Round Vs Square: How To Determine Which Pyrex Glass Container You Need

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If you were to take a look in the cupboard where you keep casserole dishes and other glass cookware, would you see a neat and organized space or a little corner of chaos? Don't feel bad if it's the latter. It happens to the best of us. This is partly because of the irregular sizes and shapes of containers we accumulate over the years. It's hard to organize a cupboard full of cubes, rectangles, and round dishes of various sizes and depths. It's great to have both round and square Pyrex glass containers on hand, but as for which is better, there's no definitive answer; it really depends on your needs.

From an organizational standpoint, square dishes may be the best solution. They fit neatly side by side and stack well. Round containers just aren't as good as making use of storage space, especially inside a square cupboard space or on refrigerator shelves. You're actually optimizing space by as much as 25% when you use square dishes instead of round ones. So, if storage is your big concern, square is what you want.

On the other hand, round Pyrex dishes have their advantages. Frozen foods thaw faster in round dishes, while warm ones cool more quickly thanks to more even airflow. Without corners getting in the way, you can stir soups and sauces in round dishes more easily. That also means less food waste from bits stuck in corners.

In practical terms, the best choice depends on what you need it for. It might be better to store that delicious beef stew in a round container so that it cools faster and is easier to serve later. Round containers also make it easier to serve sauces and liquids if you're using a spoon or ladle. However, if you are pouring the contents out, a square container can work better because the corner acts as a spout.

On the other hand, if you're baking yummy fudgy brownies with a Pyrex dish, you're probably going to want to make them in a square or rectangular dish to ensure you get some of those nice, crusty corner pieces. The flip side of that is, square containers are more likely to break than round ones because their corners are more prone to chipping.

Ultimately, there is no answer to the question of which one is better. If storage space is extremely limited and you want to maximize efficiency in your cupboards and freezer, stick to square dishes as much as possible. You'll have more room to work with, and your storage space will look neater overall. If you have the room to spare and want the best dish for any task, consider investing in both square and round containers. You can make it work by spending a little extra time keeping them organized in your cupboards, and you'll have the right dish for anything that comes up.