Thursday, September 29, 2011

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness - Cleaning Your Vintage CorningWare

I think it's time for some useful information in the care and cleaning of vintage CorningWare.  Recipes are all fine and good; but once your done eating, it's time to do the dishes. :)

This post was actually spurred by one of my Salvation Army finds.  I was lucky enough to stumble upon 4 CorningWare French White 500ml Ramekins. (Item F-16-B)   For those of us who still think in Standard Measures, that is about 17 oz.  (Seriously, I always have to sit and contemplate what the equivalent standard measure is before I can visualize how much something holds)

This just happens to be the perfect size (as are Grab-It bowls) for making individual Pot Pies.  Woo hoo!   (Yes, that will be the next post - Pesto Chicken Pot Pie)  So, I ran them through the dishwasher, but lo' and behold, there were still "marks" on the bottoms.  Which, since they are about 20 years old, is to be expected, but I am a stickler for bright, shiny, uber clean looking CorningWare.  SO......

This is how to remove those stubborn grey marks on the bottom of your vintage CorningWare.

This particular type of sponge is your best friend when it comes to cleaning marks off of your pieces. I swear, it's like magic. It's made by O-Cel-O and does wonders for your glass cook top as well as your CorningWare.  It seems to be a nylon type fabric with little plastic bumps on it.  Very different from your normal scrubber sponge.

Simply dampen with water and add a little liquid dish soap.  Then, using the scrubber side, simply apply a slight amount of pressure and scrub.  The marks will simply disappear like magic.   

Don't worry, it doesn't scratch the CorningWare, and you will be surprised how easily the marks are removed.

Sometimes there are metal marks on the CorningWare... This happens when using metal tools because your PyroCeram cookware is actually tougher than the metal.  Thus the metal actually leaves deposits on your pieces.  When you have metal marks, I suggest using a glass cook top Cleaner/Polish (along with the O-Cel-O sponge) to keep your CorningWare looking and feeling it's best.  This is the particular brand that I use for both.  It works beautifully.  And remember, clean CorningWare is Godly CorningWare.  :)

Now I have sparkling clean CorningWare, gleaming in its snow white perfection.  So clean that looks like I just bought it in a Department Store instead of the Salvation Army for $ 3.96.  Yep, you read that right.  They were .99 cents each.  Total bargain. 

Now to make Chicken Pot Pie...

Where is your Corningware
~~

35 comments:

  1. Looking forward to your chicken pot pie post. In PA dutch country chicken pot pie is a whole nother animal. My husband loves the kind baked also and I am always looking for new recipes. I use baking soda to clean my Corning Ware and my glass baking dishes, is that a good idea? I absolutely love those new "scrubby" things also, hope they don't quit making them.

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  2. Yes, Baking soda works really well, the only caution is the printed designs are not as resilient as the CorningWare material, so the baking soda can wear them down over time. I read about 2 other solution for really baked on oil & grease... For interior stains, you can fill the dish with water and drop in 2 denture tablets... For external and internal baked on grease, you can place the piece in a garbage bag. Then spray oven cleaner into the bag, then seal and let it sit. I tried it once, and never tried it again, cause oven cleaner is so toxic.

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  3. You can also use Mr Clean Magic Erasers or Corningware Cleaner

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  4. My 2 quart loaf pan has baked on residue from cooking spray and I would like to know the best way to remove it. Is it best to avoid using cooking spray on my Corning Ware pieces? Should I do it the old fashioned way and use butter instead? My cookware is the P series in the pattern Blue Cornflower. Thank you!

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    1. I usually use a spray olive oil in my loaf pan. It sounds like it need a good soaking in really hot soapy water. There is a Dawn product called "Power Dissolver" that is really good at dissolving baked on grease. Failing that, your best bet is a really good scrubbing with a non-scratching sponge and Bar Keeper's Friend or Bon Ami..

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    2. FYI Dawn Power Dissolver is the best but it's been discontinued around 2015-2016. I can't find it any more but luckily still have half a case left.

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    3. man i miss Dawn Power DIssolver :(

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  5. Hoo boy. I was making old-fashioned fudge, which I am re-learning how to do after many decades, and screwed up big-time. Now I have some solid burned remnants stuck to the bottom of the pan. It's been soaking over 24 hours and I've gotten half of it off and out, but still so much more to go! I really dislike using toxic cleansers. I'll pour in some vinegar and see if that helps.

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  6. What about cleaning centura; would you use the same methods?

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    1. That depends on whether it's the Saucepans or the dinnerware. The saucepans are actually made from the Corning Ware formula, so I would clean them just like any piece of Corning Ware. Dinnerware is a little different... The actual "Centura" formula used for the plates, bowls and cups has been glazed, just like fine china. So you need to use the same cleaning methods that would be used for china to avoid scratching or compromising the outer glaze layer... a good soaking with a gentle detergent and a non-abrasive sponge

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  7. samuel7402@embarqmail.comJuly 4, 2017 at 4:14 AM

    I will try one of these suggestions. On a piece I just purchased are two, what appears to be, embedded burned into the material brown areas I soaked overnight, scrubbed with the pad, ran it through the dishwasher more than once. The usual stains came out, but not these embedded dark brownish areas. I tried the stove top cleaner. I have not had this problem with other pieces. I suspect the brown area will not hurt anything, but I prefer clean looking cookware.

