Looking through my kitchen, I sometimes wonder when and how we accumulated all this stuff. When it comes to the Pyrex 8" Square Baking Dish, I remember the "when" and "how," as well as thinking "great, what am I going to do with this?"

What is the Pyrex 8" Square Baking Dish?
This is a product with a straight-forward name; the Pyrex 8" Square Baking Dish is a pan made of Pyrex, in the shape of an 8" x 8" square, that you can use for baking. More specifically, this baking dish has rounded corners and two-inch high sides, as well as two rounded handles opposite each other. I should mention for those who are unfamiliar with Pyrex that Pyrex is a non-porous glass that doesn't stain or retain odor, and is extremely easy to clean.

This dish is available with or without a plastic lid. We happen to have one with a dark blue lid that contours about a half inch above the rest of the pan when sealed shut. The lid is designed for storing in the refrigerator or freezer and can also be microwaved; however, it is not oven-safe...

Who, When and How did we acquire the Pyrex 8" Square Baking Dish?
A little over six years ago, my husband and I were trying to figure out what to do with our brand new baby, and a friend brought us a lasagna in a 13" rectangular Pyrex baking pan. I don't know if it was sleep deprivation or what, but my husband somehow left the plastic lid on the pan when he put the lasagna in the oven, resulting in a mixture of melted cheese and lid over the center of the lasagna. In looking for a replacement lid, my husband found the only option through purchasing a whole set of Pyrex containers. While I welcomed the 13" pan and bowls with open arms, I saw no value in the 8" Baking Dish, other than to take up more space in my cupboards.

Why do I love the Pyrex 8" Square Baking Dish?
Boy, was I naive. We use this dish a lot more than I could have imagined. It is the perfect size for making brownies or bars, so they don't end up too thin or spread out. I also have a cinnamon pull-apart desert I like to make, and this is the perfect size for the recipe I have.

I'm not too big a fan of metal baking pans since marrying my husband, because he always overcooks meat stuff in them, leaving permanent marks inside the pans. Who wants cake with beef remnants on the edges? Blech. Well, with my Pyrex dishes, I don't have to worry about this. The 8" Square Baking Dish is so easy to clean that most foods will scrub right out of it with a soapy Scotch Brite. we frequently use this dish to cook our overflow of salmon or other meats (pork chops, ribs, etc.). I can bake lemon cheesecake bars in this dish the next day, and not taste a trace of salmon.

Final Thoughts
It's easy to think that you don't need much variation in baking dish sizes, but make sure not to overlook the power of the Pyrex 8" Square Baking Dish. It's ideal for smaller baking projects, easy to clean, and stays looking and smelling the same as the day we bought it, six and a half years later.

Recommended: Yes