by Doreen McCallister, The Two-Way, NPR News
Check your kitchen cabinets — there's a good chance a CorningWare casserole dish is inside.
If there isn't, you probably know someone who has one. CorningWare, the popular white cookware often decorated with blue cornflowers, has been a fixture at family gatherings and potluck dinners for decades.
S. Donald Stookey, credited with creating a synthetic ceramic glass in the 1950s that led to CorningWare, died Tuesday at age 99.
The durable cookware is able to withstand extreme temperatures, making it perfect for casseroles. The dishes can go from oven to table and then into the refrigerator or freezer. Later, CorningWare could be used in microwave ovens and cooktops.