Glass Bakeware

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Glass has been around a long time, but its home and kitchen uses were limited mostly to windows and barware until a temperature resilient glass called borosilicate--70 percent silica, 10 percent boric oxide, 20 percent other compounds--was invented and glass bakeware could be born.

The primary appeal of glass bakeware over other kitchen bakeware materials is visibility--clear bakeware lets you get a good look at the product without lifting the lid. Glass bakeware can shatter if the temperature changes too quickly, but new compounds, called ceramic glass, were developed to take advantage of ceramic bakeware strength and glass bakeware visibility. Unlike glass bakeware, ceramic glass bakeware has practically no expansion when heated, therefore, rarely shatters, even when going from freezer to oven to dishwasher.

Glass bakeware is not a non-stick surface, so some cooking spray or shortening is recommended. Even so prepped, food can become "baked-on" which usually means vigorous hand scrubbing will be needed to clean it. Some kitchenware, the highly decorated type in particular, is hand-wash only, and these should be treated with care.

By the way, dessert may be the best use of glass bakeware, but it isn't the only one. It can also be used to bake the main course and side dishes (when it's commonly called a casserole dish) and glass bread pans are popular kitchen gadgets among some bakers.

Maybe cookies, pies, bread, meatloaf or casseroles taste better when cooked in glass bakeware and maybe not, but, in any well-equipped kitchen, glass bakeware are kitchen tools that have earned a strong following. Mom and Dad: pop on those oven mitts and make your kitchen smell like heaven as you whip up some fun stuff for the family or your friends. And get those kitchen gadgets at Overstock.com, where all of your discount kitchenware is quality kitchenware.