I’ve been sort of neglecting Tuesday Thrift posts. Which is a shame, mostly because they’re so easy to put up. As I’ve mentioned before, we do a lot of thrifting, so it’s natural to write about it.
These Pyrex refrigerator dishes aren’t something we found recently, but I figured they were worth mentioning. We actually use them around the house, as opposed to only for display which I know a lot of people do. Made in the 1950s to the 1980s, these rectangular dishes were meant to store leftovers in the refrigerator. They usuallly came in sets of four - two this smaller size, a medium size dish and a large dish. All of them had the clear glass lids as well.
While we’ve occasionally used them for their intended purpose of storing leftovers in the fridge, we find they come in much more handy as spice cellars. In particular, it’s a great way to keep kosher salt around the cooking area.
With the economy down, there are so many people buying up vintage dishes like this. So you might find it a bit harder to come across them at the thrift store. These were found two or three years ago. Often, you’ll find them without their glass lids. A warning - the lids are rather susceptible to chipping. Sometimes, garage sales will have them. They made them up until the 80s, so there’s a good chance of finding it even in a newer household. I’ve picked them up for as cheap as 25 cents in the past, but those finds are fast becoming a thing of the past.
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August 4th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
These are exactly the sort of thing I want when I go back to the U.S. They don’t have to be vintage, but I do want to store food in glass instead of plastic. I know that the plastic is leeching chemicals into food all of the time!
August 4th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
@orchid - that’s a good point, glass is usually better than plastic for storing food. It also doesn’t pick up as much smell from the food. The cons are that it’s easier to break/chip. Especially for fumblyfingers like me =) Also, some of the vintage stuff you have to be careful about microwaving.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
There is one rub with buying Pyrex now. It isn’t always actually ‘Pyrex’ the material. It’s now just a brand name. From Wikipedia:
” Originally, Pyrex was made from thermal shock resistant borosilicate glass. In 1998, Corning sold its consumer products division which subsequently adopted the name World Kitchen. Pyrex kitchen glassware, that is manufactured and licensed for sale in the United States, is now made of tempered soda lime glass at the World Kitchen facility in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, except in the European Union, where it is still made of borosilicate glass in France. Pyrex laboratory glassware is also still made of borosilicate glass. “
August 4th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
@ew - hehe, yeah I’ve heard about the formula change. But I think you still have to be careful about thermal shock for older casseroles you put in the oven. It’s especially bad when you take a really hot glass item and put it onto a cool or wet surface.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:39 am
I love those things! I only have the small though because they are all I can ever find.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Oh, I have a full set of these too (except mine have roosters on them). I love love love them. Perfect to bake small portions in (in the little ones, of course). I’ve never actually stored leftovers in them, though, unless I’d already baked something in them and there were leftovers.
These are my favourites.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Excellent point about the microwave. I love these containers, but my rule of thumb is that if they were made before the invention of microwave ovens, don’t try it. I’ve had too many glass containers shatter from the rapid change of temperature. There are plenty of glass containers sold today that are safe. Best not to take a chance!
By the way, I feel the same way about putting them in the dishwasher, but I am a collector of vintage glassware, so I’m probably overly cautious.
OK… I’m paranoid, but I sure have lots of pretty old dishes!
August 18th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
You got a pretty good deal when you picked some of these up for 25 cents. Vintage containers like these are quite collectible.