All About Glassware

Over the years, it has become a habit for many ordinary people to use metal or porcelain dishes for cooking various dishes and eating frequently. Glassware began to be actively used only very recently. And all thanks to the fact that the manufacturers finally managed to give it heat-resistant properties, and therefore it began to be actively used on the table as a stylish decor, on the stove to speed up the cooking process, as well as in the oven for quick and efficient baking of food.

Glass as a material for the manufacture of dishes attracts housewives in that it is extremely convenient to use, it is easy to clean, it looks beautiful when cooking delicious dishes. In the market of modern tableware, you can find traditional types of such utensils, for example, plates and glasses, as well as pots, various baking dishes, and even large baking sheets made of special tempered glass.

Glass can be considered one of the oldest materials that the layman began to use for his needs. It is believed that the first glass appeared in ancient Egypt almost 5 thousand years ago. Its characteristic properties can be considered hardness and density, as well as low heat conductivity - this means that heated glass will retain heat for a long time. At first, glass products were produced in the usual way by inflation, today the technology of material production has improved.

Households are divided into 2 types:

• utensils made of heat-resistant material;
• ordinary glass utensils.

Plain glass utensils are bottles for drinks or cans. Cookware made of heat-resistant glass - these are different-sized sized pots and pans, which can be purchased for restaurant kitchens and used in domestic conditions, various forms of roasting pan and beautiful forms for baking food. Cutlery differs in the nature of the glass used, methods of production, the nuances of decor.

Most often, the following types of utensils for decorating the dining room are found: glasses and luxurious tall wine glasses, stylish glasses and short glasses, oilers and sugar bowls, vases and jugs, thrush and sugar bowls, stylized trays, plates, saucers of various parameters.

Many glass containers are actively used in microwave ovens. Such a demand for baking products can be explained by many significant advantages over other products.

• The transparent appearance of the dishes will allow you to make the necessary control over the entire process of cooking, because all products will be in front of the attentive gaze of the hostess.
• The low thermal conductivity of such utensils allows products to not cool for a long time.
• Glass will not affect the taste of the products. Even long-term storage of cooked food in a glass container (and in the refrigerator too) will in no way affect the appearance or taste of the food.
• Glass containers will perfectly tolerate exposure to elevated temperatures.
• High aesthetic characteristics of the dishes will allow you to purchase products not only to cook food in the oven, but also to beautifully serve a festive table, to serve food on the dining table.
• Bakeware, no matter how fragile it looks, in fact, has significant durability. Resistance to abrasive substances or aggressive detergents or cleaners will contribute to the long life of the product.
• In this type of cookware, it will be quite easy to cook many popular dishes, as the products in it will not burn.

In addition to the above advantages, glassware may have several disadvantages.

• The most significant drawback is that it can break very easily, especially when it is in the hands of young children. Therefore, if you have children who are ready to actively help you, it is best to simply remove them from washing this dishware or serving it a dinner table to avoid injury to your kids.
• Glass, even if it is heat-resistant, still remains just glass; for this reason, when cooking food in it, it is better to avoid various strokes or other physical effects.
• The main disadvantage of heat-resistant glassware can be associated with its low heat conductivity, and in addition, it often collapses when the temperature difference used for cooking. The hostess of these products will require the most careful treatment of them.

Glass products for the kitchen are classified according to several criteria.

• By appointment, it is divided into a dining room, a utility room, often adding kitchen and tea and coffee to it.
• In terms of functionality: for preparing various dishes, for storing food and serving it, for taking food and various drinks.
• By type of glass: from ordinary material, crystal, heat-resistant.
• By the method of creation: pressed utensils, blown and extruded products, as well as enameled.
• By name.
• By the presence of decor.
• In shape - it can be hollow or flat.
• By size: small items, medium and large, especially large items.
• By completeness: a device or a pair, a set or a service, a large headset.

Heat-resistant dishes are actively used for cooking hot dishes and various types of baking. Bakeware glass molds are distinguished by the fact that they can retain heat inside the product for several hours, which will significantly shorten the cooking time and help food maintain a warm state for a long time. Heat-resistant transparent baking sheets and forms for baking all kinds of dishes are presented in specialized stores in a rather large assortment.

You can easily select any desired shape or even color to your liking. Heat-resistant glass as a material can withstand up to 300 degrees, which means that it is suitable for everyday use. In the store you can always find beautiful sets of dishes made of colored silicate glass, which are designed for luxurious serving of various dishes.

Also you can always choose glassware made of new heat-resistant borosilicate glasswhich is perfect for broiling or baking your favorite foods. Such products can be used at temperatures from -50 to +500 degrees, which will allow them to be used: in microwave ovens, in gas and electric ovens, on electric stoves, on gas stoves (although only with a special flame divider), they can be cooled and keep food in the refrigerator and even in the freezer.

Shatterproof cookware made of shockproof heat-resistant glass is also in demand - it is completely safe, and even if you accidentally drop such a product, all fragments of it will have no sharp corners due to a special hardening technique. This quality makes this kind of utensil as durable as possible - it will not fly into small dangerous fragments if you accidentally drop it on the floor. Such dishes made of tempered glass are perfect for a festive buffet reception.

