Well, we're still using the ones DH got as a wedding gift in 1960-something. He's been using them in the microwave ever since they invented microwaves...

I love my Corning!!
Yes, freezer, oven, micro and dishwasher are all OK!
I have several sizes, the little pans with a handle, etc.
My most used are about 1-1/12 qt. and I nuke home canned veggies to warm for dinner.
The shallow one can be used for baked goods (nice size for 2 people).
I don't have the really small ones (1 cup?), but my daughter and I fought over them at a garage sale...I LET her win!! :-).

I like the idea of using them for frozen meals rather than plastic. Easy (and SAFE) to warm up. None of the concerns with microwaving plastics.

Good find!

Deanna

I don't know if they are microwave safe. But I have seen them in antique shops several times over the last year. And they are charging an arm and a leg. Apparently the blue cornflower pattern is highly collectible.

They had a tiny casserole (5" across??) with a handle and a clear glass lid for $35.00.

Yup. Definitely microwave safe. I've used mine in the MW tons of times and so has my sister and MIL.

If it's real "Corningware" from the 70s, it's also safe for oven and stovetop. If it's the newer "Corning Ware" it's not safe for stovetop but OK for oven. They stopped making the stovetop/oven stuff some time ago, maybe in the 90s? HOWEVER, they did start making it again recently as I saw it in a ktchen outlet store a few months ago, but only in two sizes.

I think the reason those blue cornflower ones are so highly coveted is due to the fact that they were stovetop safe.

Congragulations! What a find!
I am envious!
I don't have any of the little petite pans.
Wish I did.
They sound ideal for the use you describe.

I have never used mine in the freezer.
I do use them in both microwave and oven all the time.

Rusty

YIKES! Teresa, you're making me feel much better about my ''good deal''. My favorite thrift store had them for $1.50 each, but I did have to spend considerably more for the lid, which I did, since I didn't need more than a couple. (She's klutzy, so I bought an ''extra'' in case there's an accident. I finally realized after 30 years, that DH dropping things is probably genetic!)

Thanks Deanna and Malna, that eases my mind considerably. Finding so many of them in one stop made me feel like I was on my way! What I particularly liked about these is she's not a big eater, so she won't be overwhelmed by the sight of too much food. Also, they stack very nicely, so they won't take up a lot of room. I'm adding more when I can find them, so I have enough to go into ''rotation'' while she's consuming the contents. What I also liked about these in particular was that they would seem familiar to her, which I hoped would also be a source of comfort. After cooking for a family for so many years, I thought she might be charmed by having her own personal casserole dish!

I have them, all sizes and when I got my first microwave, back in the 70's they were recommended. Have never had a problem.

Nancy

Oh Cool! THANKS lowspark, for reminding me these were stove-top safe. Of course they are! That's the ''why'' of the handles, isn't it? Although, are they safe to put directly on an old-fashioned electric coil stove-top?

Rusty, I appreciate your comments, and Thank You for making me feel like I picked the right thing.

Does anyone know when Sears is due to have an Appliance Sale?

I still use my corning ware and love it. I need to caution you - it does get hot in the microwave. She needs to be very careful removing the lid, especially if steam forms from heating a soup or stew. I'm not saying not to use them - I think they are perfect, but you might want to look at also getting her a silicon mitt or some of those silicon grabby things, if she can manage them.
Your gift is going to be spectacular!

are they safe to put directly on an old-fashioned electric coil stove-top?
I'm guessing that's what those were MADE for! LOL! Back in the 60s & 70s, what else did anyone have? Well, except of course, for gas. Which is what I have.

Anyway, my sister had an old fashioned coil stovetop till about 7 or 8 years ago when she got a smooth top. She absolutely SWEARS by her corningware which she uses on the stovetop AND microwave all the time. She actually loves the fact that she can make rice in a pretty corningware dish and then serve it from cooktop to table in the pretty container.

I had one of those old coil stoves too when I was first married and living in an apartment. Switched over to gas as soon as was possible (circa 1983). I love my corningware, some of which I got when I got married the first time (in 1980) and some of which I inherited when my mother passed away.

