Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I researched every blasted glass bowl set Amazon sells. I read the reviews carefully. I decided I wanted an old American maker and was disappointed to see that the Pyrex containers have a habit of blowing up. Anchor Hocking is just as old and respectable a name, though, so I went with these and am quite happy with them. Something I had not anticipated about this set: The plastic lids are the flexible, malleable kind! Hooray! I read so many negative reviews of other products complaining that the brittle plastic tabs on the lids had broken off. That won't happen with these. And Anchor Hocking has been making glass forever, so the company knows what it's doing. Unless USPS or FedEx is playing soccer in your kitchen, these bowls should last a lifetime. One tip to keep in mind if, as one reviewer fumed, the lid takes on the odor of what is stored in it (wondrous if it's fresh bread, not so good if it's onions). That's not Anchor Hocking's fault. It's just the nature of plastics. And you can eliminate the odor. Do this: Run cold water over the lid before washing. If the lid smells, catch it then, because hot water sets smells in plastic much the same way it sets stains in laundry. Put the lid in a bowl slightly larger than it and cover with tepid water and a couple tablespoons baking soda. Let it sit awhile. Or use lemon or vinegar instead of baking soda. If you've already screwed up and the odor is lingering, do what I did when a renter left my refrigerator with a horrible stench: Wad up some newspaper to almost fill the receptacle (in this case, your Anchor Hocking glass bowl) and add ordinary charcoal (two pieces should be enough). Charcoal absorbs odors. Seal the lid tightly and see how it smells in a day or two. Again, do NOT wash in hot water until you know the odor is gone. These bowls are pricier per item than many of the ones I see on Amazon. But I'd urge you buy the best you can afford. These will last longer. And there are environmental consequences for our throwaway society. We're feeling them right now.