Glass cookware is unique. Most of the time, when talking about cookware, the first image that comes to mind is a metal pot or pan – the metal being the keyword. Glass seems to be an ill choice for a piece of cookware. But the truth disagrees. Today, you will learn about the pros and cons of glass cookware and which ones are the best in the market.
Pros and Cons of Glass Cookware
Glass cookware, like all products and materials, has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s dissect them.
Pro: Glass Cookware is Non-Toxic
Glass is non-toxic, unlike one of the most famous metal cookware, copper (copper leaches into acidic food). However, not all glass cookware is manufactured with totally no harmful chemical. Some glass cookware is produced with lead and cadmium. Both elements leach into food.
Other elements to be aware of are the pigments and paints utilized to decorate new pieces of glass cookware. The substance from the decorations may also prove harmful.
When choosing glass cookware, be sure to check how it is made. If the cookware is made either in the United States or Canada, chances are they are safe to use for cooking. These countries have strict production standards.
However, older glass cookware didn’t have to comply with the standards now imposed on new glass cookware. So beware of that, too.
Pro: Glass is Safe for Food Storage
Unlike plastic food containers, glass does not have substances that risk getting into the food. Glass has a non-porous surface that doesn’t absorb smells, germs, or chemicals from washing with heated water.
Additionally, glass has a cleaner make. It is not made with as many chemicals – if any – as plastic containers are.
Pro: Glass Cookware Respond Well to Oven-Based Cooking
One of the wonders of glass cookware is how well it responds to oven cooking. There are even glass cookware products that are wonderful for slow microwave oven cooking. They facilitate slow cooking at low temperatures. Glass cookware is perfect for heating food.
Because of their marvelous response to oven cooking, glass cookware is fun to use for baking pies or lasagna, especially when cooking with kids. You can see what’s happening with the food because of the transparency of the glass.
Pro: Glass Cookware is Durable and Retains Heat Well
Even though glass cookware doesn’t conduct heat as well as metallic cookware, it retains the heat quite well.
Pro: Glass Cookware is Dishwasher-Safe
Because of its non-porous surface, glass cookware is dishwasher-safe. However, if food sticks to it, you might find it hard to clean.
Con: Glass Cookware May Shatter
The biggest disadvantage with glass cookware is that there’s a high risk of it shattering. The material can easily chip and crack upon impact. And when exposed to heat it isn’t designed to handle, cracks may form.
Con: Glass Conducts Heat Well, but does NOT Dispense it Well
One of the wonders of glass cookware is how well it absorbs heat. The problem is that the heat is not evenly distributed. Cooking-wise, this is problematic as it forms hot spots across its surface. It also poses a risk of cracks when the source of heat is focused. This is why glass cookware is not suitable for stovetop burners.
The Best Glass Cookware in the Market
Here are the best glass cookware – in my opinion – commercially available online. Our ranking considers many factors, but mostly we consider functionality and affordability.
Libbey Baker’s Basic 3-Piece Glass Baking Dish (B0009NJ00KY)
Glass cookware’s greatest weakness is durability, or the lack thereof. But these three pieces from Libbey are loved for their durability. Additionally, they are also very easy to clean and dishwasher-safe. They come in different sizes – 1-quart, 2-quart, and 3.2-quart.
Storage is easy – these items are stackable. They are safe for the oven, microwave, refrigerator, or freezer. To ensure proper maintenance, you can refer to the Libbey website for proper handling and care instructions.
The complaints about this product are unreasonable. Some complain about it cracking in the oven or when delivered. When it cracks in the oven, it’s because it’s exposed to too much heat, far above than it’s meant to handle. When it’s cracked when delivered, chances are it’s because of the delivery system, not the manufacturing.
Another complaint about it is that it is heavy. But that is what you get when you want durable glass cookware. The only viable complaint about this product is that the lids don’t perfectly match their dish.
| Pros | Cons |
| Durable Easy to clean Affordable, 3-piece set | Lids don’t match the dishes |
Pyrex 6-Piece Glass Baking Dish Set (B07K14QNCC)
Like the previous items on the list, these glass cookware are also microwave, dishwasher, freezer, refrigerator, and preheated oven safe. They are easy to clean and very durable.
Pyrex glass cookware already has a name for itself. But what’s special about this set is that it is 50% deeper than other Pyrex glass cookware. The major problem with this set is that their lids are made of plastic, although BPA-free.
Another problem with this set is that their lips are almost two inches wide. That’s significantly wide; the bigger sizes can be hard to fit into your storage kitchen cabinets.
| Pros | Cons |
| Durable Easy to clean Extremely affordable, 3-piece set | Plastic lids |
Anchor Hocking Oven Basics 15-Piece Glass Baking Dishes (B000J6BZDQ)
This set gives you the best bang for your buck. The set comes with 15 pieces of assorted glass cookware. They are durable; safe for microwave, preheated oven, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. Like the previous product, this one comes with plastic lids.
The glass is very durable. They can withstand up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit of heat. The product comes with a limited five-year warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
| Durable Easy to clean Big bang for your bucks | Plastic lids |