Thanks Nancy! It's always good to hear from anyone still using it.

Magothyrivergirl, that's good to know. I'm not browning much of the food that I'm putting into the casseroles, so I'm hoping the microwave time will be on a defrost setting. She will still need to put them in her oven to get a nice browning or crust on things. Which makes me wonder....

I have a tendency to put frozen items in dishes into a cold oven first, so the gradual warming will not be so hard on the container. Is this what most of you would recommend? It seems the shock of a frozen dish in a hot oven could shatter the dish, which I don't want to do.

Thanks Lowspark! That's helpful. I don't know that she'll actually want to cook on top of the stove with these, but I'll ask her. Since these are so small, I wouldn't think so, but then...the whole point of this is to help her out so she won't have to cook so much. If it looks like she may, I'll look into getting her a pan handle.

I recommend that you keep one. When you want to save your leftovers for her, line the corning ware with saran wrap or foil, mold your leftover into the dish - freeze in the shape, then remove, wrap better, label & keep it in your freezer until you can get her emptys back to easily refill. That way you will have a continuous cycle of prepared meals going her way. It will become really easy.
Don't forget dessert! The corning ware makes perfect crisps and cobblers!
If you come across Grab-it bowls cheap - buy them. They also had plastic lids for freezing and glass lids for cooking. We use ours everyday. Below is a link for the picture & description.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grab-it bowls

I have 3 Grab-it bowls and a couple of rubbery lids for them and use them all the time. Yes, they do get hot in the microwave, but I like the handle on them and food seems to heat up more quickly and evenly in them.

More recently I bought a Corning Ware tea kettle to boil water. It is the original little blue flower style, only about 3 cups, just like the one my mom had when I was growing up. It boils water faster than any other kettle that I have used - faster than my old copper kettle even! I paid $9 plus $9 shipping from a vintage Etsy dealer and I'm so happy I got it. And it's so easy to keep clean!!!

Teresa

Mago and Teresa, the Grab-it bowls are much too big for the amount of food she eats, which is why I went the petite pan direction. I've never seen her eat that much of anything, ever! Yes, my mother had some of those, and I remember they were well loved in her kitchen. And yes, I have dessert planned, and had already thought about freezing individual portions to vacuum seal as well, which could be placed into the dish for heating. (Thanks for reminding me however!) The sweet tooth is always the last to go, I think, and I know hers is fierce.

Teresa, I didn't realize the tea kettle would boil water that fast! Oh, I could go crazy with ''matching'' dishes, couldn't I? I need to start cooking instead...

I'm starting this process by making meat sauce and spaghetti for some friends on Friday. A double batch will get me going in the direction I want to, and give me a good start! I'm mixing hers with some ziti so it's good to go, and making garlic bread (slices) to wrap individually.

You brought back memories! My mom gave me some of those and I learned to cook on them. I've always had a gas stove so I think that's OK. I didn't have cornflowers, but mine were white with glass lids and little yellow, red and orange flowers if I remember correctly. I think I passed them on to one of my nieces when she was moving into her first place. Good memories!

CdL, I make Sheshebop's Spinach Brownies and put individual servings in the Grab-it bowls then freeze for DH's breakfast. I know SB are for appetizers but he thinks it's breakfast quiche. So, perhaps your MIL will like it in too and will be perfect for the petite pans.

I'll have to go back and check out the thrift shop; I know I've seen them but passed then over.

Memories, Light the corners of my Mind....

Cathy, Great Idea! I'm adding that one to the list! Yes, they seem to be out there, as long as you know where to look! Apparently, if you can find the lid, you're golden, as they're elusive little items and HTF.

I used Corningware in the microwave a lot and it worked well but I threw out most of my Corning stuff because it's so miserable to clean if it had anything baked onto it. I fought cleaning my big one after lasagna wa baked into it and soaked it for days, chipped away at it and finally said ENOUGH! Dumped the water out and tossed it into the garbage.

