Review by J. Sosnowski:

Trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle – using more reuseables and less disposables, and Pyrex is PERFECT for that!!!

I had been using plastic Gladwear, Ziploc, and Rubbermaid containers, but had several problems with them:

1. Storing tomato sauce and then re-heating it in the container dyed them a weird shade of orange.

2. They are supposed to be microwaveable but I found that after a few months of normal use, they were useless – warped, funny colors, scratched, etc.

3. The plastic scratched easily, creating chanels where bacteria could grow – eww.

4. I’ve read multiple articles from multiple magazines quoting multiple studies about how microwaving plastics release toxic chemicals into your food.

5. After several months of use, they were beat and had to be recycled – recycling is, of course, better than throwing them in the trash, but the process of recycling creates pollution and not only that, I’d have to go out and buy more, spending more money, which was what I was trying to get away from. Good for the company, because they got more money, bad for me, the customer.

BUT this Pyrex set is GREAT! 7 containers, 7 lids. LOVE IT!!!

1. I can reheat food in the microwave (without the plastic lid) and don’t have to worry about chemicals leaking in to my food.

2. They do great in the freezer – we use one of the small ones to hold ground coffee – we buy beans and ground several days worth at once, then pop the grounds in the small container and into the freezer.

3. It’s Pyrex, so it’s no big deal when my daughter accidently drops one helping me put the dishes away.

4. I can use them to hold raw marrinating meat, chicken, or fish without having to worry about them holding on to the bacteria.

5. They are dishwasher safe, just put the lids on the top rack only, and they come out perfect, very smooth surface so they are easy to wash.

6. I’ve read other reviews saying that they look nice too, so they can go from fridge or oven (7. Oh yeah, they are oven-safe too) to table as serving dishes – this is true, if we ever had a dinner party, I would’t think twice about using them as serving dishes.

8. They are simple, which I love, because I won’t have to worry about them clashing with anything (we are a young family so we have hodge-podge of kitchen stuff anyway so it doesn’t matter right now).

9. They “nest” together very nicely – we live in a small apt with limited kitchen storage, but these containers, one stacked up inside the other, with the lids separating the containers, don’t take up any more space than my old plastic junk.

I use these ALL THE TIME, I can’t say enough good things about them. All of mine are “in commision” right now, except for one which is in the dishwasher. My one complaint is a set of 7 lids and 7 containers is not enough, I need another set, LOL. (I also have the loaf pan w/ lid – very nice, small, but nice, good addition to my set)

Highly recommend!

Review by Henry Perkins:

Pyrex has two product lines, Storageware (of which this set is a part) and Serveware, that really should be combined. As others have pointed out, this set could be improved by having some larger bowls. The Serveware line features larger bowls, made of textured glass, that look nicer on the table than these plain glass bowls. But the Serveware bowls don’t come with lids; you need to use disposable plastic wrap for refrigerator storage.

The bowls in this set have mostly straight sides. While this is more efficient for storing things in your refrigerator, it’s less so for stacking the set in your cupboards when not in use. A bit more taper in the sides would let the same-size bowls stack better. The Serveware bowls have quite a lot of taper in the sides, so they stack together well in the cupboard but don’t use space in the refrigerator efficiently.

Here’s what Pyrex needs to produce: a set of bowls, mostly larger than in this set, with the attractive texture of the Serveware line. The sides should have a moderate amount of taper so they’ll stack together in your cupboards. They should have lids that fit the bowls.

WATCH OUT for mismatched lids. My set came with the correct assortment of bowls, but 5 small lids for the 4 small bowls and only 1 medium lid for the 2 medium bowls. Of course I didn’t check this until I’d already run the full set through the dishwasher and torn the box apart for curbside recycling. I would have rated the set 4 stars without this warehouse goof.

Review by Vijay Shriram Murthy:

I don’t want to sound biased. I’m just recording my observations here as is.

1. The largest bowl was broken when the package reach me.

2. In the picture, the bowls look big. Lesson: It will be good to first look at bowls with similar dimensions in real life before buying online.

Review by B. Deese:

Terribly packaging, one of the lids was cracked and a piece fell off, cannot use that lid.

