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2ajsmama

Corelle warning - edge splinters!

12 years ago

I knew that if you dropped a plate, it would shatter into thousands of tiny pieces. We still have 4 plates we use all the time (bought used when the kids were little, so something lightweight and "unbreakable" instead of heavy Pfaltzgraff). Was using 1 for breakfast this morning, picked up my plate when I was done and felt something sharp prick the base of my thumb. Went to kitchen sink window (I was going to rinse and put in DW anyway), found a short thin splinter in my hand! Edge is wearing, I didn't know it would splinter.

The shard broke off when I tried to pull it out (same direction it went in), I squeezed the wound to make it bleed, then washed my hands. I don't feel anything there now when I press on it, hope it's all out.

I just Googled recycling Corelle and I'm not sure it can be (some places say yes, other no) but all 4 plates are going in the trash now. I also warned my mom since I bought her a whole set when she decided her old Pfaltgraff was too heavy. We're going to be using the stoneware exclusively from now on.

Now I' wondering about my 25-yr old clear Pyrex (I also have a 40-50 yr old? Cinderella Pyrex bowl that was my grandmother's, that doesn't go in the MW or DW though)?

I also found when I searched on Corelle splinters that some have spontaneously exploded!

Comments (21)

  • 12 years ago


    I know what you are saying! Got rid of mine just this year. Here is one after falling and breaking. A million pieces and sharp!

  • 12 years ago

    Wow! I am on my 2nd set of corelle in 29 years of marriage. I have never broken one.

  • 12 years ago

    I've never broken one either, but I didn't know you could get splinters from a worn edge! I take it back, I think I still have a small piece in my hand, I was just cleaning, could feel it when the handles of the vacuum and steam mop pressed against it.

  • 12 years ago

    Oh great. I researched and researched and have just gotten rid of my Pflaztgraff and bought Corelle.

    I also bought 16 plates of Fiesta because I needed to add plates to my good china for our now large family dinners. I bought different kinds of blues. It took me 2-3 years of research to come up with this. AHHHH. Do I start all over?

    One of the big reasons for my choices was that they were Made in US and lead free. What was interesting though was that the mugs that were in the Corelle place settings were Made in China.

    So, now what? Any advice

  • 12 years ago

    ajsmama, please go have it checked to make sure all the pieces are out.

    I won't be getting rid of my corelle but will be more aware of any chipped or worn edges.

  • 12 years ago

    I agree that all dishes have some drawbacks. I often see corelle touted as shatterproof (on forums like these). I think that is why people are surprised when it splinters or breaks. OPer, I hope your hand is okay!

    Catherine

  • 12 years ago

    Dang! This is the first I have ever heard of such a thing, been dealing with Corelle forever. I did know that it explodes when dropped, though, even on laminate. Pretty spectacular.

  • 12 years ago

    Glass does the same thing with the tiny slivers and you can hurt yourself with ceramic shards too. Can we really expect these things to not break? I'm not understanding this. Otherwise you need plastic, wood, or metal.

    This product is more break resistant, no?

  • 12 years ago

    I agree with Snookums. I can't think of many dinnerware materials that won't break/shatter/splinter if dropped. I've had some of my corelle for almost 40 years and it's still fine. Just keep an eye on its conditon and act accordingly.

  • 12 years ago

    I've dropped my corelle many times. Also, accidentally slammed it on the granite. It has never broken. That is why I bought corelle again because it seemed shatter resistent.

  • 12 years ago

    I wasn't suggesting that everyone get rid of their Corelle, just letting you know that on the old plates they can look intact and you can still get hurt - don't need to drop one. I looked and I could see where the white was wearing off the edge, and it looked a little clearer (if that makes sense) so it must be wear, maybe from DW since I don't store them on edge. The edges aren't chipped, just look worn. I never noticed any rough spots. But I'm glad it was me and not DD who got a splinter from picking up a plate. So check your edges! I only had 4 plates, all old, wasn't worth keeping the others to see if the same thing happens again.

    (and yes, I know glass shatters - I've had a Ball jelly jar fall out of the dish drainer and hit the tile floor, that was a mess that sent shards 15 ft away, but I've never known it to splinter on an edge)

  • 11 years ago

    I have used Corelle for 35 years and never seen one splinter. Just bought a new set. I think that splintering is probably a very rare occurrence. My mother used them from the time they came out and for 30 years as well with a 7 child household. They were the best. If they have taken a spill and hit on the edge, I can see where the edges might be compromised. But in about 45 years of experience with them, childhood to adulthood, I've never seen an edge splinter.

  • 11 years ago

    Interesting post. I am on my second set of Corelle in 30 years the first being the country geese pattern, lol and now have the Abundance pattern for 20 years or so, the beige with fruit trim. Need to replace it for something fresher and now not sure what to buy. Was going to get one of the newer plain patterns at the Corelle outlet nearby.

    Last week I dropped one for the first time and it slivered into a million shards. It hit the vinyl tile floor so it surprised me it would shatter like it did and not too sure I want another set.

    What is a good everyday dish?

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I have a small obsession with Fiesta Ware. I love the fun colors. If I had more room I would buy more plates :) I have had mine a couple of years and so far so they holding up just fine and they are made in the USA.

  • 5 years ago

    Yep. Same thing happened to me. I loved Corelle but all my plates and bowls starting getting very fine cracks along the outside edges. They were not chipped but started to feel "rough" around the edges. I ended up with a tiny glass shard in my finger so I had to trash my entire set. I always handled them with care but they gradually started getting "worn, rough" edges. Wish I knew what caused it. Maybe new dishwasher or detergent? I use the Costco brand DW detergent?

  • 4 years ago

    I have had a dish shatter spectacularly in the past and today I got a painful splinter in my thumb while handling a bowl. These are old pieces so maybe Corelle deteriorates as it ages. Bottom line the old Corelle has to be put in the trash.

  • 4 years ago

    Corelle seems to shatter when it falls on its edge, and it truly is a spectacular failure. But when I have dropped plates so that they hit flat side down, they survived. I've got pieces of the old set with the dark green edging but have 3 newer sets, plus stoneware, and china. I use the Corelle the most. And yes, the mugs are not made in the US. I was able to get one of my sets without mugs, I have too many of those anyway.

  • 4 years ago

    NO! The old Corelle is the best. Just trash the chipped piece and replace. It is very easy to find on Ebay.

    They are glass, you could be putting them too close together in the dishwasher. they do not need to be touching.

  • 4 years ago

    Shards of flying glass. This is why I got rid of my old Corelle.

  • last year

    Years ago wh

    27 year old was a small toddler we were in the kitchen i think i was emptyemptying the dishwasher when my son screamed out in bloody murder i didnt know what in the world is wrong with this kid?! i asked him what was wrong and pointed to the heel if his foot. he was barefoot then he pointed to his heel it was the thinnist shsrd of dhite glass and i knew i hadnt broken anything i felt the edge of the olate i just put uo and sure enough thete was a rough spot a shard has splintered of my corelle plate!i didnt know that could happen!