Can Glass Go in the Freezer? – What You Need to Know

Using glass is an excellent way to store and heat items, but can glass go in the freezer? Well, that depends on a few things. Whether or not glass can be frozen is contingent on a variety of factors, all of which we will explore today. So, if you’re ready, let’s begin to uncover some of the reasons glass may or may not be frozen.

Table of Contents

• Can You Put Glass in the Freezer?
  • Does Glass Break When Frozen?
  • Does Glass Break in the Freezer?
    • The Glass Was Too Warm
    • The Glass Wasn’t Tempered
    • The Glass Wasn’t Freezer-Safe
    • There Was Too Much Pressure Within the Glass
    • The Glass Was Too Thin
• How Long Can You Put Glass in the Freezer For?
  • How Can You Tell If Glass Is Freezer Safe?
• Types of Glass in Freezer
  • Can You Put a Drinking Glass in the Freezer?
  • Can You Put Pyrex Glass in the Freezer?
  • Can You Put Wine Glasses in the Freezer?
  • Beer Glass in Freezer
  • Can Glass Tupperware Go in the Freezer
  • Can You Freeze Glass Bottles of Milk
  • Can You Freeze Glass Jars?
  • Can You Freeze a Mason Jar?
  • Can a Glass Bowl Go in the Freezer
  • Can Glass Pans Go in the Freezer?
• Glass in Freezer Is Safe…Most of the Time!
• FAQ

Can You Put Glass in the Freezer?

Yes and no.

Glass can go in the freezer under certain circumstances, but actually, it can be dangerous to place certain types of glass in there if you aren’t using the proper methods.

The issue with placing glass in the freezer improperly is that you run the risk of the glass shattering. If you’ve ever experienced this, you’ve likely wondered what gives. The reason your glass exploded could be attributed to several things. Let’s look over these likely causes in the next segment.

Does Glass Break When Frozen?

Yes, glass can break when frozen, but it doesn’t always. If you’ve opened the freezer to find your glass has burst into pieces, you may find the following reasons to blame:

• The glass was too warm
• The glass wasn’t tempered
• The glass wasn’t freezer-safe
• There was too much pressure within the glass
• The glass was too thin

Does Glass Break in the Freezer?

Now that you know the reasons why glass might shatter in the freezer, let’s take a closer look at each one.

The Glass Was Too Warm

Placing a hot or warm glass in the freezer is a bad idea because of the risk of thermal shock. The difference in temperature causes the glass to expand and contract too quickly which can make frozen glass pop!

The Glass Wasn’t Tempered

Tempered glass is much stronger than regular glass. Therefore, this glass is much less likely to shatter under the pressure of frozen foods or drinks.

The Glass Wasn’t Freezer-Safe

You may know about microwave-safe and oven-safe glass but did you know there is such a thing as freezer-safe glass? It’s true. Just look for it on the packaging, label, or bottom print of whatever glass you wish to freeze.

There Was Too Much Pressure Within the Glass

When the contents of glass freeze they often expand. This is especially true of liquids. This pressure mounts against the sides and top of your glass causing it to eventually break if it isn’t strong enough to withstand it. It is for this reason we recommend using tempered or freezer-safe glass.

The Glass Was Too Thin

This goes along with the last point, but placing a glass that is too thin in the freezer will surely cause it to burst. This is due to the pressure put on it by the contents within the glass.

How Long Can You Put Glass in the Freezer For?

Glass can be left in the freezer indefinitely, but this only applies with certainty to glass deemed freezer-safe. Other glasses may be left in the freezer indefinitely, too. However, we cannot say with confidence that this will be the case. The answer will vary depending on the type of glass you use.

How Can You Tell If Glass Is Freezer Safe?

There is usually a stamp or phrase printed on the bottom of the glass indicating whether or not it is freezer-safe. If not, look at the packaging or search for the product online to find out more information about it.

If you aren’t able to know for sure, then we recommend you skip the idea of placing it in the freezer.

Types of Glass in Freezer

The following are a variety of types of glass you may be tempted to place in the freezer. How will they fare against extreme cold?

Read on to find out!

Can You Put a Drinking Glass in the Freezer?

A drinking glass may go in the freezer, but chances are high that it’ll shatter if left there. Drinking glasses tend to be made of thin glass, but this won’t always be the case.

If you need to place it there for a short period of time, make sure it’s at least room temperature and that you don’t leave it much past 30 minutes.

Can You Put Pyrex Glass in the Freezer?

Can glass Pyrex go in the freezer? Good question!

Pyrex has many uses including use in ovens and microwaves. Thankfully, it can also be used in the freezer, as long as you ensure that the Pyrex isn’t hot when you place it there.

Can You Put Wine Glasses in the Freezer?

If your wine glass isn’t tempered and isn’t marked as freezer-safe you can get away with placing it there for only a short while.

Try 30 minutes to an hour to start. You may be able to keep it there longer if the glass is empty.

Beer Glass in Freezer

If you want to chill or frost an empty beer glass in the freezer, you may do so with no problem.

However, it is generally recommended that you do not freeze your beer bottles. It may alter the taste of the beer, and yes, the bottle may burst.

Can Glass Tupperware Go in the Freezer

Glass tupperware marked as freezer-safe can go in the freezer, and does well to keep out odors and freezer burn, too!

Can You Freeze Glass Bottles of Milk

Because milk expands when frozen we don’t recommend freezing milk in bottles. This may cause the glass to crack.

Can You Freeze Glass Jars?

Certain types of glass jars may be frozen if they are labeled as freezer-safe.

Can You Freeze a Mason Jar?

Most mason jars are freezer-safe, but you’ll need to check with the manufacturer’s recommendations to be sure. It’s also been said that mason jars that are wide-mouth and “without shoulders” are best for freezing as they don’t put as much pressure on the glass as traditional mason jar shapes.

Can a Glass Bowl Go in the Freezer

Some glass bowls can be placed in the freezer. Just be sure to check for freezer safety before placing them there. Also, know that some types of glass bowls may yield freezer burn worse than others, especially if they aren’t marked as being freezer-safe.

Can Glass Pans Go in the Freezer?

Many types of glass pans that are fit for oven and microwave use are also fit for the freezer, but you need to double-check the product’s specifications to be sure.

Glass in Freezer Is Safe…Most of the Time!

Most of the time, placing glass in the freezer is safe if you do it for a short amount of time. However, once your glass and its contents have completely frozen over, you could be in for trouble. To be safe, only place glass in the freezer that is marked as freezer-safe when you need it there for long durations. Otherwise, you risk the glass shattering or cracking.

Stay safe!

FAQ