Can You Freeze Food in Pyrex? | 6 Things You Must Know

Freeze food in Pyrex containers by filling the containers with food or liquids leaving a 1/2 inch gap at the top. Food can be frozen in Pyrex containers made from toughened glass which is thermal shock resistant. It is important to avoid extreme temperature changes so make sure your food has cooled before freezing in your Pyrex.

Remember to label your Pyrex dish with the date and type of food and place it in your freezer for another day.

6 Things to know when freezing food in Pyrex

Check out my top 10 things to know when freezing food in Pyrex.

1. Pyrex is freezer-safe but avoid sudden temperature changes

Pyrex is freezer safe however it is important to avoid extreme temperature changes.  Do not put an extremely hot Pyrex dish from the oven straight into the freezer.  This sudden change in temperature could cause the dish to break.

2. Cool the meal in the fridge before placing Pyrex the freezer

To freeze a pre-cooked meal in Pyrex, cool it in the fridge first and then place it in the freezer. It is a good idea to let the steam to stop coming off of the meal before cover it.

Once it has stopped steaming, place the dish with the lid in the fridge until it has cooled. You can then place it in the freezer.

It is best to follow these 3 steps when freezing food in Pyrex.

Step 1: Transfer your food to the Pyrex dish to allow it to cool.  

Step 2: Place the dish in the fridge to help to reduce the temperature of the food before placing it in the freezer.  

Step 3: Once the dish is cool enough, you can then place in the freezer, labelled with the date and food type with the lid placed on tightly.

3. Defrost Pyrex in the fridge before reheating

When re-heating in Pyrex, make sure you allow your food to defrost in the fridge around 1 day before you need to reheat it in the oven or microwave.

Allow the Pyrex dish to sit on the bench for a short period of time to come up to room temperature before placing in the oven. This will prevent breakage.

4. Prevent freezer burn on your food by using a tight fitting lid

Make sure your Pyrex dish has a tight-fitting lid.  My Pyrex has lasted for years and the lids still fit perfectly but if you the lid is damaged or broken, it is unlikely to seal tightly.  Any air that can get into your dish might cause freezer burn and affect the look and taste of your food.

For a Pyrex set with a range of sizes check these ones out from Amazon.

5. Leave 1/2 an inch of room at the top of the container to allow for expansion

Remember to leave some room at the top of your container to allow the food to expand, especially if it is liquid based like soups or casseroles.  This will stop your food from spilling over the edge of the Pyrex container and making a mess of your freezer. 

6. Pyrex containers stack easily but remember to label them first

A quick tip about getting the most out of your freezer space.  Pyrex dishes stack neatly so you may find it easier to remove the shelves out of your freezer and stack the containers on top of each other.  If you remember to label these on the side, you will be able to see what you have and what date you froze the food.

How to defrost food in Pyrex

The best way to defrost food in Pyrex is to take it out of the freezer a day before you would like to use it.  Simply place the Pyrex dish in your refrigerator around 24 hours before, and this will allow the food to safely come to refrigerator temperature (0-4 degrees Celsius or at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit).

Check out this set with the large blue Pyrex dish I use for baking lasagna from Amazon below.

How to prevent Pyrex from shattering

To reduce the risk of your Pyrex dish shattering you need to avoid any extreme changes in temperature.  This means, that you should not place your frozen food straight in the oven or microwave.

This sudden change in temperature can put extra stress on the glass and it may shatter or break. 

The best way to avoid this is to defrost your food in the refrigerator a day before you need it.  I also like to transfer my food to a ceramic dish or bowl to heat in the microwave.

This means I can eat it straight out of the bowl. Pyrex dishes are microwave safe, but keep in mind that you want to avoid sudden extreme changes in temperature.

Can Pyrex go from the freezer to the oven?

Pyrex should not go directly from the freezer to the oven. The best way is to move Pyrex from the freezer to the oven is to defrost the food in the fridge the day before.

Once the dish and the food has reached fridge temperature, place it on your bench for a short time to come closer to room temperature before putting it in the oven.

How to freeze Lasagna in Pyrex

Freezing Uncooked Lasagna in Pyrex

Lasagna is a meal that is great to make in a double batch.  You can make your lasagna directly in the Pyrex dish and freeze it uncooked.  Remember to make sure the lasagna is cool before placing in the freezer. Label it with the name and date.

To cook the frozen Lasagna, take it out of the freezer the night before, and place in your fridge.  Make sure it is defrosted and then place it on your bench for a short time to come closer to room temperature before placing in your oven. Cook for the time needed to cook all the way through.

Freezing Cooked Lasagna in Pyrex

Freeze cooked lasagna in Pyrex by allowing it to cool down and stop steaming. Once the temperature is no longer hot, it can be placed in the freezer whole or in individual serving sizes.

The key tip is to make sure you have cooled your lasagna before placing it in the freezer and place the Pyrex lid on tightly.  Always remember to label your lasagna with the name and the date you placed it in the freezer. 

How to freeze soup in Pyrex

To freeze soup in Pyrex fill the container with soup leaving a small gap at the top. This to allow for the liquid soup to expand when the soup freezes so it doesn’t spill over the edge. 

Make sure you place the lid on tightly and sit your soup on a flat surface when freezing.  This will also help to avoid any spills.  Some of my favorite soups that freeze well include chicken broth, pumpkin, potato and leek and chili based soups.

Can You Freeze Food in Pyrex? | Summary

Pyrex is a great storing container that is perfect for freezing food. Let the food cool first before freezing to avoid any rapid changes in temperature that could cause the Pyrex to crack.

Happy cooking.