Review by 10-2-Go:

I, like so many others, am concerned about using plastic containers for food storage/heating. I saw these nice glass Bormioli Rocco Gelo bowls and thought they were just what I was looking for, so I ordered three sets. The Amazon.com description says the bowls can go in the microwave to warm up leftovers quickly (with the lids removed). Just what I needed! Except, when the bowls arrived, the literature from the manufacturer says, “Gelo containers are NOT suitable for use in microwave ovens….” Not what I needed! I emailed the manufacturer and received a reply in less than two hours! Wow! I asked if the Gelo bowls could be used in the microwave and if they could go directly from freezer to microwave or fridge to microwave. Their reply stated that “…the Gelo are microwave safe also if you put it from the fridge to the microwave. Remember to take off the lid before putting it into the microwave, and don’t put the Gelo into the oven.” So, at least I can pack a lunch of leftovers, take it to the office, put it in the fridge, and then microwave. The manufacturer’s literature also states that they can be used to store food in the fridge and the freezer, but per the manufacturer’s email, they cannot go directly from freezer to microwave. So, I guess if I freeze lunches for the week, I’ll just take one out a day early and put it in the fridge to defrost before taking it to work. The lids fit very securely, maybe TOO securely. I envision trying to open one and the contents spewing out because I have to pull so hard on the lid to get it off! I hope not, and I’ll report back on this. I’ll test them to see if they leak, too. The interior dimensions are 6-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ deep, 5-1/2″ x 2″ deep, and 4-1/4″ x 1″ deep. Remember, they can’t be used in the oven like Pyrex-type glass can. But, since I really wanted them to freeze pre-made lunches for the week to microwave and eat, the oven aspect doesn’t bother me. Five stars for the bowls themselves, for Amazon’s quick shipping, and for the manufacturer’s amazing responsiveness. Just don’t order them expecting to use them in the oven or directly from freezer to microwave.

Review by G. Barton:

Glass bowls are great for keeping salad fresher longer. The lids make for great sealed storage containers.

Review by E. Swope:

This has to be one of the best deals around, even at twice the price, because it replaces so many other things, and is so durable.

The containers work nicely for food storage, but they also can be used for cooking. They go from freezer to oven or microwave, and are dishwasher safe as well. Pyrex is practically unbreakable. With normal use, this set could easily last a lifetime. At the current price, they actually cost less than plastic containers, which do not have either the durability or versatility.

If all that’s not enough, consider the health benefits. Glass will not leech plasticiser into your food, and there’s no dioxin to worry about when microwaving.

I don’t usually rave about kitchen items, but after I recieved this set, I rushed back to order another. I’m getting rid of most of the plastics in my cabinets today!

Review by Amalfi Coast Girl:

A passionate home cook that has been honing her cooking skills for the last 25 years writes this review. My favorite cookbooks are “The Professional Chef” by the Culinary Institute and “Culinary Artistry. Cooking is my form of therapy. I have owned my set of these for at least 5 years, and possibly longer. I have not broken a single piece in that time. This may not sound like much but I am hard on things, and for all of them to still be intact is a minor miracle in my home. The glass is very tough.

Pros:

1. Glass is very tough, seems almost indestructible

2. I like that they are not plastic, so I feel safe about reheating food in them

3. The lids fit well for the first 4 years or so

4. Replacement lids are available at the Corning and Revere Factory Outlet stores

5. These containers fit well into lunch bags so that you family can take your healthy home cooked food to work or school.

6. The containers stack well inside each other for space cramped kitchens

7. You can bake in these and then cool the food (I place the entire container into a roasting pan filled with ice water) put on the lid and slide the pan into the refrigerator.

8. You freeze can food in these containers

Cons:

1. The lids do stretch and warp over time, I recommend buying extra lids before you need them. My lids lasted approximately 4 years.

Overall, I would recommend these to anyone that likes to cook in quantity and doesn’t like to reheat food in plastic. I use these everyday in my kitchen.

Review by D. P. Taylor:

After reading reviews, I decided to purchase this set. I got so tired of storing in plastic and having to switch to a different container to then reheat (TWO bowls to clean up). These are great for both purposes, the sizes fit my needs, I can see what’s inside. Since my storage space is limited I nest 2 sets, and usually have the extra 2-cup in constant use. The lids are very tight; they’ll loosen just a little with use. Easy cleanup [NO STAINING]. Buy these–you won’t be sorry!

