Centura has probably been around longer than anyone could’ve possibly imagined. It’s been there in our grandparent’s cabinet just lying around and has been used on every Christmas dinner whenever something good was made to eat.
However, the question that many people now ask is that with the technological advancements in our homes, is Centura by corning dishwasher safe?
We all love cooking and obviously hosting dinners, but the biggest problem that as hosts we can face is to clean those dishes once all the guests are gone, and sometimes, going with the option of using a dishwasher is most convenient and ideal, however, if you own Centura, then you might want to keep reading the article to find out more.
WHAT IS CORNING CENTURA?
Before we dissect the nitty gritty of whether Centura is dishwasher safe or not, I believe it is crucial to understand what Centura is and how it is different from Corningware.
Essentially Centura is a rather old type of dinnerware that was manufactured in the hopes of making dinnerware breakage redundant and ensuring that people don’t have to worry about their plates breaking and costing more money.
Centura’s resistivity is quite strong, and it’s made similar to the material of Corningware; however, Centura has a glazed layer on top while Corningware does not.
In my opinion, the resistivity of both the categories is quite strong; however, Corningware might have better durability because of its ability to be used in a microwave as well and for other purposes making it last longer than Centura dinnerware.
The reason why Corningware is preferred over Centura is essentially because of its ability to be heat resistant, and even though Centura might have greater strength because Centura does not contain Pyroceram, it is the reason why Centura does not have the heat resistant feature.
Centura, in addition to being sturdy, looks aesthetically beautiful as well. You know that cutlery design we see in those vintage English movies and our inner crockery freak just turns up, that’s the type of design that Centura comes in, but unfortunately, since it is not heat resistant, it has lost its popularity over time.
Centura has become like a family treasure, and if you ever go into the attic, you might find boxes of dinnerware with that traditional blue cornflower prints towards the edges. That’s precisely what Centura is, and I can guarantee that it is one of the things that won’t break easily, in turn saving you money.
IS CENTURA DISHWASHER SAFE?
This now brings us to figure out whether Centura is dishwasher safe. Even though these items were never advertised originally for being dishwasher safe but with the modern technology that many people now have at home, we now wonder whether this vintage dinnerware can be washed using a dishwasher.
The plain old answer is no. You might wonder why, though? The reason is simple. Centura does not contain Pyroceram.
As mentioned previously, having pyroceram in dinnerware makes the item more durable towards heat and since dishwashers run on extremely heated water to clean out all the bacteria, putting Centura in dishwashers is like sentencing them to death.
Corningware, on the other hand, still has pyroceram in it, which is why it is more heat resistant and, relative to Centura, is safer to be used in the dishwasher machine.
You might wonder what if I opt for washing the Centura in cold water by changing the temperature of the dishwashing machine.
The problem with this statement is that:
- One, you might not have a dishwasher machine that comes with a cold water facility
- Two, even if you do have it, you’re defeating the purpose of washing your dinnerware in the dishwasher because having hot water is what helps in removing any bacteria or leftover residue on your plates.
Cold water won’t remove those residues easily and will actually end up growing more bacteria on your plate, which might harm you in the long run, so it’s better to wash Centura plates or other items under lukewarm water.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU PUT YOUR CENTURA IN THE DISHWASHER?
Most people wonder whether using Centura plates on the stove or getting them washed in the dishwasher is safe or not. The simple and precise answer is no unless you want them to crack.
The general assumption that prevails amongst people that do not own Centura is that Centura is similar to plastic Tupperware, which is the main reason why it cannot go into the dishwasher or be used on the stove.
That is far from the truth because, in actuality, Centura is not plastic; in fact, it is a robust stoneware dish that cannot undergo extreme temperatures.
If you place the Centura in a freezer and immediately bring it out, and put it under hot running water, there is a high chance that your Centura will break because it cannot withstand extreme conditions. However, a Corningware, on the other hand, or Corelle can be used in either temperature.
With Corelle, you can place the dish in the freezer and put it directly on the stove to cook your dish and then directly to the table, and I can assure you that your plate will not break.
Putting your Centura, on the other hand, in a dishwasher might not result in immediate cracks, but in the long run, it will lose its strength, and you will find that on the slightest of thumbs, it might crack, and you will end up losing your family’s prized possession.
CAN CORNINGWARE AND CORELLE BE USED IN THE DISHWASHER?
Generally, both these categories of dinnerware are dishwasher safe, and in contrast to Centura, these types can easily withstand hot temperatures. Dishwasher heating rods at the end will not harm these items; however, people who own Corningware believe that excessive use of the dishwasher can ruin the glass ceramic material.
It is better to clean alternatively; for example, you can wash Corningware dishes in the dishwasher one day, and the next day you might want to wash them by hand. This is just to increase the lifespan of these items and also to save you money.
Not only are these items dishwasher safe, but they are safe to be used on the stove as well or in the oven. Many people just want to bake garlic and tomato to make a delicious tomato soup, so using Corningware is ideal.
IS IT SAFE TO USE CENTURA BY CORNING?
Since this vintage dinnerware is some families’ most prized possession, taking them out on important events or festivals seems like an ideal choice, but sometimes, people wonder whether using old dinnerware is safe to use; for example, ancient steel dinnerware might not be safe to use.
Centura does not contain any toxic components that would make it unsafe to use, but it is vital to be kept in mind that Centura cannot be used as a cooking dish or for baking purposes.
If let’s say, you decide to make banana bread and place it in the oven, it not only breaks, but the sharp pieces might end up going into the bread, making it a complete waste, and some sharp edges might end up damaging your oven too.
Mostly, when Centura dishes break in the oven, they don’t just crack or damage in a simple way; they often end up bursting, which can become extremely dangerous, so Centura, in general, is safe to use in terms of serving food but using it to bake or cook is not a wise decision.
IS CENTURA LEAD-FREE?
Many people suffer from lead allergies, and this type of allergy can be quite commonly found in small children. If you and your family have owned Centura since the early 90s, then there is a high chance that it does contain lead, but after the 2000s, Corning started to make lead-free dinnerware, so if your family bought Corningware after that, then there is nothing to worry about.
Most families, though, including mine, own Centura from the early 90’s when our parents bought it, and because they are so vintage that owning them seems like a moment of pride but remember that some children and people are allergic to lead so serving food in that might trigger an allergic reaction.
But, do keep in mind that lead only exists on the outskirts of the plate or wherever the design is, so if the design is in the center of the plate, then don’t serve food on that plate to your kid or any person who is allergic to lead.
Even if the design is towards the exterior, some children are susceptible, so it is best to keep these dishes away from children and give them food in some other dish.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if I washed Centura in a cold-water dishwasher machine?
You’re defeating the purpose of owning a dishwasher because a dishwasher is meant to wash your dishes at high temperatures so that any food residue or bacteria is removed. If you put the setting to cold, then you won’t be able to access clean dishes.
You might just end up getting sick because cold water doesn’t kill bacteria.
What if I placed my Centura on the stove?
It will most definitely break because Centura, by default, was not created to be used as a cooking or baking dish. In fact, placing it on the stove will not just crack it, but it might end up bursting, which could end up harming you or anyone near you around that time in the kitchen.
