How to clean pyrex baking dishes?

[JuliaG]

All my pyrex dishes have hard-core baked on food stains that I cannot get off. I have tried scrubbing with baking soda and also with bar keepers friend - to no avail. Does anyone have a suggestion for getting these dishes clean again? I heard that oven cleaner is a possible solution but I really don't like the idea of using these harsh chemicals on my cookware. Thanks for your help!

[JuliaG]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - I tried the magic eraser sponges (I soo wanted these to work!) but didn't make much of a dent. I guess this stuff is really baked on there! I think I will have to resort to the oven cleaner.

[marthasway]

Bon ami "hasn't scratched yet" cleanser in a yellow can is made of diatomaceous earth, a very fine abrasive. Use with a damp sponge and increasing pressure as necessary. No chemical reaction like BKF. It's gentle and effective on tea stains on fine china. I have old Corning Ware and Pyrex, too.

[calliope_nh]

I read A blog post of someOne who collects and sells vintage pyrex/corningware. She suggested one of those "magic" sponges. There are a few brands now, magic might be a brand name. Thry are white and feel smooth to the touch but are abrasive. I found it worked great even on some spots that had been there for years.

[tuttebene]

I have had success with using scouring pads and VIM, a gentle cream abrasive cleanser but I'm not sure if the stains were as baked on as yours. Also the surface areas were small, but it did the job. It's been very good on some vintage corning ware that I've purchased that had years of baked on grease.

[cutipie721]

I usually just soak it overnight...

[breadchick]

I don't use glass baking dishes anymore, but when I did, I would rub a bit of oil over the pan before using it as a preventative measure. However you get them clean, this might help down the road. Best of luck!

[anndillman]

I recently used oven cleaner on my really old 20 years+ pyrex and they now look like new with no ill effects.

[MarkKS]

Oven cleaner is fine on glass, it won't damage or contaminate it. You can also put it into a self-cleaning oven. It won't heat up fast enough to crack, or high enough to melt it.

[I used to know how to cook...]

Hi all,

I agree. Oven cleaner will do the job. But OP didn't want to use it, hence my other suggestions.

I use oven cleaner on the top of my old (1948) gas stove and it works beautifully. Soaks in and removes all the burnt-on grease and gunk in the little cracks in the finish and doesn't hurt it at all.

Lucy

[janniecooks]

are you using a sponge or a scrubber with your abrasive powder? It just takes a lot of elbow grease, using a scotchbrite scrubber pad, or a nylon scrubber, or even a brillo pad. Have no fear, a steel wool pad will not harm your pyrex bakeware, and it may be the only thing to get the burned on stuff off. and it will work, if you scrub hard/long enough.

[I used to know how to cook...]

Hi JuliaG and janniecooks,

I agree with Jannie. You need something abrasive. I'd go with the Brillo pad.

One thing that will help is put it through the dishwasher and take it out while it's still hot. Then do your scrubbing. The grease will come off more easily.

Lucy