Pyrex · Food Storage Containers
Pyrex 6-Piece Food Storage Container Set
Lower PFAS concern; borosilicate glass containers pose minimal risk; plastic lids warrant standard caution.
Pyrex glass storage containers are primarily borosilicate glass, a well-established food-safe material with no known PFAS risk from the glass itself.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
borosilicate glass with plastic lids
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Plastic lid degradation and replacement necessity
Polypropylene lids in this set will soften, discolor, or lose seal integrity after repeated heating, dishwasher cycles, or exposure to hot foods. When gaskets fail, containers no longer provide an airtight seal and may accumulate odors or bacteria; replacement lids are sold separately but are not always easy to find as matching sets.
Microplastic shedding from lids under heat stress
If plastic lids are exposed to prolonged high temperatures (oven heating, dishwasher hot cycles, or microwaving without venting), microscopic plastic fragments may migrate into stored food. Risk is low under normal refrigerated storage but increases if lids are left on during reheating.
Undisclosed chemicals in lid coatings or gasket materials
Pyrex does not publicly state whether silicone gaskets or polypropylene lids contain PFOA, PFAS, or other non-regulated polymer additives. Industry practice includes antimicrobial or water-resistant treatments that may include fluorinated compounds, though migration into food at room temperature is typically minimal.
Borosilicate glass breakage and cut hazard
While borosilicate glass is more durable than standard soda-lime glass, it is still glass and can crack or shatter if dropped or subjected to rapid thermal shock (ice-cold food placed directly in a hot oven). Sharp fragments pose ingestion and laceration risk; this is a mechanical hazard, not a chemical one, but relevant to overall product safety.
What’s reassuring
Uncoated safe material
Bare cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, or glass with no PFAS coating.
Lead
Borosilicate glass composition does not include lead or cadmium as raw materials, and no recalls or reports indicate migration of heavy metals from Pyrex containers into food. Ceramic or enameled cookware would carry higher risk in this regard.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Pyrex food storage containers are borosilicate glass, a silicate compound fused at high temperature with boron oxide, making it extremely resistant to thermal shock and chemical leaching. The lids are typically polypropylene (PP) or a PP-based polymer blend, both considered among the safer food-contact plastics because they have low migration potential at room temperature and typical refrigerator storage. Borosilicate glass does not leach lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals into food, and the material is chemically stable across normal storage and moderate reheating conditions.
The brand's record and disclosure
Pyrex is owned by Instant Brands and has a long history in kitchenware without major product safety recalls tied to food leaching or chemical migration in recent decades. The brand does not publicly disclose PFAS use in lid coatings or manufacturing, which is typical of the industry but leaves a transparency gap. Pyrex products meet FDA food contact substance regulations, though the company has not pursued third-party certifications (such as GreenGuard or BPA-Free certified) that would signal extra due diligence on non-regulated chemicals in lid materials.
How it compares in its category
Borosilicate glass containers like Pyrex are among the safest food storage options available, free from the BPA/BPS and phthalate concerns that plague some polycarbonate and PVC alternatives. Most competing glass storage brands (Rubbermaid Brilliance, OXO, even store brands) use similar borosilicate glass with polypropylene lids, so Pyrex occupies a mainstream, low-hazard tier rather than a premium or budget outlier. The main differentiation in the category is lid seal quality and longevity, not chemical safety profile.
If you buy it
Store food at room temperature or refrigerated; borosilicate glass is microwave-safe but allow lids to cool before sealing to avoid pressure buildup. Replace lids if the silicone gasket becomes cracked, discolored, or no longer seals, as degraded seals can trap moisture and may harbor bacterial growth; the glass containers themselves are indefinitely reusable. Avoid prolonged contact with extremely acidic foods (vinegar, citrus) at high temperatures, which can very slowly degrade the glaze or any decorative coatings on older Pyrex items, though the core glass remains safe. Wash lids by hand or on the top rack of a dishwasher to extend gasket life.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 82% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Pyrex has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Food Storage Containers
Pyrex
Glass Meal Prep Set
borosilicate glass with metal lids (likely stainless steel or aluminum)
Metal lid corrosion and leaching
Limited concern
Silicone or rubber gasket degradation
Moderate concern
Thermal shock fracture from glass
Moderate concern
Lower PFAS concern; glass meal prep containers are inherently a safer material choice.
⚠Risky category by default
More food storage containers grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.