Customer Reviews

CorningWare SimplyLite 1-1/2-Quart Casserole with Glass and Plastic Lids

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Length:: 2:24 Mins

*****
SimplyLite is a new line of bakeware from CorningWare, made from a super-lightweight glass that acts just like regular glass or ceramic called Vitrelle glass laminate, which is three special layers of glass fused together. It's stain and odor resistant and easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher.

SimplyLite comes with a limited three-year warranty against breaking, chipping, or staining. As part of this video (near the end) I throw the casserole and the Pyrex lid down on my hardwood floor to demonstrate how durable it is.

SimplyLite can be used in the oven, microwave, or freezer, but not on the stovetop or under the broiler. And it's made in the USA.

Highly recommended.
*****

The CorningWare SimplyLite shipped in a deceptively large box; however when I picked up said box, it weighed at most one pound. It really is that light. It's quite a revolution in Corning Ware, for sure.

The dimensions given on Amazon are somewhat skewed. The usable space is about 7" x 7", and it's around 2.5" deep. The sides have lips that extend about 1/2" outwards to provide handles, and the lid adds about an additional inch in height.

My SimplyLite came with a Pyrex/Glass lid. Yes, I'm still old-fashioned, and I prefer Pyrex for my lids, at least they're oven proof that way. The base CorningWare is about the same weight as my Corelle plate, it's that light. It's rather deceptive, because for an item of this size you'd expect it to weigh much more, and it gives the perception of "cheap quality", although it's an excellent product. I believe the weight is lighter to improve break resistance.

There are a few issues that detract from the design, which prevent me from giving it 5 stars. The lid is slightly hard to grasp. The lid has a handle, which has a slight indentation in it to facilitate grasping, but in spite of the indentation, which is rather shallow, it's a bit hard to get a firm grip on the lid. The larger quibble that I have with the CorningWare is that the lid doesn't fit very snugly on the dish- there appear to be rather large tolerances. When compared to my "old" heavier CorningWare, the lid doesn't fit nearly as well.

As for performance, it works just like my old CorningWares. Haven't had a chance to test it in the oven yet, but works great in the microwave (says my stomach as I digest my dinner tonight).

In conclusion, it's an amazing and modern update on traditional CorningWare.

I loved the whole idea of a lighter, thinner dish for cooking and serving, so even though it seemed like a lot of money for one piece, I was willing to try it. Unfortunately, the very first time I used it, to cook in the microwave, the glass shattered. And when I say shattered, I mean many tiny pieces of glass all over my microwave. It was a major mess to clean up, and on top of that I obviously had to throw my food away.

Interestingly, the dish itself survived just fine, and I still use it for serving. I am disappointed that the lid broke so quickly, though, and wonder if Corningware should not recommend it be used for cooking in the microwave... maybe only for reheating?

I've been trying to get in touch with their warranty dept, but they are hard to get hold of. Hopefully they will send me a new lid. I will update with whatever happens.

I tend to be sceptical of the "new, improved" products that manufacturers keep bringing out, because I often find that something I liked has been ruined by some marketing genius (or perhaps a bean-counting genius).

So I was wary of these new versions of my old corningware casseroles, but since the price was good and I was desperate, I decided to try them.

I'm very pleased that I did: these are just as lightweight and easy to use as other reviewers have said, and in fact I find the shapes (e.g., rim all around) actually an improvement as well.

Also, I found that the plastic lids they include are well-designed, fitting snugly yet being reasonably easy to put on and remove.

Highly recommended.

The 30-word review:
We like this. It's light, simple and easy to clean. CorningWare maintains high quality while "losing weight", as it were. Durable, attractive, affordable! Great wedding or going to school gift.

I enjoyed using the Corningware SimplyLite casserole dish. I was impressed with the amount of volume - it actually looks smaller than it really is. I made a casserole and did not line or pre-grease the dish and it was completely non-stick with great ease of use. The appearance is certainly suitable to bring directly to the table so this is a convertible dish with possibilities beyond cooking. My only complaint is with the lid/cover. It is a good material and easily grasped, even with a mitt or potholder. However, the handle is so tall that the dish with the cover on will not fit in any compact (countertop) oven (a very good Krups unit which I have previously reviewed here at Amazon). To make my casserole I just put some heavy foil on top and that worked perfectly but it would have been better to be able to use the proper lid.

THIS PRODUCT CAN ONLY GO IN AN OVEN UP TO 350 DEGREES.

It says this on the product label but Amazon fails to mention this in the product detail.

Very important information that people should be aware of before purchasing this product.

I have always loved Corning Ware products and they have come up with another great product. The Simplylite collection is remarkably light, chip and break resistant but cooks up beautifully like regular Corning Ware. Another great plus, its Made in the USA. With all the bad press concerning lead products coming out of China, its good to know that there are few companies still producing products here in the USA.

Having cooked with this a few times, I can report that it works as advertised and his impressively light. I've found that it performs the same as traditional ceramic bakeware.

Clean up, whether by hand or in the dishwasher, is easy.

My only complaint is about this specific model. I've found that the depth is too shallow for many applications. Had it been a half-inch deeper, it would be much more versatile.

I gave this to my mom, who does a lot of cooking. She likes CorningWare a lot, so when I saw that they had a new, lightweight line out, I picked up two items for her -- the SimplyLite 2-Quart Baking Dish and the 1-1/2-Quart Casserole.

At first she was suspicious of the dishes because they are remarkably light (she pulled out some older CorningWare to show me the weight difference). I think she thought they would be very fragile. But she's used them three times now, and she says they cook and brown just like her old CW dishes. She says she didn't think the old CorningWare dishes she has used for years were heavy until she used this new line, and now the old stuff feels heavy to her. It was a nice surprise.

She really likes the tight-fitting lids, too, as she does a lot of cooking for her church and having the plastic lids is nice when transporting the dishes in her car. The dishes are dishwasher-safe, but she hasn't tried washing the lids themselves in the dishwasher yet as she has a fear the plastic might warp and no longer hold a tight fit. (I'm not saying the lids won't hold their shapes, I'm saying I'll probably never find out because she'll never find out.)

Also, as mentioned in other reviews, CorningWare says these items should not be used when broiling. I imagine that's a downer for people who would like to bake, say, enchiladas in the dish and give them a quick broil before taking them out of the oven. My mom hasn't yet complained about not being able to broil with these dishes and since she cooks all sorts of things, I'm assuming the problem isn't really too great.

It was nice to give her a cooking-related gift that she didn't even know she needed.