Pyrex can go in the microwave when following these 8 rules

The microwave comes in handy if you wish to warm your leftover food without much hassle. Using this appliance is often safe, but you must always be careful with the item you place inside your microwave. This is why the item you place inside must be plastic-free, stain-resistant, and robust, so what about the pyrex glass?

Knowing all this, you must wonder if Pyrex kitchenware products can go in a microwave. The simple answer is yes, meaning you need not worry about microwaving Pyrex. This is because these kitchenware products are capable of withstanding thermal heat. But it doesn’t mean you can use pyrex in any condition when it is safe to use. That is the main purpose of our article.

If you still doubt Pyrex is microwave safe, look no further. Below is an in-depth look at important things you need to know about Pyrex. This includes the benefits of using Pyrex and 8 safety tips to consider. You’ll also learn what kind of another packing you can use in your microwave.

First, you will see the answers to some common questions, and then we will analyze the causes specifically, so that you can do the right thing in the future when you encounter any other situation。

What Is Pyrex? what are its Benefits?

Pyrex is a kitchenware and ovenware brand that has been around for more than 100 years, as it was launched in 1915. Although Pyrex is glass cookware, it still boasts high heat-resistant properties. Its ability to withstand high temperatures is because Pyrex uses borosilicate in Europe. In contrast, North American manufacturers use tempered glass, which is also shatter-resistant. 

Because of all these qualities, Pyrex can withstand thermal stress without much struggle. This makes Pyrex products better than other glass products. And there are many benefits you’ll get when using Pyrex, and these include: 

• Pyrex offers you a non-stick experience. 
• Pyrex is safe and non-toxic because it doesn’t reach your food. 
• Washing Pyrex products is easy because they can handle high dishwasher temperatures. 
• Pyrex glass cookware is environmentally friendly, unlike plastic. 
• Pyrex has superb thermal resistance qualities. This means it can handle temperatures of up to 220 degrees Celsius of thermal shock. 
• The Pyrex lids are heat-resistant, BPA-free, and microwave friendly. 

Is Pyrex Microwave Safe? Why

Yes, Pyrex is microwave safe, so you shouldn’t have any concerns when putting in this appliance. With that said, you need to factor in a couple of things when putting Pyrex inside a microwave. First is that Pyrex is still breakable when cooled or heated too fast. This is because borosilicate glass can’t handle drastic temperature changes.

Can you put the Pyrex bowl in the microwave? why?

Yes, you can put a Pyrex bowl in a microwave so long as it’s been sitting at room temperature for a while. This applies to all Pyrex bowls regardless of size, shape, and color. 

The clear Pyrex bowl is the best pick to go for when warming food using your microwave. This is because it’s transparent, so you don’t need to open the microwave to check on your food’s progress. 

Can you put the Pyrex jug in the microwave? Why?

You can place the Pyrex jug in your microwave to heat your food. The Pyrex jug it’s the strongest Pyrex product because it’s made from borosilicate. It can thus better resist thermal shocks, unlike other Pyrex products. 

The Pyrex jug has a convenient handle that gives it a firm grip that helps avoid unwanted accidents. It also has a lid that helps ensure your food remains fresher for a longer duration in the fridge or freezer.

Can you put vintage Pyrex in the microwave? why?

Yes, vintage Pyrex can also withstand extreme microwave temperatures. This is possible because the vintage Pyrex is made from borosilicate. This kind of glass is less susceptible to thermal shock compared to newer Pyrex and is a lot stronger. Another advantage of vintage Pyrex is that it’s thicker than the newer products. 

Can you put a Pyrex lid in the microwave? Why?

Yes, you can place the Pyrex lid in a microwave. This applies to both the two kinds of Pyrex lids, that is, the matching glass lids and plastic lids. The glass lids are sturdy enough to withstand the rise of temperature in the microwave. This is because the robust glass can handle drastic temperature changes. So you need not worry that the Pyrex glass lids will shatter as a result of increased temperatures. This makes the Pyrex glass lids both oven and microwave safe.

The plastic Pyrex lids are also microwave-safe because they’re BPA-free. With that said, these plastic lids aren’t heat-resistant compared to glass lids. You also can’t use them inside an oven because of the risk of melting as a result of extreme heat.

Can you put cold Pyrex in the microwave? why?

While Pyrex is, without a doubt, a quality material, it does have its flaws. One of them is that it can’t handle sudden and extreme temperature changes over a short duration. This is why you must never place a cold Pyrex in a fridge or freeze it straight in the microwave. Otherwise, the molecules will expand too fast, and this causes Pyrex to crack or burst. 

The explosion of the Pyrex arises due to thermal shock. Because of this, you must start with a low-power setting. After that, you can gradually increase your microwave’s temperature. This prevents sudden temperature changes that lead to a shattering effect of Pyrex. 

