The Pyrex Glass Casserole Dish Is a Timeless Standby

We purchased the Pyrex Glass Casserole Dish so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

We took the 2-quart Pyrex Glass Casserole Dish for a tour of our cooking and baking, using it in our large oven for baking, our microwave oven for reheating leftovers, and our countertop oven, just to see how well it would work. As a matter of fact, we used it for just about everything except salads. From baked goods to casseroles to beef and broccoli, we tested its cooking prowess and its cleaning ease every single day. And now we’ve got our verdict. 

Design: Utilitarian

We doubt that anyone would call this casserole pretty since it’s made from clear glass and has rather plain lines. It’s really made more for function than for style, and we can appreciate that, particularly at this price point.

We liked the large handles on this casserole when we were removing the dish from the oven, but they made the dish look larger than its actual capacity. The smaller size is fine for cooking more modest amounts of food—and we’ll admit it’s a nice size for small meals and side dishes—but it’s good to keep in mind that this may not be the right choice for a family-sized meatloaf or lasagna.

The handles stick straight out to the sides, adding to the width of the pan in the oven and in storage. They reminded us a little of oversized ears on a cartoon critter—kind of cute, but not what we’d call elegant or stylish. In the end, we decided that we liked the handles enough to forgive the space they used. 

Material: Glass

This glass dish is safe in the oven, dishwasher, freezer, refrigerator, and microwave. It’s sturdy, but like any glass, it can break if dropped or exposed to sudden wide temperature changes. You should always preheat the oven before putting this dish inside, and when it comes out of the oven, place it on a trivet. We preferred using a wooden cutting board right out of the oven, then moving it to a cooling rack for foods that needed to cool rather than be served warm. It should not be used in the broiler.

One of the big advantages of clear glass is that we could see the food from the side. While that’s not critical, it did let us see that our corn casserole was simmering properly, and we could see that our baked goods were browned on the edges. The glass has a slightly green tint that’s more visible from the side, but it’s not green enough to make the food look a peculiar color. 

Heating Capacity: Stays hot, hot, hot

Like any good casserole dish, this one heats slowly and evenly, and it retains heat well. With the lid on, it can keep food warm for serving, but if it’s on the table with the intention to pass it around, pot holders would be a good idea until it cools enough for easy handling.

When baking cinnamon rolls, we weren’t sure whether to follow instructions for a shiny metal pan or a nonstick pan, so we took a guess. We needed to add a little cooking time to get the proper browning, but that wasn’t much of an issue. Plus, the fact that we could see the sides of the rolls made it easier for us to be sure they were cooked fully. 

Cleaning: Easier than we expected

This is top-rack dishwasher-safe, but we found that it was easy enough to clean by hand when we wanted to use it again right away. Even the slightly burned bits around the sides of the pan from baking an enchilada casserole came off easily, with just a little scrub with a sponge. When we made even more of a mess with a somewhat goopy casserole, a short soak loosened everything that was left in the dish.

Price: A true bargain

We’d have to categorize this as very inexpensive, and when we considered the included lid, it was a downright bargain. While this might not be the prettiest piece of bakeware, it’s very useful. Even folks who tend to cook in larger quantities are likely to find a use for this, even if it’s for a hot dip or a spicy salsa for a crowd.

Pyrex Glass Casserole Dish vs. Anolon Casserole Dish (46056)

At a higher price, but still a bargain, this 2-quart casserole dish from Anolon holds the same amount of food as the Pyrex we reviewed, but the shape is significantly different. While the Pyrex dish is a rectangle with relatively high sides, the Anolon boasts a longer oval shape with lower sides. 

We liked the Pyrex for casseroles that threatened to bubble over during cooking, while the Anolon would be our choice for small roasts or for dishes like au gratin potatoes. The downside of the Anolon is that it doesn’t include a lid, but we have to admit that we loved the design as well as the choice of cobalt blue or paprika red for that splash of color it would add to the table. The ultimate choice, however, would have to be about the type of food you’ll be cooking most often.