Review by Diane Kistner:

I like this set with just the round pieces. We were using all that plastic junk for microwaving soups, putting chopped veggies for salads into the fridge, etc. I just hated it. I decided to switch to these storage bowls because they are the right shape and sizes for much of what we do. But, also, I can use them in the regular oven (without the lids) and also in the steamer basket in the top of my stock pot for perfectly steamed rice. (Put rice in an uncovered bowl, add water to about 3/4″ to 1″ above the rice line, and set it in the steamer basket for 25 minutes or more while you’re cooking your stock or soup or beans or whatever in the bottom. After it’s done, it will stay warmed for hours without overcooking.)

I use the larger bowls as prep bowls or for making up several days’ quantity of various casseroles or salads. The smallest bowls are great for holding prep ingredients. All the bowls are good for dry storage, as well. The lids kind of fold over the edges slightly so they form a tight seal.

Then, too, they are great for dips and chips and whatever else you can think of to use them for. Just an all-around great set that washes up wonderfully fast.

I’m about to order another set of these and freecycle all my plastic.

Update: The lids to some of my Foodsaver canisters (plastic, that broke) fit the 1-qt bowls and the 1-cup bowls nest inside my Back-to-Basics toaster/egg cooker.

Review by DTK:

I had fairly recently invested in a set of Rubbermaid Premier containers when the news got out about BPA (bisphenol-A) leaching into foods from plastic.

I didn’t want to invest in more plastic — even grades of plastic that are currently considered safe. I decided to go with glass. And I’m glad I did.

This set is one of three that I purchased. I also bought the Pyrex Storage 6-Piece Refrigerator Shape Storage, Clear with Blue Lids and the Pyrex Storage 18-Piece Round Set, Clear with Blue Lids. With these three sets together, I feel like I’ve got plenty for my storage needs for a family of 4.

I had feared that switching to glass — although the right decision for me from a health-consciousness perspective — would be the source of some headaches. I imagined having to be overly cautious with the containers, treating them super gently, worrying that they would slip out of the refrigerator and break, wondering how I would stack them in the cabinet without having them all fall down.

To my delight, this hasn’t been the case at all. The manufacturer’s claim that the glass is light-weight is fair. Obviously, these aren’t as light as plastic containers, but they are very manageable.

These pieces are not as attractive as those in Pyrex’s more fashionable lines, but I would have no qualms about serving from these at any casual meal. They look much nicer than anything plastic.

The Pyrex lids are, to me, an improvement over the lids that come with Rubbermaid plastic containers. First, each lid has a lip that runs all the way around the outer edge. This allows the bowls to be stacked safely on top of each other, whether in the cabinet or in the refrigerator. The storage bowl on top rests inside the lip of the bowl on bottom and won’t slide off.

Also, the design of these lids makes them easier to clean. All the Rubbermaid container lids I’ve owned have had a very narrow opening on the outside edge where the container fits into the lid. These crevices can trap bits of food (usually sauces gone astray in my experience) and can be very difficult to clean. The Pyrex lids have a wide lip that can easily be wiped out.

Other reasons I am glad I replaced my plastic containers with these:

1. No more concern about harmful chemicals getting into my food.

2. I can microwave leftovers right in the storage container.

3. I can wash these in the top or bottom rack of my diswasher without any worries.

4. I can put fish, tomato sauce, whatever into these and not worry about them retaining stains or odors.

Buying these Pyrex sets was a bit of an investment, but now that we’re being told you should replace plastic every few years since it breaks down with use, heat, etc., I figure I will make up the cost in the long run.

Review by Goldilocks:

Good-bye tupperware and rubbermaid. I don’t think I’ll ever use anything but Pyrex for food storage, again. It wears beautifully…no scuffs, discoloration or wear marks. It heats in the oven or microwave beautifully (I don’t use the lids in the microwave). But best of all, my son was home for the holidays and when he opened the frig he commented, “Wow. Nicest tupperware I’ve ever seen.” The price is really good, too, considering these will probably outlast any of my plastic storage pieces. Also, I was never too concerned about plastic leaching out into my food from microwave use, but now I’m not concerned at all.