Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter online about whether Corning Ware dishes have lead in them. It’s gotten me a little freaked out, because I have a TON of these things. My grandma passed down a whole collection, and I use them all the time. So, I decided to do some digging and, more importantly, some testing.
My Corning Ware Investigation
First, I scoured the internet for any reliable information. I found a bunch of forum posts and articles, but nothing that felt super conclusive. Some people swore there was no lead, others were convinced their dishes were poisoning them. There was a lot of talk about older pieces being more likely to contain lead, especially those with painted decorations.
I wanted some real answers, so I decided to get my hands on a lead testing kit. I figured that was the only way to know for sure.
- I ordered a 3M LeadCheck Swab kit. Seemed like the most popular, highly reviewed option.
- It arrived, and let me tell you, I was a little nervous. It felt like a big moment of truth!
Testing Time!
I picked out a few different Corning Ware pieces to test:
- A plain white casserole dish – pretty basic, looked newer.
- A dish with the classic blue “Cornflower” pattern – definitely an older one.
- A smaller dish with a more colorful, less common floral pattern.
I carefully followed the instructions on the test kit. Basically, you crack a couple of vials inside the swab, shake it up, and then rub it on the surface of the dish. The swab tip will change color if lead is detected.
I rubbed each dish, one at a time, holding my breath. For the plain white dish, the swab stayed yellow. That’s a good sign – yellow means no lead detected!
Next up, the Cornflower dish. I swabbed the blue pattern area… and… it stayed yellow! Another sigh of relief.
Finally, the dish with the more elaborate pattern. This was the one I was most worried about. I applied the swab… and… still yellow! I couldn’t believe it! All three dishes tested negative for lead.
My Takeaway
Honestly, I was so relieved. I love my Corning Ware, and the thought of having to get rid of it was stressing me out. Now, I’m not saying all Corning Ware is lead-free. I only tested three pieces. But based on my little experiment, and at least with the dishes I own, I feel much more comfortable using them.
If you’re worried, I definitely recommend getting a lead testing kit. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. And hey, you might be pleasantly surprised, like I was!