Glass ceramics are a worthy replacement for the popular but expensive china. It usually has greater resistance to various shocks and it will be much better to tolerate washing in a dishwashing machine.

Very popular high-impact glassware. If you are a fan of traditional glass products, then you should pay your attention to Murano glass. Decorative dishes are distinguished by their exquisite Venetian design, give a unique play of light and colors and make the festive table more attractive.

Elegant glasses look especially beautiful in this technique. Another set that will decorate any celebration is Bohemian glassware. All these stylish wine glasses, vases for sweets and fruits, piles and decanters for vodka, glasses for wine will become your pride and cause the enthusiastic looks of your guests.

Glasses of different sizes, beautiful plates and luxurious tureens have always been in special demand among housewives. All these products will noticeably decorate any table and can even significantly affect the appetite of people sitting at this table. Stained glass has always been in special demand. Such services can be found in the catalogs of many well-known manufacturers.

Brands such as Luminarc and Pasabahce. Their chic selection of glass dishes will allow you to find the most suitable set for any possible style of the kitchen. These manufacturers offer their customers a choice of not only one-color colored glassware, but also objects with an original pattern.

Luminarc is one of the most famous world brands in the production of modern tableware. The French brand “Luminark” uses unique testing methods for products that are already ready for sale, thanks to these methods, Luminarc cookware has earned its excellent reputation, and it was her experts who introduced a unique and fairly strict certification system for their own products

Turkish company Pasabahce It is also one of the recognized leaders in the manufacture of glass products. The brand first introduced its products in 1935 and has since become very popular. Brand products are stunningly durable. All items are made of tempered crystal glass. A special technique allows you to make brand products suitable for constant everyday use. Even fragile at first glance brand's wine glasses can safely be entrusted to the dishwasher.

Dark glass dishes will go well with the colors of the kitchen in any tone. Dark tableware is currently produced by many eminent companies.

Among them, Luminarc can again be mentioned, as well as SV Glass Industry, Pasabahce. On sale you can find very simple sets with small items that have grooved edges. Plates of this kind, plates, glasses and glasses, tureens and teapots will easily become a decoration for any feast - it doesn’t matter if they are made of black or brown glass.

Bormioli Rocco is also one of the most famous modern manufacturers, which offers its customers opal glass products and colored glass products for various drinks. All the produced types of glasses and glasses, glasses and mugs will give you the opportunity to decorate your table and make the taste of any drink much better: it does not matter what it will be - water or wine, regular beer or exotic cocktails.

Glassware is also produced by the German brand Eisch. The company uses a new technology called "breathable porcelain", the manual labor of craftsmen is used to produce the most popular products.

Bright saturated and catchy colors are always in fashion. The most popular can be called blue. It will fit perfectly into any modern interior. A magnificent set of dishes in blue colors will blend in well with any tablecloth or furniture. The advantage of such products is that the blue color will not increase your appetite and will help you lose weight if necessary.

Bohemia Crystal is a well-known Czech brand that produces dishes from Bohemian glass. Crystalex Glass Corporation, which owns the world famous brands Bohemia Crystal and Bohemia Glass, offers consumers only the most stylish sets of dishes.

When choosing utensils made of quality glass, you need to remember about its elegant and most suitable appearance for your kitchen. In addition, special attention should be paid to the very quality of the selected glass so that it does not lose its shine in a couple of months. Really, good glass utensils should have maximum strength and heat resistance.

The surface of the glass services should be completely smooth to the touch. All decor elements should be located symmetrically, “wrinkles” and “folds” should not be present on the selected products - this indicates a low quality of the material.

Stylish glass flowerpots and wine glasses, plates and glasses, shapes, trays and other utensils are very useful attributes of any modern kitchen or dining room. These services can be purchased both at very high prices and at a more attractive price. To avoid mistakes in the final choice and buy a quality product that will last you for many years, you should know certain rules.

• It is extremely important to find out as much information as possible about the service manufacturer that you liked, to clarify how many years it has been on the tableware market, to get acquainted with reviews.
• You should carefully inspect all glass products for scratches, possible chips, so as not to purchase defective utensils for your home.
• It is necessary to take into account not only modern fashion trends, but also the general style of the decor of your kitchen, in which you will actively use the new set, colors and appearance of kitchen items already present on it.
• If this is important for you - it is better to immediately purchase high-impact copies and then using them, you will not worry about the integrity of your dishes.

In order for glass utensils to serve in your kitchen as long as possible and be used for cooking in a constant mode, when using it, you must observe these rules:

• food should be heated or cooled gradually to avoid temperature differences;
• do not choose tempered glass cookware to heat it on a regular gas stove,
• when removing dishes from the oven, use only dry towels or a potholder;
• Do not place heated glass on a wet or cold table;
• cold glassware should not be sent to an already preheated oven;
• cool water cannot be poured into the heated form, nor can chilled or frozen foods be put into it;
• Preheat the oven where the glassware is located, it is necessary gradually, avoiding a sharp change in temperature.

To give this dish a chic, shiny look, you can rinse it a solution of water with salt and vinegar. Also, many housewives for this purpose use ammonia. However, do not forget that polishing glass can only be done when wet.

An overview of heat-resistant glassware see in the next video.