The major disadvantage of glass cookware is that it breaks. This cookware cracks if the glass is too brittle or if there is a weakness in the glass, or if there are rapid changes in the temperature, and of course, like all glassware, it shatters if involved in any serious collision or impact. Adding liquid to hot, dry glass cookware splits the glass and even a simple chip on the rim prevents a good seal, allowing the steam to escape. Despite these drawbacks, glass utensils are relatively durable and retain heat for a longer duration. They are especially useful on glass-topped stoves and are receptive to natural foods.
Many people like to watch the food cook in glass cookware, as there is no need to remove the lid to see what is happening. Ovenproof glass cooking vessels are steadily used in microwaves because they are energy-efficient as they facilitate slow cooking at low temperatures. Some of these utensils are built to handle stovetops; however sufficient care must be taken to prevent them coming in direct contact with electric components or intense heat by placing a metal trivet or diffuser beneath them.
Some key advantages of glass cookware is that it responds well for most oven based cooking, it does not react with acidic foods, safely stores all foods in it, and most importantly it is healthy as there are no adverse side effects from cooking in it. Although glass is a good conductor of heat, it fails to disburse it evenly, and therefore glass utensils are not at all efficient for stovetop cooking, as they easily form hot spots causing the glass to crack. Additionally, glass vessels are totally incompetent when it comes to deep-frying, as the food necessitates constant stirring and longer cooking times.
By and large glass utensils should be cleaned with non-abrasive, self-polishing cleansers or with specially formulated mildly abrasive cleansers as suggested by the cookware manufacturer. Glass-ceramic and glass utensils are dishwasher safe, because they are non-porous, making soaking very effective in unraveling burned-on foods or leftovers. With proper care, cookware made of glass can last at least seven to ten years.
