What can I do with old Pyrex?

You can use old Pyrex for everyday cooking/serving, repurpose it as planters or catch-alls, sell valuable pieces, or even restore chipped/faded items for continued use or resale, but avoid dishwashers on vintage patterned pieces to prevent damage. Handwash gently to preserve finishes, and use them for baking, mixing, storage, or decor.

Are old Pyrex worth anything?

Yes, some old Pyrex dishes are worth significant money, especially rare patterns like Cinderella, Butterprint, Gooseberry, or Lucky in Love, promotional items, and pieces from the 1950s-1970s, with top-selling items reaching hundreds or even thousands of dollars on sites like eBay, depending heavily on pattern, color, and excellent condition. Solid colors, stripes, and unique designs command high prices, while dishwasher damage significantly lowers value.
 

What is the most sought after Pyrex dish?

The most valuable Pyrex dishes are often rare promotional items or hard-to-find patterns, with top sellers including the Golden Sunflower Daisy, Bluebelle Delphite, Lucky in Love, and certain Zodiac or Amish Butterprint sets, which can fetch thousands of dollars depending on condition, completeness, and scarcity, especially promotional pieces like the Nemacolin Country Club Zodiac or the elusive Lucky in Love hearts/clovers design.
 

How to dispose of old Pyrex dishes?

How to dispose of pyrex. This cannot be recycled as it can explode when heated up in the glass recycling furnace. If you have broken pyrex glass, wrap it carefully and put it out with your normal rubbish collection (red bag).

When should you throw away Pyrex?

You should throw away Pyrex when it has cracks, chips, or deep scratches, especially if they compromise the structural integrity (like a crack from side to bottom), as these create weak points prone to shattering from thermal stress or impact. While age itself isn't the main issue, the type of glass matters: older, all-caps "PYREX" (borosilicate) is more durable, while newer (post-1990s) "Pyrex" (soda-lime) is more sensitive to sudden temperature changes and needs careful handling, so dispose of any damaged pieces to prevent injury and potential explosions. 

VERIFY: Could your corningware be worth $10K?

Why can't you recycle Pyrex?

Pyrex and drinkware

Reason they can't be recycled: Pyrex has been specially treated to withstand high temperatures, and drinkware is toughened, so they're not suitable for recycling. They also can't be dropped in bottle banks for the same reason.

How to tell if Pyrex is vintage or not?

To tell if Pyrex is vintage, check the logo: all caps "PYREX" with "MADE IN U.S.A." indicates older, borosilicate glass (pre-1990s), while lowercase "pyrex" means newer, soda-lime glass, but some vintage pieces might have logos indicating use limitations like "no broiling". Also look for older marks like "Corning N.Y." or a circle around the logo, and note distinct patterns, colors (like opaque white), and features like thinner bowls or blue-tinted Flameware.
 

How to make sure Pyrex doesn't explode?

To prevent Pyrex from shattering, avoid sudden temperature changes (thermal shock) by never placing hot glass on cold surfaces or in liquid, letting it cool slowly, and always having liquid in the dish when cooking foods that release juices; use dry towels for handling and cooling, and inspect for scratches or damage before use, as modern Pyrex is made of soda-lime glass, not the more resistant borosilicate. 

Can Pyrex go in the recycling bin?

While Pyrex ovenware is a type of glass, it has been specially treated in the manufacturing process to withstand high temperatures, which makes it non-recyclable. Broken or chipped Pyrex should be disposed of carefully in the waste bin.

What are two types of glass that cannot be recycled?

Two types of glass that generally cannot be recycled with standard glass bottles and jars are heat-resistant glass (like Pyrex) and window/mirror glass, due to different melting points and chemical compositions that contaminate recycling streams. Other non-recyclables include light bulbs, ceramics, and crystal. 

What is the oldest Pyrex pattern?

While clear Pyrex existed earlier, patterned Pyrex began in earnest around 1947, with early popular patterns including Gooseberry, Pink Daisy, and the farm-themed Butterprint (Amish pattern) from the mid-to-late 1950s, considered among the first offered, alongside solid colored "Primary Colors" from 1945, making them some of the earliest iconic designs sought by collectors.
 

What is the holy grail of Pyrex?