My preferred microwave cookware is the Rubbermaid stuff but it's not made anymore apparently. It's the kind that Donovan Jon Fandre used on his Microwaves are for Cooking show. Dropped a couple and busted them :( but found a few pieces at a garage sale. I also had a couple pieces of Corning crack in the oven but that can happen with anything I guess. Even cast iron!

Claire_de_luna I'd guess that this weekend might have a Sears sale. They seem to have them every holiday weekend. Just looked and right now there's a "free upgrade" to stainless steel on Whirlpool, Kitchenaid and Maytag, up to 20% off appliances plus another 5% off with Sears Card, free delivery and special financing if it's of interest to you. This is on right now and ends Thursday.

I feel like I'm living in the dark ages. I have never had anythiing except electric coil stovetop. In 50 years this is only my 2nd kitchen range an it's 21 years old. I've always used the Corning ware, stovetop, oven and microwave. Gas is not an option for us and I never wanted the smooth top units, nor would I want a glasstop range. Too set in my ways? Probably.

What a nice thing you're doing Claire!

jude

I wouldn't take anything for my old Corning Ware. It's usable on the stove top, however I really didn't like using it there. I freeze in it and microwave in it. If you have a frozen casserole in one, just take it to the oven while the oven is cold and heat it up while the bowl is in the oven. Works fine everytime. No other product that I know of will go from freezer to oven without breaking.

I love these things...I have to stop myself from buying them at the thrift shop or flea market or I'd have a house full. More than the little ones though, I love the smallest casserole dish they have with a regular glass lid. They are great for heating up leftovers. No "microwave" dish works as well because these don't MELT! I don't think I'll try the stove top on these though!

I love the corningware it is so convenient. But my all time favorite is anything fireking. My favorite of these are the bowls with handles. We use them daily and when microwaving the handle stays cool and makes it easy to remove. I am only 35 but my kitchen ware is all vintage:) (most older than me)

Stacie

Think Corning Ware must have been THE thing to give as a wedding gift in late 60's and early 70's. I got as ton of it as shower gifts way back when. Also had to live for 5-6 years in apartment with electric stove top. I grew up with gas stoves and burned a LOT of stuff in the CW. Got rid of a lot of it years ago, but held onto a "sauce pan" with that twist on handle. Use it often in microwave. Have 2 of those small CW pieces, with round, stubby handles and glass lids, a small "sauce pan" with attached handle and a small "skillet" shaped piece with attached handle. Thought could be used on stove top, they're pretty much microwave things to me.

Just bought 3 Petite Pans online for my own use to freeze casseroles and soups. I plan to line the pan with parchment, plastic wrap or foil to freeze in the pan then lift out and double wrap or vacuum seal to store. I've got CW casseroles that I bought in the 1970s and they are still in really good shape, so it just makes sense to get some individual containers of the real stuff. They won't be finding many "pottery shards" of Corning Ware decades from now!

Teresa

Oh I just love walking down memory lane, then having it pop up again into my real life.

Thanks Cynic, I did see that. I'm doubting the freezer will be much less than it is now, so I guess I should go ahead and spring for it. (Since I don't need SS.) I'd rather have it here on site, so I'll know when I've filled it up!

Jude, you're simply used to what you have, which is great. Once you learn how to cook on a particular type of appliance, why make a change if it's working for you?

Stacie, my particular house brand is vintage Fire King, like you. I have all the different sizes, and think it works very well. I liked I could look into the fridge and see what was in the bowl/container and used them exclusively until my DH started dropping things during menopause. Switching to Lock N Lock containers for leftovers saved my marriage and kept me from going insane.

Arkansas Girl, there's a glass lid for the petite pans. I like a decent glass lid, always! Yes, I agree with you that having a ''real'' lid is important.

Beverly, that's how I heat up frozen foods in my old Fire King, since I never wanted to risk it. Yes, it does work well doesn't it? I didn't know about the CW though, so I'm glad to hear it works the same way.

klseiverd, when stuff gets burned onto my FK (not often, but it's happened), I use a non-fuming brand of oven cleaner (sprayed onto the dish out in the garage) which gets it off every time. I'm assuming it might work for the corning ware too. If it happens, I'd certainly give it try rather than dump it in the trash. Although, I can certainly see why you'd want to simply be done with it! Sometimes a Garbage Dump is the only ultimate satisfaction.

