A little more decorative for oven to table use.
Written: Aug 13 '09 (Updated Aug 13 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Durability: |
|
|
| Ease of Cleaning: |
 |
|
| Style: |
|
|
|
Pros: Inexpensive, two pieces fit in microwave
Cons: Round shallow interior, no lids for storage
The Bottom Line: Not as functional as it shoud be. The beauty of glass is that it can be used for storage...but not without a lid.
|
|
|
| xyzwyatt's Full Review: Anchor Hocking 4-piece Basketweave Bakeware Set |
I have a couple glass pieces that I use constantly in the kitchen and over the years they have become scratched up and old. I was looking specifically for a round bowl with a lid that would primarily be used for microwaving that would be attractive enough to go from microwave to tabletop. I was leaning toward a glass dish because I knew that it would easily blend with the other pieces that I already had a home.
I settled on this set priced at $20 which I thought was reasonable and the print looked perfect for summer. The set includes a 2.5 quart round casserole dish with glass lid, an 8 inch square dish, and a 3 quart oblong dish.
I'm not a health nut, but I have this fear of chemicals from products such as non-stick metal in the oven or plastic in the microwave absorbing into the food. I don't worry about toxins when I use these glass dishes.
I can also use the bakeware with any type of food without the risk of reacting to the pan or staining it. It's my preferred choice for dishes that have spaghetti sauce in them. I like the glass bowl with lid to re-warm spaghetti sauce because the lid prevents splattering in the microwave and I don't have to worry about a red stain on the bowl.
Metal pans don't break, but I usually have to throw them away a lot sooner because it doesn't take long for my kids to take a knife to my new metal pan and leave scratches that rust. I prefer to use this bakeware for their treats because even it it does get scratched, it won't effect the performance of the dish. I am able to take a dessert from the stove to the table to the fridge. It saves a lot of time and dishes in the long run, plus they are all dishwasher safe.
There are a few drawbacks of this product simply because it's made of glass. I have heard of glass dishes exploding in the oven. This would likely be caused from drastic temperature changes or heating above the recommended temperature which could happen with anything made of glass. The dishes are said to be safe up to 425 degrees and are not for stovetop, broiler or toaster oven use. I reserve mine for baking desserts and simple casseroles at the 350 degree mark.
The biggest disappointment with this set is that the square and oblong pieces do not have any type of lid. They could have easily included a plastic lid for storage. Plastic wrap or aluminum foil will have to do but that means nothing else can sit on top of it. It also makes somewhat of a challenge in storing the items in the cabinet.
The round dish does have a glass lid which is perfect for cooking, but it just sits on the bowl. It could easily be bumped off in storage or in the fridge and the handle on the top means nothing can be placed on top of it to utilize empty space.
The outside of the bakeware has a weaved texture to it. I was so interested in the outside design when I purchased the set that I didn't even consider the inside. When I started using the bakeware I realized that they are not shaped like a traditional square or oblong pan. The bakeware is rounded down so it's like a shallow bowl. I tried making a dessert with a crust in it and the crust would not flatten so I had to move it to another dish. I was not impresses with how the sheet cake came out in the 9x13 pan either. I thought it was dryer than in my Pyrex 9x13 bakeware. I was also disgusted when the bakeware didn't fit neatly in my fridge because it doesn't come with a hard plastic lid.
The basketweave does looks more like a table presentation bowl rather than oven bakeware. The edges are curved rather than angled so it is a little easier to clean than traditional corners.
The bakeware is freezer safe. Not sure why you would put a baking dish with no cover in the freezer. I guess it would be okay for a same day frozen dessert.
Some adjustments to recipes may need to be when using this bakeware because glass takes longer to heat up, but retains the heat longer than other materials. Food also cooks faster in glass so either adjust the cooking time, or lower the temperature. The longer retention of heat makes it a nice choice for casseroles that are going directly to the dinner table.
I really chose this set for the microwave. I do use the round one the most but the square one also fits in the microwave. I find it to be a more convenient choice than my Corningware simply due to the handles. The shape of shallow and round are positive qualities when cooking in the microwave.
The glass is 100 percent clear which I think looks a little cheaper in quality compared to others on the market. The glass seems thick so I'm not concerned about it cracking. The bakeware does has a 5-year warranty against chips, cracks or breaks if used as directed.
Overall
I really hate that the pieces don't have lids for storage. This really inhibits the use in the fridge and freezer. The rounded interior of the bowls work against me most of the time. The sizes of the pieces are nice and the price is great, but other than that, I'm not impressed.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 20.00
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
xyzwyatt
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Location: Nashville, TN
Reviews written: 542
Trusted by: 171 members
About Me:
Be a coffee-drinking individual - espresso yourself!
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.