So many roasters, so little time.
In a world dominated by recipes that require the standard 13x9 (Pyrex) Baking Dish, I feel it's time to explore the menagerie of roasters/baking dishes in the Corning Ware world. Their measurements are a little different, but the overall area of the dish works out pretty much the same...
A 13 x 9 baking dish gives you an area of 117 square inches of dish. While a 12 1/4 x 10 (A-21-B) gives you an area of 122 square inches... a little more, but not enough to create a casserole catastrophe, by any means... So let's take a REALLY close look at ALL the Corning Ware Roasters, both P and A-series, for they all have different measurements leading to different square inch capacities.
These are the three P-series Baking/Roasting pans. The P-332, P-21-B and P-76-B.
These are the three A-series Baking/Roasting pans. The A-18, A-21-B and A-76-B (There is an A-21-B-N, but I will touch on that at the end)
While standard Corning Ware cooking dishes switched to the A-series in 1972, the new A-series roasters did not make their debut until 1976. It should also be noted that the P-332 hung around until sometimes around 1982-84 before it was discontinued, which just happened to be about the time that the A-18 and A-76 were removed from the market as well. The A-21 hung on until about 1986 when it got a makeover and became the A-21-B-N.
Here are the comparisons....
The P-332 (bottom) and the A-18-B (top)...
The P-332 is 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 (87sq). This is my "Go To" pan for a single batch of Lasagne
The A-18 is 10 x 8 1/2 (85sq).
The P-21-B (bottom) and the A-21-B (top)...
The P-21-B is 13 x 8 3/4 (114sq) Which is slightly bowed out. (there is a reason for this, but I will cover that at the end)
The A-21-B is 12 1/4 x 10 (122sq)
The P-76-B (bottom) and the A-76-B (top).....
The P-76-B is 15.5 x 9.75 (151sq)
The A-76-B is 14 x 11.5 (161sq). It's almost a square.
After 1986, the A-21-B was modified and became the A-21-B-N... One of the major differences was the addition of handles at each end, instead of having the bent rim all the way around. The A-21-B-N is also significantly heavier than the A-21-B, as the glass is much thicker like the cookware. The dimensions, however, are extremely similar, being 12 1/2 x 10 1/2 (131sq). It's basically 1/4 inch longer and 1/2 inch wider than the A-21-B.
Now, lets get into the reason for the bowing in the P-21-B.
It was all because of this.... The P-19 Broiling Platter.
When using an electric oven (which produces a drier heat than a gas oven) you can place water in the P-21-B and sit the P-19 Broiling platter on top...
Thus increasing the humidity inside your electric oven and producing a much moister roast, or so the theory goes.
So there you have it... A massive crash course in Corning Ware Roasting/Baking Pans.
Where is your Corning Ware??
~~
In a world dominated by recipes that require the standard 13x9 (Pyrex) Baking Dish, I feel it's time to explore the menagerie of roasters/baking dishes in the Corning Ware world. Their measurements are a little different, but the overall area of the dish works out pretty much the same...
A 13 x 9 baking dish gives you an area of 117 square inches of dish. While a 12 1/4 x 10 (A-21-B) gives you an area of 122 square inches... a little more, but not enough to create a casserole catastrophe, by any means... So let's take a REALLY close look at ALL the Corning Ware Roasters, both P and A-series, for they all have different measurements leading to different square inch capacities.
These are the three P-series Baking/Roasting pans. The P-332, P-21-B and P-76-B.
These are the three A-series Baking/Roasting pans. The A-18, A-21-B and A-76-B (There is an A-21-B-N, but I will touch on that at the end)
While standard Corning Ware cooking dishes switched to the A-series in 1972, the new A-series roasters did not make their debut until 1976. It should also be noted that the P-332 hung around until sometimes around 1982-84 before it was discontinued, which just happened to be about the time that the A-18 and A-76 were removed from the market as well. The A-21 hung on until about 1986 when it got a makeover and became the A-21-B-N.
Here are the comparisons....
The P-332 (bottom) and the A-18-B (top)...
The P-332 is 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 (87sq). This is my "Go To" pan for a single batch of Lasagne
The A-18 is 10 x 8 1/2 (85sq).
The P-21-B (bottom) and the A-21-B (top)...
The P-21-B is 13 x 8 3/4 (114sq) Which is slightly bowed out. (there is a reason for this, but I will cover that at the end)
The A-21-B is 12 1/4 x 10 (122sq)
The P-76-B (bottom) and the A-76-B (top).....
The P-76-B is 15.5 x 9.75 (151sq)
The A-76-B is 14 x 11.5 (161sq). It's almost a square.
After 1986, the A-21-B was modified and became the A-21-B-N... One of the major differences was the addition of handles at each end, instead of having the bent rim all the way around. The A-21-B-N is also significantly heavier than the A-21-B, as the glass is much thicker like the cookware. The dimensions, however, are extremely similar, being 12 1/2 x 10 1/2 (131sq). It's basically 1/4 inch longer and 1/2 inch wider than the A-21-B.
Now, lets get into the reason for the bowing in the P-21-B.
It was all because of this.... The P-19 Broiling Platter.
When using an electric oven (which produces a drier heat than a gas oven) you can place water in the P-21-B and sit the P-19 Broiling platter on top...
Thus increasing the humidity inside your electric oven and producing a much moister roast, or so the theory goes.
So there you have it... A massive crash course in Corning Ware Roasting/Baking Pans.
Where is your Corning Ware??
~~