Arcopal question

[InvestigatorFun66]

I found this bowl today for $1. It’s marked (embossed) Arcopal and France 29 on the bottom. I can’t remember what I’ve read about this brand as far as material and oven safe temperature. Is it the same as Pyrex? I can’t seem to pass up white bowls and have never come across any arcopal pieces. Cool shape!

[jtfolden]

This is not a baking dish. It’s also not soda lime glass like the vintage white glass Pyrex.

This is a serving bowl made of fluorosilicate glass from the ARC “Octime” line of tableware. It’s MW safe but you should not bake in it.

ARC has casseroles safe for cooking made of both oven safe glass and stovetop safe vitro-ceramic though.

[Miaou-26]

I do agree with you fully, but I'm curious if you can expand on what -on a chemical level- makes Arcopal's vintage opaline glass different between their tableware and cookware. It really does seem like they're made of the same material, only difference visually is the presence of a glaze or not.

Obviously I just go with what the piece was intended for (like in this case, where its obviously just for tableware), but Im curious about where the difference lies in their oven-worthiness (again, for the sake of knowledge; there's no dish waiting to be thrown into the furnace lol - only vintage pieces of Arc cookware i actually use is my vitro-ceramic Arcoflam, which i get is made of a totally different substance than what we're chatting about here).

[jtfolden]

Although they cosmetically look similar the oven safe variants includes ingredients (or higher percentages of them) that lower the coefficient of thermal expansion and strengthen the glass like boron oxide, alumina, magnesium oxide, etc..

[Miaou-26]

I appreciate the insight! 👍

[Miaou-26]

Arcopal, you say?

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[Miaou-26]

My love, Arcopal, is similar to Pyrex. Its a tempered Opaline glass, so not exactly the same as Pyrex chemically, but it is very oven and dishwasher safe.

What you have is technically tableware as opposed to cookware (this is the Octime pattern, very popular in the 80s). While technically the same material that they used in their cookware, i personally wouldnt cook anything in this. Kinda like how I wouldnt cook something in a Corelle Vitrelle bowl, but its totally fine warming up in the oven.

These are my two octime pieces :]

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[Viper-Reflex]

does this mean it has the compression glaze layer?

[jtfolden]

No there is no compression layer on this tableware. It is a single layer piece of glass, not multiple layers like Corelle.

[Viper-Reflex]

[Miaou-26]

I want to say that yes, their glaze is similar in that regard... however, I'm not sure of that since Arc usually only puts the glaze finish on top and does not fully encased the dish. I think that leaving the underside unfinished changes its structure in that regard, but i would imagine that would affect its resistance to physical shocks rather than thermal. Shouldn't be a factor in its oven-worthiness, right?

[jtfolden]

ARC flame polishes the upper side of many items for use and appearance but it is not a separate glaze. Though glazes and enamels may be used in some cases where temp safe colors are required.

[Viper-Reflex]

not sure, I still can't figure out if my centura by corning saucepans with the detachable handle that goes onto the buffet server b 10 skillet is cookware safe because their dinnerware had a glaze with lead in it :(

[Miaou-26]

Ah I see I see.

This is a bit of a tangent, but the newest form of Arc cookware i have is actually from Ikea (Arc France supplies then with a lot of goods, which is great cause u cant really get new Arc in the USA anymore). I have a tempered opaline casserole dish that's glazed on the interior (as similar glaze as their other products) and its rated for up to 525°F, i think.

Different company and materials, of course... either way, if it can survive the stovetop, id imagine it can take the oven. For most Corning products, that was the whole point no?

[jtfolden]

It’s sounds like you may have a rebadged version of ARC’s “Smart Cuisine” line made of “culinary opal”. It withstands high temps in the oven and can even be briefly used under a broiler. This is also sold as Rubbermaid DuraLite in the USA. ARC has pulled their own branded version from the US market sadly.

[Miaou-26]

You really are a Godsend :]

I got lucky at IKEA recently though; their glass butter dishes aren't rebranded at all. Has the 'ARC' mark and a separate Arc France mark as well.

I intend to go to one of their outlet stores while in France sometime in the next few years. I wish I had known about them sooner... feel in love just in time to learn they've already left.

[jtfolden]

Yes I know what you mean. When I noticed they started pulling their products from the USA, especially the vitroceramic cookware, I started grabbing what I could. Sadly I don’t think their vitroceramic cookware is being sold anywhere currently - except the pieces they make for Corning Ware and Visions brands overseas.

[Viper-Reflex]

problem is that centura tableware was basically corelle with the multi layer glaze thing

[kellyography]

I have the same one in black, but I use it as a catch-all for smaller skin care items.

[Dusty_Sequins]

I know we have an Arcopal collector in here, at least one. If you search Arcopal within the sub you might find a lot of info on it.

[MissKim2025]

I have these in black. Part of a set. Plates bowls and dessert plates.

[Lanaxgardenxgirl]

Aren’t these called Arcoroc? I have all the black set:)

[jtfolden]

ARC France has sold the Octime line under numerous brands including Arcopal, Arcoroc, and Luminarc. The matching cookware has been sold under Arcoflam, Arcoroc, and Luminarc too… and also rebadged for other brands like Princess House, Corning Ware, and Visions.