Pyrex Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip Set

The bowls in the Pyrex Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip, sans bracket. Image courtesy of JennifersVintageFind. A highly-coveted pattern, the Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip is the holy grail for some Pyrex collectors. Released in the 1950s, some of the bowls feature a Pyrex stamp while others don't.

What do numbers on the bottom of Pyrex mean?

Numbers on Pyrex dishes identify the specific model (shape/size), volume capacity (often the last digit), production details (like manufacturing line), and sometimes pattern or color codes, helping collectors find matching lids or replacements; model numbers are molded into the glass (especially vintage opalware), while pattern numbers might be separate or appended. 

What is the rarest Pyrex pattern?

The rarest Pyrex patterns are often limited releases, promotional items, or international variations, with top contenders including Lucky in Love, known for its heart/clover design and extreme scarcity (worth thousands), Pink Butterprint, and Black & Yellow Gooseberry, made only for specific sets. Other highly sought-after patterns feature unique colors or international versions, like Rigopal's colorful Butterprint/Snowflake, or early, short-run designs like Golden Sunflower Daisy and Bluebelle Delphite, making complete sets extremely valuable.
 

What is Cinderella Pyrex?

The name Cinderella was applied to quite a few different Pyrex products from carafes to butter dishes but the spout and handle nesting bowls marked the first use of this name.

Why is vintage Pyrex in demand?

So, besides the nostalgia, why is vintage Pyrex in so much demand? Well, one reason is the longevity. That patterned mixing bowl of your mothers or grandmothers can last you an entire lifetime, be handed down to your kid, then last them their entire lifetime, too.

How do you dispose of Pyrex?

If you have broken or chipped pyrex ovenware to dispose of, do not recycle it with other glass items. Simply dispose of it carefully in your rubbish bin.

What is surprisingly not recyclable?

Surprising items you can't recycle curbside include plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes, Styrofoam, receipts, mixed-material packaging (like chip bags), shredded paper, ceramics/Pyrex, batteries, and items with a lot of tangled parts like hoses, as they contaminate batches or damage machinery, despite being made from potentially recyclable materials like paper, plastic, or metal.
 

Why is Pyrex glass not recyclable?

Pyrex cannot be recycled because it melts at a higher temperature than glass bottles and jars. It will contaminate a batch of glass recycling.

What is the Pyrex controversy?

The Pyrex controversy involves two main issues: widespread consumer complaints about the glassware shattering unexpectedly (leading to lawsuits and safety concerns) due to a switch from heat-resistant borosilicate glass to less durable soda-lime glass, and a recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action against Instant Brands for falsely marketing some Chinese-made Pyrex products as "Made in USA," resulting in customer refunds. Consumers report injuries and damage from the shattering, while the FTC's case highlights deceptive advertising.
 

What is the lawsuit about Pyrex exploding?

The Pyrex class action lawsuit claims that Corelle failed to warn consumers that it changed the formulation of its Pyrex glassware and that it failed to recall the defective products even though it was aware that the product was prone to shattering and causing injuries.

Why did my Pyrex jug explode?

On a molecular level: heated material expands, while cooled material contracts. Brittle materials like glass are much more vulnerable to thermal shock, because they break when their molecules quickly expand under heat or contract under cold.

Which Pyrex dishes are worth money?

7 of the Most Valuable Vintage Pyrex Dishes That Are Worth...

• Pyrex Golden Sunflower Daisy (1968) // $5200.
• Pyrex Bluebelle Delphite Bowl (1960) // $3000.
• Pyrex Corning Decor Child's Divided Plate (1967) // $2500.
• Pyrex “Cinderella” Bowl (1957) // $2291.
• Pyrex Pink Duchess (1959) // $2000+

What year did Pyrex stop using borosilicate glass?

The “real stuff” hasn't existed at all in the U.S. market for at least 30 years. Pyrex started phasing out borosilicate glass in the 1950s and had stopped using it entirely by 1998, when World Kitchen (now Corelle Brands) bought the license to the PYREX and pyrex brands.

How to make sure Pyrex doesn't explode?

To prevent Pyrex from shattering, avoid sudden temperature changes (thermal shock) by never placing hot glass on cold surfaces or in liquid, letting it cool slowly, and always having liquid in the dish when cooking foods that release juices; use dry towels for handling and cooling, and inspect for scratches or damage before use, as modern Pyrex is made of soda-lime glass, not the more resistant borosilicate. 

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