Can You Put Glass In A Smoker [5 Alternatives to Pyrex]

Let’s face it, cooking on grill can sometimes get monotonous. You grill up the same burgers and hot dogs, and you wonder, is there more to life than this? Well, with the versatility of smokers/pellet grills, the answer is a resounding YES.
These magical grills can do so much more than just cook up your standard barbecue food. Think smoking, baking, roasting, and the list goes on! Have you ever thought Can You Put Glass In A Smoker/pellet grill? We all know Pyrex dishes are oven-safe, but what about using them in a smoker?

In this grillcuisines.com guide, we’ll cover:

  • Can you use Pyrex in a smoker?
  • How to safely use a glass Pyrex dish in a smoker and what other materials and dishes are safe to use in a smoker/pellet grill.
  • And much more!

Related > > pots and pans you can use on grills.

can you put glass in a smoker

Can You Put A Glass In A Smoker/Pellet Grill?

Yes, you can use a glass dish in a smoker/pellet grill. But, it’s highly advised to use a Pyrex glass dish.
Because it is more heat resistant than other types of glassware. Any dish that is oven-safe can be used on a smoker/pellet grill, but sudden changes in temperature can cause glass breakage. Using glassware in pellet grills and smokers can make it tough to clean, so be prepared for a little extra elbow grease when it comes to post-cooking cleanup.

Pyrex glass is suitable for high-temperature cooking and can withstand temperatures up to 914°F. Therefore, it will not break while smoking at the low and slow temperature ranges of 200-350°F.

The Guide to Using Glass Dish in a Pellet Grill/Smoker: Types of Glassware

The heat resistance of glassware mainly depends on what type of material it’s made out of.

Usually, the manufacturer uses two types of materials for glassware.

Borosilicate Glass

Borosilicate glassware is resistant to thermal shocks, meaning it won’t break easily when exposed to sudden shifts in temperature.

For example, a calculation published by the American Ceramic Society found that borosilicate glass can withstand a sudden temperature change of up to about 330 degrees Fahrenheit.

Many dishes these days are made from borosilicate glass because of its ability to resist thermal shocks. This means that they won’t break if sudden changes in temperature occur, which is a common problem when cooking with stoneware or ceramic dishes.

You can use any type of borosilicate dish on your pellet grill, but some are better than others.

Can you use Pyrex in a smoker? Yes, Pyrex glass dishes are more durable and pellet grill/smoker safe. They also resist thermal shock, which is an important trait of glassware.

If you put a borosilicate Pyrex dish in the smoker after taking it out of the fridge, it won’t break.

Soda-lime glass

Annealed Soda-lime is a type of glass that can resist heat but not a shock. This means it is more likely to break when exposed to sudden temperature changes. Soda-lime glasses are typically made from a mixture of sand, limestone, and soda ash which produce a light green color.

Make sure you let the soda-lime glass dish in your pellet grill come up to temperature gradually and cool down gradually too. Avoid running it under cold water right after cooking, only use a warm or hot water wash.

Can you put Pyrex in a smoker?

Some Pyrex dishes are made out of soda lime, it is resistant to heat but not to sudden temperature changes. For this reason, sudden changes in temperature could cause the material to crack or break. So it is not safe to use a soda-lime Pyrex dish on a pellet grill.

Soda-lime glass dishes are usually thicker and less heat-resistant, while borosilicate glassware is thinner but more heat-resistant.

Borosilicate Pyrex glass dishes are naturally more durable than their soda-lime versions. It is safe to use a Borosilicate glass Pyrex dish in the smoker. It’s also disappointing that so many brands still use soda-lime because it’s cheaper.

pyrex in smoker
Borosilicate pyrex glass dishes

Regardless of what type of glass dish you use, you can use it in your pellet grill. However, to maintain the best possible temperatures during cooking and to avoid any potential damage to either yourself or the dish itself, it is always advisable to allow the dish to gradually warm up if necessary and also take time to cool down after use.

What Types of Materials Are Safe to Use in Pellet Grill/Smoker?

Can you put a glass pan in a smoker? Unfortunately, after using a glass dish in a pellet grill, the dish becomes ashy and smoky over time and progressively darkens in color.

If you have some dirty old glass dishes you can use them to cook on a pellet grill. If you have a lovely new dish, then an alternative may be preferable.

