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Corningware |
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CorningWare was originally a brand name for a unique pyroceramic glass cookware resistant to thermal shock, that was first introduced in 1958 by Corning Glass Works. CorningWare is notable for the fact that it can be used directly on the stovetop.
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In 1953, Pyroceram, a white glass-ceramic material capable of withstanding enormous variations in temperature, was invented and developed by Dr. S. Donald Stookey of the Corning research and development division. First developed for America's space program, the glass-ceramic material in Corning Ware can withstand drastic temperature changes. It evolved from materials originally developed for a U.S. ballistic missile program, and Stookey's research involved heat resistant material for nose cones.[1]
CorningWare's oven-to-table service first featured the little blue Cornflower decoration, designed by a Joseph Baum, an artist at the Charles Brunelle Advertising Agency in Hartford, Connecticut, which became the trademark of Corning consumer products for three decades. Additional patterns included:
More than 750 million pieces of CorningWare's oven-to-table service have been manufactured since its inception. A partial product list includes: browning skillet, casserole dish, coffee pot, frying pan, grab-it bowl, gravy boat, loaf pan, pie plate, ramekins, roaster, sauce pan, skillet, and teapot.
Originally manufactured by Corning Glass Works, the CorningWare and Corelle brand names are now owned by World Kitchens Incorporated of Reston, Virginia, which relaunched the brand name in 2001.[2] CorningWare is sold worldwide, and it is popular in Canada and the United States.
The original pyroceramic glass version of CorningWare is no longer sold in the US market. There are various rumors as to why the popular stovetop product was discontinued. The company's official word is that the product died out due to a lack of customer interest. As the prices for "vintage" and "collector" CorningWare rise, however, many on the Internetwho? suspect there may be other reasons.
The company's 2001 annual report shows that the stovetop and dinnerware product lines were halted at the end of the century "as part of a program designed to reduce costs through the elimination of under-utilized capacity, unprofitable product lines, and increased utilization of the remaining facilities."[3] Facilities in Charleroi, Pennsylvania and Clinton, Illinois were closed.
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This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007) |
According to a 12-year-old posting from someone who appeared to be associated with Corning, "CorningWare is a glass before ceraming (a controlled firing cycle which allows crystals to grow in the glass)..." The key property of original pyroceramic Corningware was its low coefficient of thermal expansion. Lithium oxides may be a component of the glass that contributes its low thermal expansion properties.
There have been unsubstantiated reports of problems with CorningWare products shattering when overheated and in the case of the Visions line, the product shattered unexpectedly in a variety of scenarios.[4] All CorningWare products listed operating guidelines to prevent energetic failures (explosive shattering) on the bottom of the cardboard inserts. Visions cookware was frequently tested on consumer advocate programs, such as Fight Back with David Horowitz. Visions' abilities to live up to Corning's claims of durability always passed the test.
World Kitchens sells similar looking products under the CorningWare brand name that are common white glazed stoneware. The packaging for these newer CorningWare branded cookware products say specifically that they are not for stovetop use. World Kitchens does still sell Pyroceram Corning Ware to its Asia–Pacific market. These items can only be purchased in local department stores there.
Princess House, a "party plan" merchandiser like Tupperware or Pampered Chef, currently offers similar cookware products that its website describes as vitroceramic. Its cookware can be used on the stovetop, in the oven, in the microwave, and even in the freezer.
Corelle is the brand name for the highly break-resistant glass dishware, possibly made from the same pyroceramic glass. Both of these products appear to have originated from the Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York, USA.
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