Teresa, it's fun you were inspired to add the little ones to your collection.

I ate dinner last night out of one of the petite pans; I still think it may be more than she might want to eat at one time, but I simply won't overfill them. At least if she has leftovers, it won't be too much to deal with or think about eating.

That's good to know about the Fire King stuff...I didn't know it was pretty much the same as corning ware. I see it at the thrift shop and flea market all the time too.

Stacie, Is Fireking the green dishware and it has another name also? I can't remember what it is, but when DH and I were in Florida this year we picked up a couple of plates for a friend who collects it. I didn't know it was so durable. What is the other name for it?

Well, I'm not Stacie, but yes. The green Fire King is called Jadite (made popular by Martha Stewart, because Trust Me! No One would buy the green stuff before she embraced it), and will always be marked Fire King. The difference between FK and Corning Ware is that you can't use it on top of the stove. They made in white, green, cream, copper tint, blue sapphire, etc. There are plates, bowls, custards, mugs, pie plates, casseroles, roasters, measuring cups, etc. It's typically kind of heavy, which is why it's so durable and still collectible.

I couldn't get by without my Corningware. Love the stuff. I have it from all eras. I put it in the microwave every day.

Lucky you!

Is Corning ware Dutch oven p-34-8 safe on gas stovetop?

I have always been told that is should NOT be used on any type of cook top. There is a high risk of the product cracking from the direct heat. That said, I do know someone that puts the roaster on her gas burner. She claims Corning told her it was ok. I would not risk it.

I have 5 square Corningware casseroles with glasss lids, two 2 cup, two four cup and one 8 cup. I use them constantly and wouldn't want to be without them. I use them for baking, storing and reheating (microwave). Never on the stovetop.

I have a boatload of Corningware. Some originally rec'd as wedding gifts plus a lot of other pieces that I've picked up either new back in the day or at rummage sales more recently. I use it all the time and would be lost without it.

Never have used it on the stovetop. Just the MW and in the oven or just as serving dishes.

I gave DSI a few pieces and he loves the stuff, too.

i use some kind of CW everyday, I got them as wedding gifts in 1971, with all the plastic warnings, i am so glad I never cared for plastic so I always used Pyrex or CW.

I just used one of the small (not mini) pans on the stovetop tonight to create gravy after removing the little roast from the oven. I do have a bunch of the minis too. I had a few and ran into a bunch more at a country auction or second hand store last year for less than a buck apiece.

Lars, I have never followed the sizing numbers except to note that larger numbers refer to larger pans.

I wouldn't expect even a large Corning Ware to break. However, I also assume that the odds are higher (if small) for failure of the larger sizes. Therefore, I certainly wouldn't load one up with oil for frying; yow-za! I have a large one that I could use for soup to prove a point, but I have a heavy coated steel dutch oven and a couple stainless ones that are at the ready so I would not feel like risking even the small possibility of losing a whole pot of soup. I would certainly deglase that CW pot to make gravy after a large roast.

BTW: most of the moderately old CW units are marked under the handle or on the bottom indicating that they may be used on the stove top. Some of the very old units don't say anything, but I believe they will all say 'pyroceram' and they are the original stove safe CW. However, if you find CW that specifically says 'oven safe' or similar, but doesn't also say stove top, then they are not for use on a stove top.

I have and use all the time, Corning Ware from 1970 that says nothing on the bottom except the CW name and the volume. I use it on top of the gas stove, in the oven, on the grill, in microwave and freezer. It's still shiny clean (I use Bon Ami). It heats up hot and you have to use a lower flame.

I have a lot of old CW that I use on the stove top (gas) no I don't use them for a major cook, but I do a lot of reheating in them on the stove. I also have the CW removable handles for them.I really like CW and how versitile it is, well at least the older stuff.

Hi, Just found this. So, C.W. sounds preferable to Rubbermaid for freezing.

@lowspark only 70s Corningware or throughout the 80s too? When exactly did they change?