Unfortunately, if your Pyrex bakeware and containers are no longer usable, they'll need to be disposed of in your landfill bin. This applies to both the old-style borosilicate glass and the more modern tempered glass varieties.
Can Pyrex be recycled? 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.
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.
Baking glassware such as Pyrex dishes in usable condition should be donated to local thrift stores or otherwise reused. If unusable they should be thrown away in the trash. They should not be added to curbside recycling. They are made of a different material than glass bottles and jars.
Part of Pyrex's popularity is due to the nostalgia factor. Many collectors love Pyrex simply because it reminds them of childhood.
The price of vintage Pyrex often depends on the object's desirability and condition. While a set of old custard cups may fail to sell for 50 cents, a four-color, four-piece mixing bowl set can cost from $45 to $65.
How can you tell if a piece is real vintage Pyrex? The secret is simple—check the logo. If the brand name is in all capital letters, it's vintage Pyrex. If it's all lowercase, it's modern.
Decorative patterns are also key to determining the glassware's value. Lucky in Love, a sweet pink and green design, is prized for its rarity and promotional production. Wright notes that Amish Butterprint, Pink Gooseberry, Snowflake Blue, Crazy Daisy and Friendship are also considered valuable in the Pyrex community.
As long as you follow the same guidelines above, vintage Pyrex is A-OK to go in the oven and can be used in oven temperatures up to 425ºF (and skip the broiler). There is one caveat to using your vintage Pyrex, though: Do not use any vintage dishes that are chipped or cracked—in the oven or otherwise.
Pyrex cannot be recycled because it melts at a higher temperature than glass bottles and jars. It will contaminate a batch of glass recycling. Wrap up Pyrex before throwing it in the garbage.
Vintage Pyrex is a hot collector's item, both for looks and functionality.
Wrap any sharp edges or pieces in newspaper, place them in a plastic bag, label them as “broken glass,” and throw them away. Broken glass is never recyclable because it's a hazard for sanitation workers to handle it. Glassware and Pyrex can be donated or tossed.
Make Exceptions For Vintage Pyrex
When it comes to caring for those dear pieces, it's best to do nothing more than wash them by hand with gentle, clear, unscented dish soap and dry them with a soft cloth.
If you have broken pyrex glass, wrap it carefully and put it out with your normal rubbish collection (red bag).
Adorned with trippy florals and vibrant colors, Pyrex was very common in the midcentury, but with resurgence of mid-century modern (or “mid mod”) styles, Pyrex is now cool again. According to Food & Wine, 80% of households in the U.S. currently own Pyrex.
Pyrex eventually switched to tempered glass most likely because boron is toxic and expensive to dispose of. Although tempered glass can better withstand thermal shock than regular soda-lime glass can, it's not as resilient as borosilicate. This is what causes the shattering reaction people are talking about.
The next time you go to cook dinner in a Pyrex pan, take a look at the labeling. Cookware with lowercase logos are usually made of soda-lime glass and should not be heated up in the oven or microwave to minimize risk of them breaking.
Along with Butterprint, Gooseberry was one of the first patterns debuted on the new “Cinderella Bowls.” Cinderella Bowls were a series of large nested mixing bowls with a handle or spout on each side, which were designed by John Philip Johnson.
If it's all caps Pyrex, it's vintage, made of borosilicate. If it's lowercase Pyrex, it's new. And it's soda lime.
Sell your vintage finds on Etsy, eBay, or on auction sites.
Sites like eBay allow you to auction off your rare Pyrex. As of writing this article, the highest listing is $5,000 for a 4-piece dish and lid set of the Blue Cornflower design. Even Goodwill has items listed for sale.
What Makes Pyrex Special. "Pyrex continues to hold its value because most of us associate it with memories of family and holiday gatherings and memories from their childhood," Wright says. "The vintage designs and patterns of Pyrex evoke a nostalgia, which adds to its value for collectors.
Vintage Pyrex Stamp and Logo
Flip over your piece and look at it carefully. It will have a stamp that can help you date it: 1940s and 1950s - The oldest Pyrex markings should be on the bottom of glass pieces and feature Pyrex in all capital letters inside a circle with CG for Corning Glassworks.
Here's where the branding comes in. All-caps PYREX, which is sold and made in France, is still made of borosilicate glass. But any Pyrex that's all lowercase — a recent change in branding — is soda-lime glass, which isn't designed to withstand drastic temperature changes.
In 1915, the company launched its first Pyrex line (Pyrex combined "pie" and "Nonex") with 12 pieces, including pie plates and a loaf pan. The 8-ounce liquid measuring cup came out 10 years later; early versions had a closed, D-shaped handle and tick marks made out of molded glass.