Vintage Pyrex Primary

The World’s most famous mixing bowl set. I used my Pyrex Primary set in my cobbler series, so I couldn’t resist talking about it a bit. Even if you don’t collect vintage glassware, you’ve probably seen these bowls before. What a lot of people don’t realize is just how much history is behind these gems.

They were the very first colored opalware released by Pyrex, and interestingly enough, they were developed in partnership with the US government during World War 2. They wanted a sturdy, practical set of mixing bowls that could be used for any purpose - oven, mixing, storing, all of it. And it had to be cute, too, of course. And boy did they nail it. The colors are just perfect. Bright sunny yellow, the loveliest Jade green, cherry red, and sapphire blue. And at $2.50 for the set, wartime America went wild for them. 

Fun fact, want to know if your primary bowl is from the very first generation released? You can tell by the embossed markings underneath. In later generations, Pyrex dishes are marked with a size number. These are called nesting bowls, which are size numbers 401-404. You can find the number embossed just above the brand logo. But the very first series were not marked with size numbers, which is why collectors affectionately refer to them as ‘No Numbers’. If there is no size number on your bowl, then lucky you, your bowl is extra special, and a true legend in the Pyrex world.

A few years later, Pyrex expanded the Primary series by adding the fridge dish collection, a set of rectangle dishes with lids. They stack beautifully, designed to efficiently store food in the fridge, while still able to be used in the oven. I like using the smaller sizes as prep bowls, and the larger size is awesome for leftovers or as a small baking dish. 

So, yeah, the world’s most famous mixing bowl set is famous for a reason - they’re lovely and practical. A true legend in the vintage glassware world, and that’s why cobbler won’t be the last time you’ll see me use these brightly colored cuties.