It’s a Pyrex Thing, You Wouldn’t Understand
A few months ago, I started deliberately moving away from plastic containers for long-term storage. I like the look of glass jars, and find them to be a better choice when it comes to storing things. Glass doesn’t absorb or leach odors, and you can see through them to see what is in the jar and how much is left. Jars seal tightly as long as you use good quality lids. They also have the advantage of looking kind of nice sitting there on the shelf.
A couple weeks ago, one of the “deal” websites I look at frequently had a set of Pyrex bowls with lids on sale for a ridiculous price. I bought a set. Once they arrived in the mail, I wished I’d gotten two sets. These have snap-on plastic lids, so they are not just good for baking, but good for storing, too. They are pricy most of the time, which is why I don’t own more of them. But as I age, and have fewer people in the house that are capable of breaking all my good dishes, it just seems smart to start to replace some of the plastics with perfectly useful Pyrex.
Pyrex bakeware and dishes have a long history, which you can read all about it here on Wikipedia. I have always liked them for their good looks and sturdy and utilitarian nature. If you want something to go from freezer to oven, Pyrex is your friend. If you want to be able to keep that bowl of mashed potatoes warm in the oven while you finish preparing the rest of the meal, Pyrex is your friend. Baking a pie? The way Pyrex distributes heat is like magic – no oddly burned crusts. You can put it in the microwave, too. It’s multi-purpose!
And I own a lot of it. Not as much as a collector might, but I have some useful pieces that get used, if not every day, at least once a week. Some have a history (see below), but for the most part, all of the pieces that I have have been picked up at thrift stores and garage sales. And as I am an avid thrift store shopper, I’m picking up more and more of it. Nothing, and I mean nothing, works like Pyrex!
These nesting bowls are from the late 50’s, and came in multiple colors. My mother received a set identical to this one as a wedding gift in 1959. I purchased my set at a thrift store for under $10, about fifteen years ago. I have seen similar sets priced in antique stores for upwards of $50. It is rare to find all four bowls. These have pour spouts and are great for mixing batters. The largest bowl was used in my house growing up to serve my mother’s potato salad. I can hardly touch mine without seeing that vision in my head.
Pyrex bakeware is a must. All of these pieces have been picked up at various thrift stores or yard sales. I have other baking dishes, but these are the ones I use the most. I also have pie plates.
I received a three-piece measuring cup set for my first wedding, some 26 years or so ago. The four-cup one (center) is actually not from the original set, as it was broken by my current husband and he replaced it. The smallest one is not in the picture, as I had just used it to measure oil and water for red velvet cupcakes. But the cup on the right is a new addition. Paid $8 for it at a thrift store a couple of months ago. It is a very rare, hard-to-find 8-cup Pyrex measuring cup. Great for measuring, but also for mixing a batch of brownies or cupcakes or waffles. It holds the batter with room to spare, and then you can pour it into the pan or cupcake tin with less mess than a mixing bowl. Worth the $8 although I balked at first and almost didn’t buy it!
I would love to hear your Pyrex stories!
I love Pyrex ware as well! My Mom has the SAME pink set I am looking for it. I have the set in rainbow colors, but, i broke the green one and apparently the red one got lost in a move years ago, I still have the biggest in blue and the second smallest in yellow – they get a work out. i have a lot of Pyrex baking dishes and pie plates and a three set of casseroles, will have to get the camera out, I just found the three some at a thrift store The woman had 7 on them and while I was simply looking at them she cut it in half! But I am also converting to glass storage. I have some glass hinged top cannisters that i thankfully bought two sets of from Brylane Home and love them. I am going to buy a box of large Mason jars to add to it. I have been saving good glass jars mostly from spaghetti sauce and plan to pain the lids all green, Then i will use my label maker And Rick found a great shelf a few years ago, that is only as deep as a large Mason jar. He had stored it in my Mom’s garage and I just rediscovered it, Painted white it will be great for these in my kitchen,
I just bought a small blue oblong Pyrex dish today! I figured it would make cooking bakes and casseroles for just me easier so I don’t have to deal with my big unwieldy dish. I also bought an EKCO porcelain clad baking dish. I really like vintage cookware and dishes. They are much prettier than new crap and, IMO, cook better.
Have you been in my cupboards! LOL I have a lot of the same bowls. I got the storage set for Yule and went right out and bought another. I also got a new set of mixing bowls with lids for Yule – and gave my old ones to my son. I inherited a lot of pyrex from my mom from backing dishes to measuring cups. I also bought the big 8 cup measuring cup many years ago and I use it all the time.
I have also replaced all of my plastic storage containers with either pyrex or canning jars. We hit the jackpot at the property – when tearing down the old house we found tons of canning jars! I use the plastic screw on lids (you can find them with most canning supplies) for regular storage and have also replaced my metal canning lids with Tattler lids. I love them because you can reuse them as long as the rubber gaskets are in good shape. I have read where folks have used them for years!