Regardless of how many pieces of cookware or bakeware live in your cabinets, there’s a good chance you have some glass 9x13s kicking around. After growing up eating leftovers reheated in a Pyrex dish, glass bakeware was some of the first cookware I bought after college.
I’ve used my glass bakeware for many years without issue, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t heard stories from others (including my mother) about exploding glass bakeware. Though I’ve avoided this unfortunate experience thus far, manufacturers and experts warn against one action: adding liquid to an already-hot glass baking dish.
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Why You Should Never Add Liquid to a Hot Glass Baking Dish
Glass bakeware is usually made from one of two types of glass: borosilicate or tempered soda-lime. Both are sturdy and appropriate for kitchenware, but each has benefits and drawbacks. Borosilicate glass is more resistant to temperature changes, whereas tempered soda-lime glass is more resistant to breakage from impacts, such as being dropped. Both, though, are susceptible to thermal shock.
Thermal shock occurs when an object undergoes a sudden, drastic change in temperature. As the material heats, its molecules move faster, and it expands; as it cools, its molecules slow down, and it contracts. These changes can cause the object to crack.
With glass bakeware, thermal shock can occur in a few ways. For example, moving a prepared dish from the freezer—or even the refrigerator—directly to the oven can cause thermal shock, as can placing a hot dish on a cool or wet surface. Essentially, any action that introduces a sudden temperature change gets a resounding no, including adding liquid to an already-hot glass baking dish.
In response to the question “Once a Pyrex dish is already hot, can I add liquid to it (for example, by basting with liquid not already in the dish)?” on the brand’s FAQ page, the company states, “NO – Adding liquid to hot glass may compromise the product’s strength, potentially resulting in breakage.”
How To Baste Safely
It’s difficult to resist the urge to add a little extra stock to a dish that’s looking dry partway through cooking, but if you’re using a glass baking dish, resist that urge. To avoid issues, there are a few things you can do.
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If the dish you’re making will release liquid as it cooks, Pyrex (among other brands) advises adding a small amount of liquid to the bottom of the baking dish before cooking to protect against thermal shock.
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Do not add more liquid to your dish if it looks dry. Baste with liquid already in the pan if necessary.
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If you absolutely need to add more liquid to a dish, you have two options. First, you can remove the baking dish from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature on a cooling rack, wooden trivet, potholder, or dry towel before adding the liquid and returning it to the oven.
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If you anticipate cooking a dish that requires basting or adding liquid as it cooks, avoid using glass bakeware altogether and save yourself the stress.
Read the original article on Simply Recipes
