Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

What does everyone use?

And can glass even go in the freezer/microwave/dishwasher without shattering? And are there good brands that are affordable?

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

I use loads of glass and very little plastic for my storage needs. Pyrex and Mason Jars go in my freezer and in my dishwasher!

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

Pyrex and mason jars here too, refuse to use plastic beyond the occasional chip bowl for a party or randomly collected cup. And especially never plastic in the microwave. But then again, we don't even use a microwave. ;)

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

Glass is worlds better than plastic. I use Pyrex mostly, they can go in the oven, microwave, dishwasher, ridge, and freezer. I just make sure I don't do any sudden temperature changes (like straight from fridge to hot oven). The only time I've had one break is when I dropped it when it was really cold. It was full of old almond milk :sick but yes I love glass, I never use plastic anymore if I can help it.

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

I use some Pyrex and some plastic. I was told once not to use regular glass in the freezer because it can crack, but I don't know how much of a risk that is. I do not use plastic in the microwave.

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

When freezing in glass make sure to leave room for liquid to expand and don't freeze in containers with a smaller top. So a regular mason jar, I've had crack, even if I leave room for expansion (and leave the lid loose). But pyrex bowls or wide mouth (straight sided) mason jars work fine. The Ball brand, the boxes are marked whether or not they're freezer safe. Even cheaper, whenever I buy food in jars, if the jars are straight-sided, I save them and use those for food storage (I have a cupboard for those jars, when it's full, I start recycling any new ones that come in (or change it out if a different size comes in that I like better).

Once you start storing food in glass, you realize that stuff stored in plastic tastes like the plastic, I hate it now!

I switched from glass to plastic when the twins were toddlers (probably 2ish?) we use corelle dishes (already had those, just stopped using plastic plates and cups for the kids) and either the mugs that came with the corelle, or mason jars (jelly jars for kids, pint jars for adults) as cups (I do have some nice glasses for company LOL). I'm not going to say we've never broken anything (and I definitely notice the difference now that we have granite countertops, a dropped bowl or jar is alot more likely to break on the granite than it was on the cheap formica or whatever it was in our last house), but not enough to make me want to go back to plastic. I did discover, when the neighbor boys were here alot last summer, that it wasn't safe to let them use glass outside (take a drink of water outside to them or whatever), they just didn't have the concept of being careful, I don't remember teaching my kids that, but somehow they figured it out. So I bought some cheap plastic cups for when they were here. And just this week, I found some plastic dishes I liked on clearance at 5 Below and got them for when we grill out, we've never had any problem using our glass out there but since we grill on the driveway it does make me nervous, glass over blacktop. . . plus by getting the plastic dishes, I put them all in a pretty basket and we can just carry that basket outside and have everything we need. I'm comfortable with plastic for that purpose because we won't be using it in the microwave or even putting stuff in the fridge (even when we travel, if we'll be staying in a hotel with a microwave I bring a glass bowl to microwave in I do NOT use plastic in the microwave and hate that my mom has this plastic lid thingy that she puts over EVERYTHING she microwaves at her house, I'm constantly taking it out of her microwave and leaving it out in hopes she won't think to put it back over stuff LOL).

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

I use mainly plastic because that's what I have:shrug I would like to have glass instead, but even if I could afford to switch it out, there just isn't the variety of sizes and shapes that I have with plastic:shrug

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

I'm slowly moving to glass as we have money.
I prefer it definitely.

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

We recently bought the ziploc glass storage containers.they go fridge,freezer,oven(to 400)or microwave. http://www.ziploc.com/WhatsNew/Pages...ontainers.aspx

---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:37 PM ----------

Do you like your Corelle?i was looking at some because I need new dishes,but I was reading about their products and read that the ones with decorations have low lead enamel or something :shrug3 so I'm just going to avoid Corelle. Anchor hocking makes dinnerware so I think I'm going with that...now to find cookware:think

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

We use glass mason jars with lids that we drilled and added a seal for sippy straw cups. We all use them and love them. I've not thought of switching to glass for storage, but something I will consider now after reading this thread.

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

We are another family that uses glass almost exclusively. Pyrex and mason jars!:rockon. I do use plastic (the BPA-free square boxes) when packing sandwiches in lunch bags.

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

We use glass almost entirely as well - like others said, Pyrex and canning jars. I have had some jars crack when I've been too overzealous about removing them from the freezer (and putting them in warm water to speed defrosting :shifty) so I just make sure to try to factor in defrosting time now.

We don't have a microwave. I bake in glass. We use stainless steel Lunch Bots or small Pyrex bowls for packing lunches.

Our dollar store sells glass storage bowls and lids in a couple of sizes we use frequently.

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

I've been happy with Corelle, but I already had it, and didn't have the money to figure out and replace it. At the time that I was switching to glass other stuff (10ish years ago), I couldn't find any information about any dangers of Corelle, but there really was nothing about it either way. It seems like there can't be much lead or they wouldn't be microwavable (that's something I watch for in mugs (I kinda sorta might have an obsession with mugs:blush), generally mugs (other than handmade stuff, then it might be for other reasons, talk to the maker) that say they aren't microwave safe, it's because of lead (and they get REALLY hot if you do microwave them). But I don't know . . . Assuming it's lead free, it's really nice for kids because it's lightweight enough for them to carry a whole stack of plates to the table and such. And they don't take up much space in the cupboards.

Just because it's my style now, if I needed dishes now I'd love to just hit thrift shops and do a total mishmash of unmatched dishes, so part of me wishes our Corelle WOULD break LOL.

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

And what do you know . . . Pyrex sets were on sale at my Target tonight. Looks like I'm giving glass a try!

Re: Is glassware really better than plastic?
 

There are freezer-safe mason jars. They are straight, not curved at the top. Any glass with a curved top will crack because as the water expands in freezing, it pushes up and, if it hits a barrier, will break the glass. So, only freeze in glass that has straight sides or sides the go out, not in (if that makes sense :lol).