Grandmothers across America stocked their kitchens with a familiar set of cookware, dishes and appliances, and many of those brands are still on store shelves today. Museum collections and company histories show when each one arrived and why it stuck. Here are ten kitchen staples grandmothers kept within arm’s reach.
1. Pyrex: Heat-proof glass for home cooks
Corning developed heat-resistant glass in 1908, first for railroad lanterns and battery jars, and launched Pyrex as temperature-resistant glass cookware in 1915. Early prices were high, and the line was first marketed to women of means.
Pyrex Flameware added stovetop use over an open flame in 1936, and the Primary Colors line brought color to the kitchen in 1947. Clear glass measuring cups like the one pictured became a fixture in home kitchens. Corning sold its housewares division in 1998, but th