Will Pyrex explode, shatter or melt in the microwave? Why? 

The melting point of all Pyrex is 820°C or 1,510°F., which is high enough to ensure it doesn’t melt. But while melting might not happen, Pyrex can shatter or break while in the microwave. 

There are various reasons why Pyrex explodes, including a high microwave setting. An explosion can also happen because of heating the Pyrex while it’s empty or heating it too quickly. Always place something inside the Pyrex before microwaving it to avoid such incidents. You should also avoid abrupt temperature changes, which can cause the Pyrex to break. 

How Long Can I Microwave Pyrex?

All Pyrex cookware gets tested for up to 1000 hours before selling them to interested buyers. Because of this, you shouldn’t have even the slightest concerns when microwaving Pyrex. After all, the manufacturer’s testing surpasses standard usage. Pyrex is also versatile, and several factors affect how long it can last in the microwave, such as: 

• The kind of food your reheating
• The shape and size of the bowl
• Your cooking preference or style 
• The microwave’s power 

Nonetheless, you always read the usage instructions before putting Pyrex in a microwave. 

How to use Pyrex safely: the 8 pro tips

Your safety should be your top priority whenever you’re microwaving Pyrex. This is because temperature fluctuations cause Pyrex cookware to expand and contract. With this in mind, here are some of the safety tips to consider when using Pyrex in the microwave: 

1. First Bring to Room Temperature

You must never make the amateur mistake of microwaving cold Pyrex. Instead, give the cold Pyrex time to reach room temperature before putting it in a microwave. As you let the Pyrex remain at room temperature for some time, take this time to preheat the microwave. 

If Pyrex isn’t given time to reach room temperature, there’ll be a thermal shock. This will happen because of sudden thermal expansion. And because of these extreme temperature changes, Pyrex will crack or shatter. As a result, you’ll need to clean up all the mess, something you could have easily avoided. 

With this in mind, you must always give a frozen dish time to thaw and cool down before inserting it in the microwave. This also applies if you’re exposing Pyrex cookware from a hotter environment to a colder one. Doing so will give the Pyrex cookware time to adjust to the surrounding temperatures. This prevents drastic temperature changes responsible for thermal shock, which results in cracks. 

2. Avoid Your Stovetop

Pyrex is a sturdy material capable of withstanding high microwave temperatures. But while this is so, you must never place Pyrex directly over the stovetop. This is crucial because Pyrex’s design isn’t meant to come into direct contact with heat. If you ignore this and place the Pyrex on the electric or gas stovetop, the extreme heat will cause it to break. You also shouldn’t put Pyrex on the grill, in a toaster oven, or below a broiler. 

3. Use Cracked or Chipped Pyrex To Prevent Explode

Before microwaving Pyrex cookware, you should first inspect it to check for cracks. While the sight of a crack might look harmless, it’s better to be safe than sorry. After all, you don’t want unwanted cleanup because of overlooking this simple advice. 

If you still go ahead and use Pyrex cookware with a crack or chip, there’s the risk it’ll shatter. To avoid all this mess, you better play safe and use Pyrex which doesn’t have the smallest crack. 

4. Make Sure to First Preheat Your Oven

There’s no doubt that Pyrex is oven safe. With that said, you must first preheat your oven before placing the Pyrex cookware inside. This prevents Pyrex from experiencing drastic temperature changes, which causes it to shatter. And to avoid this, make sure to start by preheating your microwave to convection mode. After doing this, you can use the Pyrex glass cookware for baking or cooking.

5. Avoid Glass Cookware for High Heat Cooking

Although Pyrex is made out of robust glass, it still can’t sustain very high temperatures. While not using glassware for cooking might sound obvious, this isn’t the case. In fact, many people often make the mistake of using glassware such as Pyrex for high-heat cooking. You shouldn’t be doing this and, instead, need to use standard utensils when cooking. 

If you overlook the importance of not using glassware for high-heat cooking, there’s a risk of a hazard. You don’t want this to happen, as doing so compromises your well-being and everyone else. 

6. Never Place Hot Glassware on a Cold Surface Suddenly

Sudden temperature change is often the reason why Pyrex breaks in most cases. This is why you should avoid Pyrex products undergoing drastic temperature changes. This is because the sudden cooling or expansion many a time causes it to break. Because of this, you should never place hot Pyrex glassware all of a sudden on a cold surface. 

Placing hot Pyrex glassware results in breakage because of thermal shock. This is why you must always set your Pyrex glass on something safe to prevent thermal shock, such as: 

• Wooden rivet
• Kitchen towel
• Cooling rack
• Dry cloth potholder

By placing your Pyrex dish on any of these surfaces, you’ll be able to prevent cracks on your cookware. 

