Can I Cook Baked Pork Ribs in Pyrex?

Pork ribs are traditionally cooked on a grill, but they taste just as delicious baked in the oven. Baking ribs in the oven allows you to slow cook them so they're tender and juicy. You can also baste them with sauce repeatedly for a thick, rich glaze. No matter the type of glaze or rub you use, a large, deep Pyrex pan will work well.

Pyrex is an ideal container for baking pork ribs because it conducts heat well and it cleans up easily. Pyrex casserole dishes also have deep sides, allowing ample room for the meat, as well as any sauces and drippings. To use Pyrex dishes for baking ribs, always preheat the oven first. Add liquid to the bottom of the pan and avoid placing the hot container on a cold surface, which can cause it to crack.

To bake pork ribs in a Pyrex container, simply place the ribs in the casserole dish. Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, chipotle chili powder and brown sugar to make a zesty, but sweet, rub. Shake the rub over the ribs and massage it into the meat. At this point, you can add a bit of liquid, such as apple juice, to the bottom of the Pyrex dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 300 degrees for one to two hours, or until the meat is tender and almost falling off the bone. To give the ribs a golden crust, remove the foil and turn the heat up to 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or toss the ribs on the grill. This is also the time to lather the ribs with any sauce.

The main drawback to using a Pyrex dish is most casserole dishes aren't large enough to do a full rack of pork ribs. If you're doing a larger batch of ribs, use a large cookie sheet instead. Another advantage of using a cookie sheet is that you can fit a rack on it to hold the ribs off the pan. Elevating the ribs helps them cook evenly and the drippings fall beneath. Although most people think of the classic glass casserole dish, Pyrex also makes metal cookie sheets that would work for baking ribs.

Pyrex dishes wash easily in the dishwasher, but you might want to soak the dish in some soapy water first to remove baked on drippings and barbecue sauce. Unlike non-stick pans, you can safely use plastic or nylon scrubbing pads or cleaning brushes on Pyrex. For extra tough stains, try a little non-abrasive cleanser.