Pyrex Easy Grab Loaf Dish

If you want a loaf pan for more than just yeast breads, quick breads and pound cake, glass can be a better choice than metal. Because glass won't scratch like metal, glass loaf pans are useful for meatloaf, small casseroles or side dishes that you won't want to transfer before serving. Because glass is microwave-safe, it's a good choice for reheating leftovers. On the downside, glass loaf pans have rounded sides and corners, so you don't get the sharp edges on breads and cakes that you get from many metal loaf pans. Plus, glass can be heavy and can break if dropped from a significant height.

Reviewers say the Pyrex loaf pan offers many benefits, from its low price to its sturdy construction to its microwave-safe properties. In a test of seven loaf pans, editors at a foodie magazine say the Pyrex pan browned bread and cake "nicely," and they call a bargain for its performance. Although the Pyrex dish is freezer- and microwave-safe, the manufacturer doesn't recommend going from one temperature extreme to the other (from freezer straight to oven, for example). If you mainly want to bake breads and want straight, tight sides and corners, a metal loaf pan like the Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick 1 lb. Loaf Pan (*Est. $21) is a good choice. If you want a microwave safe/scratch resistant pan that can double for serving, the Le Creuset Deep Dish Stoneware Loaf Pan (*Est. $30) comes in a bunch of colors.

The Pyrex Easy Grab Loaf Dish is included in a 10-pan roundup at Fine Cooking magazine, and the previous version (which lacks the extended side handles) is reviewed in a hands-on test at Cook's Illustrated magazine. We found user reviews of the Pyrex loaf pan on various retail sites.