7. Don’t Pour Hot Liquid Straight Into the Pyrex Glass

One rule you must always observe when using any glassware is never to pour hot liquids into the glass. This also applies when you’re using Pyrex glass cookware. You must note this because pouring hot liquids into a Pyrex glass increases the risk of cracking. This means spending your hard-earned money buying another Pyrex glass. Because Pyrex products are costly, it’s best to avoid these unnecessary expenses altogether.

8. Don’t Microwave Empty Pyrex Glass

You must never make the mistake of microwaving an empty Pyrex glass. It is important to emphasize the need to do this, no matter how obvious it might look. Doing this will cause uneven heat distribution on the Pyrex cookware. As a result, Pyrex will most likely break or shatter because of too much stress. 

How To Store Pyrex

You must store your Pyrex well to ensure it remains functional for the desired period. One way to ensure this is by observing proper storage measures of your Pyrex products. This means you shouldn’t store your Pyrex close to sharp corners or items that might scratch it. Also, make sure the racks and shelves are strong enough to support the weight of several Pyrex dishes. 

It’s also advised to pay close attention to how you stack your Pyrex products. The ideal way to do this is by stacking them according to their size to prevent breakage.

What Other Kind of Packing Can You Use in the Microwave, and Why?

Knowing what to put in the microwave is essential to avoid any fire resulting in damage or injuries. Here’s a look at a couple of packing material most that people often ask whether they are microwave safe: 

Ceramic

It’s completely safe to place ceramic dishware in the microwave. In fact, ceramic is one of the safest types of materials to put in the microwave. This is because they’re molded and made from clay and hardened by intense heat. Ceramic products include anything such as porcelain, earthenware, and bricks. 

With that said, make sure to check whether the ceramic dishware has any metal decoration. If so, this would mean it can’t go in the microwave. There’s a simple test you can do to check whether ceramic is microwave safe, and here are the steps to follow:

• Put an empty ceramic dish in the microwave. 
• Microwave the ceramic dish for 20 seconds on high heat. 
• Switch off your microwave after 20 seconds. 
• Inspect the ceramic container’s external temperature. 

If the temperatures of the ceramic container are too high, this is a clear sign it isn’t microwave-safe. 

Wax and parchment paper

Wax and parchment paper which come in a broad range of styles and sizes, is microwave-safe. This is so because this paper is lined with silicone, making it heat-resistant. The wax and parchment paper can handle temperatures of up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit. The lining of wax and parchment paper is also grease-proof and non-stick. 

Aluminum foil

You should never put aluminum foil inside the microwave. This is because aluminum reflects energy instead of absorbing it, which can cause a spark. Aluminum behaves the same way as any metal utensil would, so you must never put it in the microwave. 

Covering your food with aluminum isn’t advised because it’ll reflect away microwave energy. This means it’ll take longer to heat your food, but because time is precious, you don’t want this to happen. 

Can Pyrex Go in the Oven? 

You can put a Pyrex bowl or glass inside an oven when cooking or baking. With that said, temperatures inside the oven should not exceed 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because such high temperatures will shorten the useful life of the Pyrex in the long run. Pyrex may also break because high temperatures weaken its structural integrity. 

But you need to observe certain safety measures before putting Pyrex cookware in an oven, such as: 

• Check whether the Pyrex glass is labeled safe to use in extreme temperatures. 
• Never place the Pyrex cookware below the broiler. 
• Preheat your oven before inserting the Pyrex cookware.
• Place a small amount of liquid below the Pyrex before putting it in the oven.

You need to observe all these safety measures to prevent the thermal shock of Pyrex while in the oven. Otherwise, get a material that can handle temperatures of over 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can Pyrex Go in the Air Fryer?

Yes, your Pyrex glass can go in an air fryer as long as it’s safe to use in an oven. Nonetheless, there are a few safety measures to observe when using Pyrex in your air fryer. One is to take note of your Pyrex glassware’s thermal capacity and thickness. These two factors are vital as they determine how strong your Pyrex glassware will be. Also, confirm the temperatures in the air fryer don’t exceed the thermal capacity of Pyrex. This is crucial because Pyrex doesn’t do well in very high temperatures and might shatter. 

It’s important to note temperatures inside the air fryer are often quite volatile. This rapid rise in temperatures in the air fryer isn’t ideal because it might cause thermal shock. And to avoid this, first preheat your Pyrex glassware before inserting it into the air fryer. 

Conclusion

Pyrex is a brand well-known for quality ovenware and kitchenware. But despite this, there’s still a lot of debate about whether using Pyrex in the microwave is safe, but after reading this article, I think you should have much-needed peace of mind when using Pyrex.

You can comment here if you still have any questions.