Pyrex & Corningware Portables
May 28, 2008
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What it is: A dish for prepared food with a lid, an insulated carrier and a Unipack® that you heat or chill to keep your foods at the right temperature when transporting it
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Bonnie: These Pyrex and CorningWare Portables make the food scientist in me very happy.
You see, I’m a stickler for keeping foods at the proper temperature. In fact, some of my friends refer to me as “the food police.” But I’m sure if they knew what I’d learned in my food-borne bacteriology classes, they too would keep their hot foods hot and cold foods cold. And they wouldn’t leave any food at room temperature for more than two hours.
Seriously, though, people do get sick from food mishandling. That includes keeping food at improper
temperatures for too long. (And you thought that tummy ache after a big picnic was from eating too much….)
So what’s right? Simply keep hot foods at 140-degree F or warmer and cold foods at 40-degree F or colder. That was something not so easy when toting food to a BBQ, a party or a picnic — until, that is, these Portables were introduced a few years ago. Each set contains an ovenproof bowl or dish, a snap-on lid, gel “Unipacks” that heat or chill to keep the food warm or cool in transit and an insulated carry case, replete with a spot for that hot/cold pack.
I plan to carry my food in these to summertime picnics,and will check out how others carry their food before I indulge in their offerings.
Bryan: As I look at the Pyrex and CorningWare Portables sitting on my kitchen table, I immediately
think back to night ski trips in high school. This may sound like a strange aside when considering baking dishes, but I assure the court that I will come to the point. At that time in my life, skiing was a new sport and, with little money to invest, my gear collection was a motley assortment of reallocated sporting goods; I’d stuff my boots into a soccer bag, loop my climbing straps over my shoulder and carry my used skis unbagged. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little jealous of my peers, some with shiny new Rossignol skis and boots neatly tucked away in their color-coordinated, matching bags. With their upscale outfitting, it’s not that they could ski any better than I, though one noticeable advantage was that their boots fit into their bags without almost breaking the zipper every time (one of the unique problems of my Adidas “skibag”).
Some things never change; there is good gear and bad. Riding the bus to a potluck dinner tonight, I would probably be the kid with a foil-topped baking sheet while the others would be carrying their casseroles in Pyrex Portables. While certain things will always be a pain to transport (one of the few crossovers of food and ski equipment), proper gear will always ease the burden. I now use a ski bag, not rope, to carry my skis and I will now only go to a picnic with a Portable.
Transporting food used to be Russian roulette. Will the mac & cheese slide to one side in the not-quite-wide-enough shopping bag? Will the roast beef juice leak onto the backseat through the foil? Cooking receptacles are generally designed for use in the home, so they travel at your own peril. CorningWare’s new portable 2.5-qt round dish and Pyrex’s new Portables 9×13 baking dish changes all that. Each set comes with the dish, a secure lid, precisely-sized, insulated travel bag and accompanying hot/cold pack. There really is not a better system available for transporting your food.
Some people may never plan to travel with prepared food, some people will. Those that do should take a look at the Corningware and Pyrex Portables. Be the cool kid on the bus.
Eric: I am a pushover for picnics and relish the opportunity to move away from the kitchen table and venture into a park for the occasional brunch (or dinner). For me, the picnic represents relaxation; it’s a retreat from the monotony of everyday dining, and a change from the daily kitchen-table meals. I can close my eyes now and smell the smoke of the BBQ and the scent of the freshly cut grass.
Although one of my favorite ideas about a picnic is the food preparation (mise en place has become a personal mantra), my mind is always worried about the storage of the food, and the ability to make it to the picnic ground intact. Unfortunately, not all of us have the Yogi Bear picnic basket, but if we did, and he was still swiping them today, I’m sure he’d appreciate the pasta salad still cold, and the tandoori chicken still warm. Take a break; enjoy a picnic.
23 Comments on “Pyrex & Corningware Portables”
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I have looked for CorningWare everywhere…including in Antique stores. It is nice to see that they are actually back in biz…if they were ever out of business because they literally weren’t available here in N. California.
These are really great. wanted to tell everyone that the Saco Buttermilk is really great & sign up to win it . I made a red velvet cake & it is so much easier with the dry buttermilk. See you can make a cake & then tote it! have a great day
CorningWare replies: CorningWare bakeware is marking its 50th anniversary this year and has been in continuous production since its inception in 1958. The products are widely available throughout California (Macy’s, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Linens ‘n Things and more) and online at http://www.amazon.com and http://www.corningware.com.
