove it from the fridge or freezer for 30 to 45 minutes.

This will allow the bowl to get to room temperature, which means the glass will have less of a shock when it does finally go in the oven. 

Adding Liquids To The Bottom Of The Bowl

Thermal shock can also result from cold juice or liquid spilling from your cold food onto the heated glass surface.

We advise adding a small bit of liquid to the bottom of your bowl to prevent this from happening.

Any other liquid released from your food which happens to be different temperatures after the water has been added won't damage the glass.

In the oven, the water will serve as a cushion and lessen the likelihood of cracking.

Using Both Hands When Removing The Glass Bowl

We would suggest that when you remove the glass bowl from the oven, you should be using both hands, wearing oven pads or mitts. It will enable you to hold the kitchenware firmly and securely.

Although, it is important to note that you should  never use damp oven mitts or pads. This is because Pyrex can conduct heat well.

Using wet mittens to handle a hot bowl could result in burns. Before using them to remove your glass bowl, make sure your oven gloves are completely dry.

Are Pyrex Glass Bowls Oven Safe?

Place Your Bowl On A Dry Cloth

One out of the oven, on a fold kitchen towel or cloth to put your glass bowl onto. Although, this cloth or towel needs to be dry.

This will allow your glass bowl to reach room temperature and prevent it from experiencing thermal shock.

The manufacturer's instructions for all oven-safe Pyrex glasses include oven safety limitations. To make your glass bowl more durable, it is best to keep it below the suggested temperature range.

Pyrex glass takes a while to heat up, but once it does, it keeps the heat for a very long time. For Pyrex glass bowls, a temperature range of 300-450F is ideal.

If the glass does break after taking all necessary precautions, let it cool down before picking up the fragmented pieces.

The tiny glass particles can be cleaned up effectively using a handheld vacuum.

Ideal Oven Temperatures For Your Pyrex Glass Bowl

Pyrex glass is a very safe material to bake in at temperatures between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Pyrex manufacturer discontinued using borosilicate as its primary component in 1988. Since then, the Pyrex glass's ability to withstand thermal shock has decreased.

The glass bowl can therefore be used at 450 degrees Fahrenheit, but you need to always preheat your oven.

Use the glass bowls according to the manufacturer's recommendations if the temperature is higher than 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, due to Pyrex glass  bowls being made of borosilicate glass, they can be used safely at higher temperatures of up  to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Also, one care instruction that you will see, is to avoid cooking butter or oil in the bowl at a rapid pace.

Alongside that, you should avoid trying to use high temperatures to cook your food the least amount of time possible with these bowls.

Hence, you want to make sure that you prevent making abrupt temperature changes to the bowl. Therefore, you need to allow the bowl time to rest.

This way it can come to temperature before being put into the oven and once it has been removed as well. 

Benefits Of Pyrex Glass Bowls

There are various benefits to using and owning a Pyrex glass bowl. Below, we have put together a few of the most popular reasons that people like to purchase Pyrex glass bowls. 

The US-made Pyrex glass bowls are free of toxins that could seep into your meals.

It is constructed from heat-resistant, durable materials. Soda lime is the main component in Pyrex glass.

In addition to that, its non-porous structure prevents it from absorbing food odors or altering food flavors. 

The nicest thing is that glass bowls won't be stained with food. Thus, it will also look brand new after being washed. 

It is designed for several uses and is safe for the oven, freezer, microwave, and dishwasher.

The design of Pyrex glass bowls can be used for storing, baking, heating, and microwave cooking. The dishwasher can  easily be used to clean the BPA-free plastic lead containers.

Storage-wise, these  glass bowls can be stacked on top of one another to save kitchen or cabinet space because they are incredibly robust.

Rapid temperature expansions do not easily cause the glass bowls to break or shatter.

The dishes are easily suitable for baking. It is preferable to grease them prior to making it easier to remove the cake or other baked goods once it has been cooked.

Are Pyrex Glass Bowls Oven Safe 3

Cooking Methods To Avoid Using With Pyrex Glass Bowls

Even so, there are various cooking methods that are suitable to be used with Pyrex glass bowls.

There are, in fact, several cooking methods that you need to avoid using these glass bowls, which include the following:

  • On the stove top,
  • On the grill,
  • Under a broiler,
  • Heating an empty bowl,
  • Reheating a dish in your glass bowl is fine, but creating a dish in the glass bowl should be avoided,
  •  Heating oil or butter inside the glass bowl,
  • Heating the owl is temperatures above 700 degrees Fahrenheit.

When used in any of the aforementioned cooking methods or processes, Pyrex glass bowls run the risk of cracking and shattering.

You shouldn't use a Pyrex plastic lid inside the oven. Instead, you can substitute a baking sheet, stainless steel plate, or aluminum foil for the lid.

Recently, there have been Pyrex glass bowls produced that have been advertised as  being oven-safe at high temperatures.

Although, we wouldn’t recommend that you use any Pyrex glass bowl above 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Pyrex Glass Bowls And Their Warranty

Pyrex glass bowls have a two-year warranty that covers thermal shock damage and bowl shattering.

Only manufacturing flaws are covered by the warranty for lids and other accessories shortly after purchase.

Can Any Glass Bowl Be Used In The Oven?

Modern glass bowls are often quite durable and oven safe when placed in a preheated oven up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit when at room temperature.

It is important that you read the instruction manual first. You should keep in mind that glass bowls marketed as microwave-safe may or may not also be oven-safe.

After that, you need to discover the materials that are used in the creation of your glass bowl you are using. Silica and soda-lime glasses can withstand heat and are oven-safe.

Due to being made from soda-lime, Pyrex is perfectly safe to use in the oven. Additionally, tempered glass is manufactured from soda-lime, which is also oven-safe.

Borosilicate can withstand temperatures as high as 750 degrees Fahrenheit without melting. This is because it is made from a combination of silica and boron trioxide to make it.

Final Thoughts

Pyrex bowls are made in various  forms and are quite strong. They can be used safely in the oven because of their durability.

You must use extreme caution and adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines over 400F.

Any glass dish can be broken by thermal shock. Thus, it is important that you preheat your oven and stay away from unexpected temperature changes.

It is important that you allow your glass bowl time to reach room temperature before being put into a hot oven.

We hope this article has been helpful, and you have a better understanding on whether Pyrex glass bowls are safe for your oven. 

About the author 

Nate Lau

Nate is an aspiring chef, and father of two. He is always on the lookout to try new healthy recipes and kitchen gadgets. He has a passion for cooking delicious miso black cod and enjoys a nice sip of pinot on occasion.

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