December 16, 2025 – A consumer reported that an Anchor Hocking 9×13 glass baking pan exploded into numerous pieces shortly after being placed in a 400-degree oven, raising concerns about the safety and durability of glass bakeware under normal cooking conditions. The incident, which occurred within 10 minutes of heating, resulted in shattered glass and ruined food, highlighting potential risks of cuts and burns to users.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On November 21, 2025, a consumer prepared a chicken artichoke and spinach recipe in an Anchor Hocking 9×13 glass pan. The ingredients had been at room temperature for nearly an hour before the dish was placed into a preheated 400-degree Fahrenheit oven. Approximately 10 minutes into cooking, the glass pan suddenly “exploded,” scattering numerous pieces of glass throughout the oven and onto the kitchen floor. All the food prepared in the dish was also destroyed in the incident. The consumer confirmed the dish was not too cold prior to oven insertion, mitigating the common concern of extreme thermal shock from refrigerator to hot oven.
Safety Concerns
The sudden shattering of glass bakeware presents several significant safety concerns:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate dangers are severe cuts from flying or falling glass shards and burns from contact with hot glass fragments or the hot food splatter. The force of an explosion can propel glass over a wide area, increasing the risk of injury to anyone nearby, including children or pets.
- Property Damage Potential: Beyond personal injury, the incident can cause substantial property damage. This includes damage to the oven interior, countertops, and flooring, requiring costly cleanup and potential repairs. The food being cooked is also instantly ruined, leading to waste and inconvenience.
- Unpredictability: The unpredictable nature of such failures is particularly concerning. Without warning, a routine cooking activity can turn into a hazardous event, potentially causing panic and further risk of injury as individuals react.
- Who Might Be Affected: Anyone using similar glass bakeware, especially home cooks, bakers, or individuals with limited mobility who might struggle to react quickly to an unexpected explosion. Children or pets in the vicinity of the kitchen could also be at risk from flying glass or hot contents.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own Anchor Hocking glass bakeware or similar products should take proactive steps to ensure their safety:
- Exercise Extreme Caution: Always handle glass bakeware with care, especially when transferring it between different temperature environments.
- Inspect Products Regularly: Before each use, carefully inspect glass bakeware for any chips, cracks, or scratches, particularly around the rims and bases. Even minor damage can significantly weaken tempered glass and lead to unexpected breakage.
- Avoid Extreme Temperature Changes: Do not place hot glass bakeware directly onto cold or wet surfaces, and avoid adding cold liquids to a hot dish. While the consumer in this incident noted the dish was not too cold, it’s a general best practice to avoid rapid temperature shifts.
- Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Always adhere strictly to the manufacturer’s care and use instructions, which typically warn against using glass bakeware on stovetops, under broiler elements, or exposing it to sudden temperature changes.
- Proper Cleaning: Use only non-abrasive cleaning materials and utensils to prevent scratches that can weaken the glass over time.
- Report Incidents: If you experience a similar incident, immediately stop using the product. Document the incident with photos and videos if possible, and contact both the manufacturer and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to file a detailed report.
Manufacturer’s Response
Anchor Hocking, LLC, responded to the incident report, initially noting that they had not had the opportunity to inspect the product, making it difficult to confirm if it was indeed their product or to determine the cause of failure without a physical inspection. They emphasized that similar products from other manufacturers are sometimes misidentified.
Anchor Hocking stated that their glass bakeware is manufactured in compliance with industry standards (Chapter 24 of the Cookware Manufacturing Association Engineering Standards for Cookware and Bakeware). They suggested that consumer misuse, failure to follow instructions, or retailer mishandling are common causes of glass product failures industry-wide. Examples provided included hitting glass on hard surfaces, using improper cleaning tools, stovetop use, placing hot dishes on cold/wet surfaces, adding liquid to hot dishes, or using in a “too-hot” oven.
The manufacturer also explained that their glass bakeware is tempered, a process designed to strengthen glass against thermal shock and, in the event of failure, to cause it to shatter into many smaller pieces for safety. They asserted that the consumer’s report of the product shattering into many pieces is indicative of the product failing as designed for tempered glass, rather than evidence of a defect. Anchor Hocking highlighted their care and use instructions, which warn that failure to follow them may cause products to fracture, potentially resulting in property damage or serious personal injury from cuts or burns. They stressed that scratches can weaken bakeware, leading to breakage.
Update (December 16, 2025): Anchor Hocking, LLC later updated its response, confirming that they received a small portion of the dish (10.7oz) from the consumer for analysis. Based on a small sidewall and rim section, they were able to identify the product as an Anchor Hocking item, produced at Plant 1 in 2025. However, due to the limited amount of glass submitted, they were unable to find a fracture origin and, therefore, could not determine the cause of the failure. Anchor Hocking thanked the consumer for sending the glass for inspection.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.