Pyrex: The Reliable Bakeware
In the early 1900’s Corning Glass Works had developed a
lantern glass made from a low-expansion glass for the railroads that would not
shatter when it was struck by rain or snow.
As a result they saw a decline in sales as replacements were not needed
as often. The tough glass was resistant
to temperature fluctuations, corrosion and breakage. Corning was looking for a
way to expand their business when in 1913 Bessie Littleton, the wife of company’s
newest scientist, Dr. Jesse Littleton, became very frustrated with her Guernsey
brand casserole which had fractured in the oven after only two uses. She knew the strength of the glass her husband
had been working with on a daily basis and begged him to bring home a
substitute from the Corning Glass plant. The next evening he brought home the bottoms
of two sawed-off battery jars made from the low-expansion glasses. She baked a
sponge cake in one of the glasses. Her
findings were remarkable.
- The
cooking time was shorter
- The
cake did not stick to the glass
- The
cake was uniform
- She
could watch the cake bake and see that it was done by looking at the underside.
Dr. Littleton took his wife’s creation to work with him the
following day. Researchers inspected the
cake noting it was uniform in color, delicious and well baked. Thus began a two year process to perfect this
new invention. On May 18, 1915 the
Boston department store, Jordan Marsh, placed the first Pyrex order.
This glassware, sold under the Pyrex trademark, seemed to be
the perfect material. It was sturdy and
nearly unbreakable which eliminated the hassle and cost of replacing it. These attributes would become even more
important during World War II when resources were scarce.
Selling the product was not easy since most housewives would
not believe that glass would be so durable and would withstand the stresses
that Pyrex claimed to tolerate. People
were skeptical despite the fact that Pyrex was easy to clean, absorbed rather
than reflected heat waves and was not fragile. In 1915 Corning enlisted the aid of Sarah
Tyson Rorer, editor of ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping columnist and
founder of The Philadelphia Cooking School to be their spokesperson and
advertiser. She was soon promoting the
product at demonstrations across the country. By 1919 more than 4 1/2 million pieces had
been sold. That was an enormous number
for that time period as America was involved in World War I.
Pyrex attributes that were important in 1915 are still important
today.
- Dependable
- Versatile
- Durable
- Value
- Easy
to clean
- Does
not stain or retain food odors
- Bake
and serve in same dish
- Refrigerator/freezer
storage
Since Pyrex was introduced the products have seen many
changes in design, color, decoration and accessories to keep pace with changing
cooking practices and fashion. Pyrex
Portales, a part of changing times, was introduced in 1995. It is an insulated food transportation system
that allows for carrying hot or cold food sealed in the dish it was cooked in. Pyrex is now available in a wide assortment of
products for baking, storing and transporting food.
Imagining a kitchen without this durable and versatile
cookware is almost impossible. Whether
it is used for baking a cake, roasting or preparing a casserole, Pyrex is
reliable, easy to clean and can be used to refrigerate the leftovers. It is truly a workhorse in the kitchen.
Want to add to or enhance your
cookware, tableware, or cutlery? Visit
our website at http://www.mycookwareshop.com
and peruse our offerings. You can also
visit our website to view more of our favorite recipes.
