Comments on: A Requiem for CorningWare

By: Boomerang

Boomerang — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:05:43 +0000

The original Corning Ware was not cheap…I was the envy of all my friends back in the 1970s when they saw that all of my pots and pans were Corning Ware. There were saucepans, skillets, Dutch ovens, and roasting pans; each type came in a variety of sizes. Luckily, I still have most of them, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Another thing most people don’t understand is that Corning Ware IS breakable…not in cooking, but if it falls on a hard floor or is subjected to other abuse, it can break. In our last move, 2 years ago, I unwrapped my 3-quart Corning Ware roaster to find it was split in half (and it was packed by professional movers!) I’m still trying to replace it.

The explanation that the manufacturers discontinued the original Corning Ware because it was durable and therefore unprofitable doesn’t make sense when you consider that metal pots and pans are also durable.

In addition to the original blue cornflower and multicolor floral designs, there was also perfectly plain white original Corning Ware. The French White and the new SimplyLite lines simply can’t compare to the original type…they can’t be used on top of the stove! But with the original type, you could, for example, roast a turkey or a ham or beef in the oven, remove the roast and make the gravy on the burner, and then put the roast back in the pan and reheat the whole thing in the microwave…all in the same pan!

Young cooks who prefer Le Creuset (which I once had…it’s much heavier and it chips) or Calphalon pots and pans simply don’t know what they’re talking about.

The original Corning Ware could be used in the oven, on top of the stove, and in the microwave! What could possibly compare to that?!

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:28:46 +0000

The original casserole set is supposedly available again. It seems to be the same design, but made in France. Here’s one place that sells it:

http://www.shopworldkitchen.com/index.asp?pageID=231&upc=8888236045123

By: Gail

Gail — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:10:51 +0000

I have older pieces of Corningware that I have picked up at yardsales and though I’m not as in love with it as you are, it does have its purpose and is great in the microwave.

My favorite thing about the new Corning ware is the weight. When I developed arthritis, I found I was having great difficulty with my heavier plates, etc. I started picking up pieces of Corning dishes (usually at the thrift store) as they really are light and easy for someone like me to carry and hold onto. So for me this has been the rainbow with silver lining in sadness.

By: Tightwad

Tightwad — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:14:53 +0000

I am fortunate to live near several retirement communities in AZ.
Frequently the elder residents pass away and then there is the inevitable estate sale where one can purchase older -what they now call “retro”- items.
Corningware is always amongst the merchandise.
I pick it up for .50¢ to $1.00 per item, depending on its size.
Why go to eBay and pay higher + shipping and insurance?!?!
There is always a ton of Tupperware as well!
You might want to check your area to see if you can score these “pretties” too!
Just a tip from Tightwad.

By: John

John — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:21:08 +0000

The company that makes the new CorningWare is not Corning, the company is World Kitchen. Corning sold its consumer products division in 1998. The company that purchased the consumer products division also bought Ecko and GHC, which all then combined to form World Kitchen. They have products like pyrex, corningware, bakers secret, revere, chicago cutlery, OXO, and the list goes on. Corning Incorporated was not responsible for the product changes that occurred a number of years after they sold the company. That being said, I miss the original stuff too.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:45:43 +0000

How sad I’ve seen this occur with Revere Ware – the copper bottom stainless steel pots that my grandmother and mother used. I bought a set of Revere Ware at Kohl’s a few years ago, and it seemed to be the last box. Then, when my grandmother died, I got some of her Revere Ware and I could immediately see a difference in quality.

The newer pots I bought were thinner and flimsier than my grandmother’s. The steel was thicker in her set, and the pots just feel like higher quality.

It’s a shame items like these are disappearing or becoming cheaper in quality.

By: Janis

Janis — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:14:14 +0000

I received many pieces of Corning Ware as wedding presents when I got married over 30 years ago. I used them every day and enjoyed their versatility. However, they were all lost in Hurricane Katrina. I was able to replace most of them at a fraction of their cost by searching on ebay. You can tell it’s the old version by the small blue cornflower on each piece. Anything else, like multi-colored vegetables, etc. is NOT the original and CANNOT be used on the stovetop.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:44:59 +0000

If I see some CorningWare in a store, how could I tell if it’s the old version or the new?

By: Charlie@PayLessForFood.com

Charlie@PayLessForFood.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:28:28 +0000

I’m really sorry to see CorningWare go especially since I grew up in Corning, NY – the town where the original CorningWare was made.

Yes this sleepy upstate NY town was named after the company. As my dad worked for the company we always had CorningWare around.

I believe Corning, Inc may have dropped the line because they are concentrating on higher profit products such as the glass used in high definition televisions, fiber optics used as the backbone of the internet, and pollution control systems used on automobiles and cars.

All of these are high growth areas.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:44:27 +0000

I was given my corning wear as a wedding gift 32 years ago. I use mine almost every time I cook. another thing I still use is my tupperware. I have had some pieces for 40 years. I got my canister set as a wedding gift also and still use it even tho I do not like the color any more. (orange)