Meal prepping in a glass container makes a huge timesaver. Simply, throwing the prepared food straight into the oven helps to relieve hunger during a busy schedule.
From pasta to casserole, storing a meal prep container in the freezer extends the shelf life compared to refrigerating. But the concern heavily lies on whether frozen glass container is safe to directly transfer into a preheated oven.
Can I put a glass container from the freezer to the oven? No, you cannot put a glass container from the freezer into the oven. The sudden heat transition may cause the glass dish to crack, break, or even shatter.
Although most oven-safe glass dishes are designed to withstand both freezing and cooking, it is best to leave in the fridge overnight and then bring to room temperature before heating in the oven to prevent breaking the glassware.
Glass cookware tends to allow food to absorb heat faster than any other material. As a result, frozen meals cook quicker in glass than in metal.
Answered below are frequently asked questions about why glass breaks in the oven. Once you identify whether glass is oven-safe, there are still precautions to prevent breaking glass dishes when using in the oven.
Can glass container go from freezer to oven?
No, glass container cannot go from freezer to oven. If you put ice cold glassware in the oven, it may break due to extreme temperature changes even if the dish is tempered.
In general, glass is a poor thermal conductor and is not capable of rapid changes in temperature. The stress fractures in the glass may eventually cause it to crack.
Glass containers are an excellent way to store food in the freezer for extending expiration. But when it comes to reheating or cooking, it may not be the best option to place cold glass in the oven.
No matter the glass container is oven-safe or not, always thaw before placing in an oven to prevent thermal shock. Allow the dish to completely come to room temperature before placing in a heated oven, otherwise the cold glass may shatter right away.
Sometime its better to transfer the frozen food into a separate oven-safe dish before heating, especially if you are in a hurry and don’t have time to properly thaw the dish.
Will glass break from freezer to oven?
Yes, glass will break from freezer to oven. Going straight from the freezer to a hot oven results in a drastic temperature change that may cause the glass dish to crack or shatter.
Any glass bakeware or cookware shouldn’t be placed in a hot oven to prevent the dish from breaking. Even heat-resistant Pyrex glass is recommended to avoid extreme heat changes.
Always place frozen foods in the fridge overnight and then transition to room temperature prior to putting in a heated oven.
Equally so, don’t put the dish in the oven while it preheats. Exposing glassware to the oven heating elements can cause damage to a Pyrex or glass dish.
How do I know if my glass container is oven-safe?
Not all glass containers are oven-safe and there are ways to identify whether the glassware is oven proof or not.
Here is a checklist to know if your glass container is oven-safe:
- Locate a symbol on the bottom of the container.
- Identify what type of glass such as tempered or borosilicate that is heat-resistant and safe in the oven.
- Check the user guide for instructions, and always avoid sudden shifts in temperature.
Don’t make assumptions that all glass or even oven-safe glass is safe to cook, bake, or reheat in the oven. If the glass is cold, take precautions to gradually warm it up to room temperature before placing in a hot oven.
Cold Glass in Oven: Conclusion
Placing frozen glass container directly in a preheated oven is a dangerous move. The sudden temperature change may lead to the glass dish cracking, breaking, and shattering.
Typically, oven-safe or tempered glassware are capable to handle both freezing and cooking. However, both techniques do not go well together.
To avoid the glass dishes from breaking, consider to let the food and dish fully defrost in the fridge overnight and then at the room temperature before baking. Not only will this save your glass dish, but also helps to cook evenly without having frozen parts inside the food.
Always check whether the glass container has an oven-safe symbol on the bottom, type of glass and materials that glass is made out of to make the right decision. When in doubt, refer to the owners manual for how to deal with frozen food in the oven using the glass container.