CorningWare facts for kids
Corning Ware, also known as CorningWare, is a famous brand of cookware. It's special because it's made from a unique material called glass-ceramic, known as Pyroceram. This material is very strong and can handle big changes in temperature without breaking. Corning Glass Works first introduced it in 1958 in the United States. Today, a company called Corelle Brands owns the CorningWare brand.
The special glass-ceramic material, Pyroceram, acts like both glass and ceramic. This means CorningWare dishes can go from the refrigerator or freezer straight to the stovetop. You can also use them in an oven, microwave, or under a broiler. They are even safe for the dishwasher! CorningWare is popular all over the world, especially in North America, Asia, and Australia.
Contents
The Story of CorningWare
How it was Discovered
The amazing material used in CorningWare was found by accident! In 1953, a scientist named S. Donald Stookey was working at Corning. He was studying a special type of glass. He put a piece of this glass into a furnace, planning to heat it to about 315 degrees Celsius (600 degrees Fahrenheit).
When he checked, the furnace was much hotter, around 480 degrees Celsius (900 degrees Fahrenheit)! The glass had turned a milky white color. Dr. Stookey tried to throw the sample away, but it slipped and hit the floor. To his surprise, it didn't shatter! This super-strong material was named Pyroceram. It was first used for ballistic missile nose cones because it could handle extreme heat.
Coming and Going in the USA
Corning Ware was first made mainly in the USA. However, the production of Pyroceram-based Corning Ware stopped there when a factory closed. For a while, you couldn't buy the original type in the USA.
In 2001, the brand was relaunched. But this new CorningWare was made from stoneware, which is different from the original Pyroceram. It wasn't meant for stovetop use.
Then, in December 2008, the original Pyroceram-based CorningWare was brought back to the USA! It was called CorningWare StoveTop. This version is made in France, in one of the few factories that still make this special glass-ceramic cookware. A good thing about modern Pyroceram production is that it can be made without using harmful arsenic.
In early 2022, sales of Pyroceram-based CorningWare stopped again in the USA for a short time. But it came back in early 2023. It continues to be sold in many other parts of the world.
Designs and Products
The very first design for Corning Ware was called 'Wheat'. It was tested in 1958 but wasn't very popular. So, they decided to use the 'Blue Cornflower' design instead.
The 'Blue Cornflower' pattern became very famous. It was designed by Joseph Baum, an artist. This blue flower design was the main symbol for Corning consumer products for 30 years! Besides 'Blue Cornflower', many other styles have been made over the years. Some popular ones include 'Floral Bouquet', 'Spice O' Life', 'French White', and 'Shadow Iris'.
Today, Pyroceram-based Corning Ware is very popular in the Asia–Pacific region. Many special designs have been created just for this market. These include patterns like Bliss, Blue Elegance, Country Rose, and Dainty Flora.
The lids for CorningWare dishes are usually made of Pyrex glass. While some early lids were made of Pyroceram, most later ones are made of borosilicate or tempered glass. These lids are not as good at handling sudden temperature changes as the cookware itself. So, you shouldn't use the lids under direct heat.
More than 750 million pieces of Corning Ware have been made since it started! This includes many different items like:
- Browning skillets
- Cake pans
- Casserole dishes
- Coffee pots (percolator, drip)
- Dutch ovens
- Frying pans
- Grab-it bowls
- Loaf pans
- Pie plates
- Saucepans
- Skillets
- Soufflé dishes
- Teapots
Other Similar Products
Corelle Brands also sells products that look like CorningWare but are made of glazed stoneware. These are different from the original Pyroceram CorningWare. The packaging for these stoneware dishes clearly states they are not for stovetop use.
Visions is another brand of transparent stovetop cookware. It was first made by Corning France. Visions cookware is made from a clear version of Pyroceram. It has very similar heat-resistant qualities to CorningWare. It also resists stains and damage from acids and detergents better.
Corelle is a brand known for its break-resistant glass dishware. It was also originally created by Corning Glass Works. Corelle has offered designs that match many CorningWare patterns. It's important to remember that Corning Ware cookware, Corelle dishware, and Pyrex products have different heat properties.
Arc International in France sells cookware similar to Corning Ware. They use brand names like Arcoflam, Luminarc, and Arcoroc. Some of Arc's white glass-ceramic cookware has also been sold under the Corning Ware brand name.
Images for kids
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Original CorningWare saucepans, with the 'Cornflower' decoration
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Miniature toy set of CorningWare
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