Using Bakeware in a Pellet Grill

Any oven-safe bakeware will be good for the pellet grill. Metal pans will heat up faster, but glass pans will maintain a more consistent temperature.

Any type of bakeware dishes like muffin tins, casserole dishes, metal pans, and Pyrex are safe to use in pellet grills.

Using Dutch Ovens in a Pellet Grill/Smoker

Dutch and French ovens are safe to use in a pellet grill.

Dutch ovens and French ovens have been used around the world for centuries. Not only are they good for cooking soups and stews, but they also work well with a pellet grill.

Dutch ovens can be used to cook a delicious breakfast, while French ovens provide a great opportunity to bake tasty pies and cakes that can be enjoyed by your friends and family.

Dutch ovens are traditionally made of cast iron, enameled cast iron, or aluminum. Cast iron is typically the best option for pellet grills because of its thick, dense material which will take longer to heat up but will retain heat well.

You can use them with or without a lid. This way you can adjust the amount of smoke flavor in your dish depending on if you cook with the lid on or off.

Cookie or baking sheets can be used in a pellet grill.

Cookie or baking sheets

However, you should take care to leave a gap of 1 inch on both sides of the grill. This way, you’ll avoid heat damage and allow adequate airflow.

Using Cast Iron in a Pellet grill

CAST IRON is a type of material that is used to make cooking grates for pellet grills. It is one of the best materials to use because it has excellent heat retention and even distribution properties.

Cast Iron in a Pellet grill

CAST IRON pots and pans can be used in a pellet grill. Skillets, griddles, anything cast iron will work in a pellet grill. Just make sure that you have at least an inch on each side to ensure that it doesn’t restrict airflow in your pellet grill.

Using Plastic Oven Bags in a Pellet Grill/Smoker

These innovative oven bags can be used in the pellet grill or in a conventional oven. They eliminate the need to turn food while cooking and there is very little clean-up.

You never have to clean the grill again thanks to this bag! All the mess stays in the oven bag, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning it or your dishes.

Your pellet grill operates similarly to a convection oven, so anything you do in your oven you can usually do in your pellet grill. Make sure you follow the cooking instructions and temperature parameters mentioned on the oven bags and it should work fine.

What Are Grill Mats? Why You Should Be Using

Conclusion: Can you put glass in a smoker

Yes, you can use a glass pan in a smoker/pellet grill. That said, borosilicate glassware will perform better at these high temperatures. Cast Iron pans will heat up faster, but may not give you as stable a cooking temperature. Glass pans, on the other hand, provide you with a more stable and consistent cooking surface for your electric barbecue.

It’s important to heat up and cool down glass gradually to ensure it doesn’t crack. However, sudden changes in temperature can cause the glass to change color, so avoid pouring cold water on it right after you take it out of the pellet grill.

The downside of using a glass dish in a pellet grill/smoker is that smoke might stain the glass so be careful.

You can also check whether Is It Safe to Use Parchment Paper On The Grill?

FAQ’s

Can you use pyrex in a Traeger grill?

Yes, you can safely use Pyrex in a Traeger grill. In fact, Pyrex dishes are dishwasher and oven-safe. If you’re using pyrex glassware on a Traeger grill, just remember to never exceed temperatures of 425 degrees Fahrenheit and be careful with placing your Pyrex dish over a direct heat source.

If you opt for wire racks and preheat your dish along with the grill, you should find using Pyrex dishes with your Traeger as easy as pie.

Borosilicate pyrex glass dishes are naturally more durable than their soda-lime versions. It is safe to use a Borosilicate glass pyrex dish in smokers. It’s also disappointing that so many brands still use soda-lime instead because it’s cheaper.

According to Trager’s official site, any baking pan, dutch oven, cast iron, cookie sheets, or plastic oven/roasting bags, that are oven safe are safe for the Traeger.

Can you put glass pyrex on the grill?

You may be thinking that a Pyrex dish or cookware can only be used on the stovetop or in the oven. But it’s possible to use your Pyrex on the grill, too.

To use Pyrex safely on the grill, you should never put your Pyrex dish directly on the fire. Start at a lower temperature and gradually increase the heat.

It’s best to avoid putting cold or frozen Pyrex directly onto the grill, as this can also cause it to crack or shatter.

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