This is fabulous for summer and holidays what with carrying goodies from your kitchen to another’s. Sure will be less cumbersome.
katyrose Says
“These are really great. wanted to tell everyone that the Saco Buttermilk is really great & sign up to win it . I made a red velvet cake & it is so much easier with the dry buttermilk. See you can make a cake & then tote it! have a great day”
Yes, I agree. There is nothing but great things to say about the Saco Buttermilk mix. Once you start using it and realize how easy it is to store, you won’t want to be without it. I can almost taste your cake now.
I have a 13 x 9 – 3quart corning ware casserole which had the portable case and the heat/cold pack included and I have mistakingly left the case behind somewhere. Is there a possibility of just ordering the case somewhere or directly from you. Thank you for this information.
Note from Pyrex glassware: Pyrex Portable replacement carriers may be purchased through the Consumer Care Center of World Kitchen, LLC, parent company for Pyrex glassware. Call 1-800-999-3436.
Dear Sirs,
Dear Sirs, I would like to order a corning coffee pot. Thank you
Lillian, We just review products on this site – do not sell them. I suggest you look on sites that do, such as amazon.com
Where can i find the unipacks that go in pyrex portables and repalcement lids
Note from Pyrex glassware: contact the Consumer Care Center of World Kitchen, LLC, parent company of Pyrex glassware, for replacement information at 1-800-999-3436.
I would like to suggest that you offer a replacement for the unipaks that come with the Pyrex Portables. I’ve had mine for several years and the unipak has split and is no longer usable. The rest of the set is in fine shape.
Millie, Pyrex has already posted that these unipak replacements are available online. Just contact the Consumer Care Center of World Kitchen, LLC, parent company of Pyrex glassware, for replacement information at 1-800-999-3436.
I purchased two of your pads Cold and Heat for my carry casserole, I only used it a total of three times and yesterday when I heated it in my microwave, I followed the directions correctly and they pad burst I didn’t realize it and I put it in the carrier and the stuff came out and I had it all over my the casserole dish when I got to my destination and had to scrub the cloth carrier when I got home. I don’t know where to find these things other than you, Now what do I do. I didn’t heat it too long or anything it just burst.
Geri,
As the folks from Pyrex posted here on before: contact the Consumer Care Center at 1-800-999-3436. I’m sure that they will assist you.
As Bonnie indicated, do call the World Kitchen Consumer Care Center at 1-800-999-3436 and explain your problem with the hot/cold pack.
would like to know is there a way to find the pyrex hot pack replacement in any major department or retail stores, I live in the Boise Idaho area and would like the information contiainde above.
Where can I find the replacement hot packs in the Kansas City area?
Consumers can purchase replacement hot/cold packs for Pyrex and CorningWare Portables in several ways. They can call World Kitchen Care Center at 1-800-999-3436 or they can purchase them online at http://www.shopworldkitchen.com. They are also available at CorningWare Retail Stores. To find a local store, call 1-888-246-2737.
I have a Pyrex Portable 9/13 Baking dish with secure lid and a green color insulated travel case with Hot/Cold Packs that can be inserted in the travel case. I have used this a lot for those “Bring a dish” parties; however, the Hot Pack has worn out. The last time I used it the pack swelled up after it had been in the MicroWave just 1 minute so I discarded it
realizing it was no longer safe to use it.
Do you have a list of retail stores where it can be purchased? Is it available on the internet? I made a call to the number listed in the booklet that came with the product but the clerk could not help me. A St.Louis, Mo. area store would be convenient. Will appreciate your reply.
Sally, just read the posting right above yours (#19) – World Kitchen explains how to replace the hot pack or where to call to get the info you need.
Bonnie is correct, Sally. You can buy the Unipacks (as they’re called) just :
=order by calling the 800 number (1-800-999-3436)
=order online at http://www.shopworldkitchen.com
=buy from one of the factory stores
Where can I purchase a round insulated PIE carrying case? Does anybody make this item anymore????????????? Please help me find one We do have a casserole heated carrying case, but want one to carry pies. Many thanks. Jan.