Borosilicate or soda-lime: which glass bakeware to buy, and how to read the one you own
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Two kinds of glass are sold as oven bakeware in America, and only one of them survives a real temperature swing. Borosilicate takes a change of about 330 F before it lets go. Tempered soda-lime takes roughly 100 F. Both are safe for ordinary baking; only one is safe for a frozen dish going into a hot oven. This page lists what is on sale today, sorted by which glass it actually is, and shows how to tell which one is already in your cupboard.
If you want borosilicate: the thermal-shock glass
These are the dishes sold as borosilicate. Borosilicate takes a swing of about 330 F before it lets go; tempered soda-lime takes roughly 100 F. If you pour cold water into a hot dish, this is the group that matters.
- OXO Good Grips 9x13 glass baking dish, with lid — Borosilicate, 3-quart, the size most American recipes assume. See it on Amazon →
- OXO Good Grips 8x8 freezer-to-oven dish, with lid — The square version of the same glass. Check the current listing →
- Simax 2.5-quart round casserole with lid — Czech borosilicate. Amazon's own 'Overall Pick' in this search. Look it up on Amazon →
- Simax casserole set, three dishes with lids — Borosilicate, made in the Czech Republic. See what it costs today →
- Simax 8-quart roaster with high lid — The big one, for a bird or a whole shoulder. Find it on Amazon →
- Simax 1-quart round casserole with lid — Small, for sides and reheating. See it on Amazon →
- Amazon Basics borosilicate bakeware, 6 pieces with lids — Rated to 752 F. The cheapest way into borosilicate. Check the current listing →
- European PYREX 'Bake & Enjoy' souffle dish, 21 cm — The French line. Same name, different glass, different company. Look it up on Amazon →
- European PYREX borosilicate square roaster, 25 x 21 cm — Import listing: stock comes and goes. See what it costs today →
- European PYREX round casserole, 4.9 litre — Import listing: stock comes and goes. Find it on Amazon →
- European PYREX quiche and flan dish, 25 cm — Sold as 'high resistance' — that is the French borosilicate line. See it on Amazon →
American Pyrex today: what the classics actually are
American PYREX (all caps, made in Charleroi and now Lancaster) is tempered soda-lime glass, and has been for decades. That is not an accusation — it is Corning's own published decision. These dishes are fine for ordinary baking. They are not fine for thermal shock.
- Pyrex 233, 3-quart 9x13 clear dish (made in USA) — The one in every American kitchen. Tempered soda-lime. See it on Amazon →
- Pyrex 232, 2-quart oblong dish (made in USA) — The 11x7. Same glass. Check the current listing →
- Pyrex 222, 2-quart square dish (made in USA) — The 8x8 brownie dish. Look it up on Amazon →
- Pyrex 233 and 232 together, two dishes — The pair most people end up buying separately. See what it costs today →
- Pyrex 222-D, 2.5-quart deep dish, two pack — Deeper walls, same glass. Find it on Amazon →
- Pyrex 233-D, 5-quart Hold-Everything dish — The biggest of the current line. See it on Amazon →
- Pyrex Easy Grab 2-quart casserole with lid — The handled one. Handles help exactly because the glass does not. Check the current listing →
- Pyrex 233 with the red lid, two pack — Dish plus the storage lid. Look it up on Amazon →
- Pyrex Deep 7x11 baking dish See what it costs today →
Pyrex bowls, cups and pie plates (soda-lime, made in USA)
Same glass, same rule. Listed here because the episode gets asked about them every time.
- Pyrex 4-cup glass measuring cup (made in USA) — The one on every counter. See it on Amazon →
- Pyrex Prepware measuring set, 1 and 2 cup Check the current listing →
- Pyrex 326, 4-quart mixing bowl (made in USA) Look it up on Amazon →
- Pyrex 325, 2.5-quart mixing bowl (made in USA) See what it costs today →
- Pyrex Smart Essentials bowls with lids, 8 pieces Find it on Amazon →
- Pyrex 9-inch glass pie plate (made in USA) See it on Amazon →
- Pyrex fluted-rim pie plates, two pack Check the current listing →
Read the label: manufacturer codes
| First 3 digits | Built by |
|---|---|
| PYREX in capitals, inside a circle, with 'CG' | Corning Glass Works, 1940s-50s: borosilicate. Keep it. |
| PYREX in capitals + 'MADE IN U.S.A.' | Mid-1950s Corning. Circular logo gave way to a straight line in the 1960s. |
| pyrex in lowercase | Soda-lime glass. Works fine, but never hot oven to cold or wet surface. |
| PYREX in capitals + 'Made in France' | International Cookware, Chateauroux: borosilicate. |
| Anchor Hocking | Tempered soda-lime by the company's own statement, not borosilicate. |
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