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  8. Hi samuel7402, I have had this same problem on several pieces rescued from thrift shops. Despite a variety of cleaners (Bon Ami, baking soda, vinegar, Bar Keeper's Friend), and using the magic O-Cell-o Sponge with lots of elbow grease, some pieces had stubborn tan and/or brownish stains that resisted all attempts at removal.
    I tried the idea that Shane mentioned earlier in this thread - spraying with oven cleaner (I used "Easy Off Fume Free"), sealing in a garbage bag, and letting it sit overnight (in the garage or outside, because "fume-free" is not as free from fumes as one would hope). After doing this 2 or 3 times (each time it was obvious that the brownish stains were dissolving), the pieces came out sparkling white.

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  9. I purchase many pieces in the course of any month for myself and my little shop. Last week I cleaned up 15 pieces. I take them outside on the grass on a plastic trash bag,oven cleaner spray both sides,usually I wear disposable gloves too.On the bag,not in it,and usually in the shade.99.9% of the time they come out perfect.Sometimes I rinse them outside,sometimes put an a tub and rinse in sink before final wash.This is the easiest method I have found for me with the least amount of effort.During the winter-its the back porch cleaning..I keep toothbrush,BKF,and Peek on hand also,dont have to use them very often and I get many really grubby dishes-takes off the baked on stuff really good.

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  10. I tried BKF on my Corelle bowels which were marked with my husband's stainless spoon. He likes to stir his ice cream like crazy. It worked easily and got it off in a couple of minutes with a sponge and only a little BKF. Now for the knife and fork marks on the plates.

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    Replies
    1. Excellent! I love a success story. :)

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    2. I used Polident tooth paste and it worked wonders.

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  11. I have Centura ware since the 1960’s. I have never seen another kind of dishes that I prefer. However, it appears that the glaze may have worn out and the dishes are not getting clean in the dishwasher. Do you think they have “worn out?”

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    1. It's possible. Even though Centura is a glass ceramic product, it still has a glaze, just like porcelain and stoneware.

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  12. Can the interior surface of corning ware be restored if it has become matte and slightly rough from years of use?

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    1. Sadly, no. Once the inside has been scrubber to a matte finish, it is a lost cause. I'm sorry.

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  13. My problem is different. I have a small old coffee corning pot (I guess). The inside of the ceramic is sort of rough and porous. Every now and then I burn tea in it and it is very difficult to get the burn off. I did it last time, but forgot to write down my method! I see on the atomic chart that N should reduce C, so I poured in some ammonia. Nothing yet. Suggestions?

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  14. In your tea pot boil equal amounts of vinegar and water,so for a 6 cup teapot for example its 3cups vinegar 3 cups water,let boil 5 minutes or so,then let sit 12 hours. Repeat if very bad,then I use bar keepers friend and a scrub pad. I've restored many pieces this way. If stained with coffee or tea I do a bleach water first.The trick with vinegar and water is always use equal amounts.I've done this with the casserole dishes as well.
    Good Luck to you!

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  15. I have many times burned things to a crisp in my Corning ware - mostly with stovetop cooking. Easy peasy cleaning up even the worst burned on mess. After removing the loose burned food, I fill piece with water and a few drops of liquid dish soap and shake in some baking soda and put it on burner on low heat for 15 or 20 min. The burned on mess just slides out - no scrubbing necessary - but I do use a nonabrasive sponge to do the final wash. I now always wash my Corning ware using this method - burned on mess or just cooked in. I never put my Corningware in the dishwasher - but probably because it is so clean after I finish - it doesn't need it.

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  16. I just picked up some grungy handles for my corningware (3 for 2.50!) at a thrift shop. Toothbrush couldn't reach the interior yuck (something must have boiled over...), but those little proxabrushes for inserting between teeth (with some of the glass cooktop cleaner) did a pretty good job of getting at it.

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  17. I did not have one of those sponges handy to clean the marks off of the bottom but Bar Keepers Friend worked pretty well. It also worked taking off stubborn baked on stains of the class cover.

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  18. Is it safe to use plates when the design is starting to come off?

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    1. "Plates"? Are you talking about Corelle dishes?

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  19. I bought a P-10-B online. After cleaning it with soap, glass cleaner and BKF, I noticed these fine lines inside that almost look like cracks. It's only on the base and doesn't look like it's deep since I don't see the same lines on the bottom of it. Also, when I run my finger on it, it doesn't feel rough. I can't even feel the lines. Do you think it's safe to cook with it?

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  20. I appear to have a Gen 2 1960/1 ink stamped 16" rectangular roaster/lasagna pan with the cornflower on both of the handholds that I cannot find online anywhere. It is bowed but 10" at the widest point. Can you tell me anything about it?

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  25. I am trying to figure out if my 1.6 Liter F 5 B Corning Ware Round French White casserole with 25 Pyrex G 5 C lid is Pyroceram. I bought it new in the early 1990's. Since it would have been made prior to Corningware selling out to World Kitchen, does that guarantee that my piece would have to be Pyroceram?

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