Beware, bakers: Glass dishes are known to shatter spontaneously for *this* reason

One second you’re snapping some photos for Instagram of your homemade vegan casserole, and the next, the entire glass container holding the meal totally shatters. Accidentally dropping something and seeing pieces fly in every direction is one thing, but witnessing your favorite Pyrex-style baking pan spontaneously explode is downright terrifying—but there’s actually a simple explanation for why it happens.

According to Apartment Therapy, there have been numerous cases of complaints outlining events of glass, Pyrex-style baking dishes “exploding” due to sudden temperature changes, whether it occurs in the oven or on your countertop after it comes out. Luckily, there’s a way to still use your favorite baking dish without having to worry about pieces of glass winding up in every nook and cranny of your kitchen. The Chicago Tribune reports that in order to avoid thermal shock—which is when “something very hot comes in contact with something very cool”—there are some general rules to follow.

There have been numerous cases of glass Pyrex-style baking dishes “exploding” due to sudden temperature changes, whether it occurs in the oven or on your countertop after it comes out.

Aside from first ensuring your glassware items are oven-safe, also steer clear from situating them atop open flames, burners, or adding cool liquid to them while still hot. Another common mistake? Setting your hot pans on “a damp towel, the top of the stove, on a cold or wet surface, or metal trivets.” Instead, your best bet is always using dry cloth pot holders to create a safe barrier between the dish and other surfaces.

So, before you hit the kitchen, shop these options to make sure combusting Pyrex-style dishes don’t ruin your otherwise delicious meals.

These 6 cloth pot holders can help keep your glass baking dishes from exploding.

Shop the pot holders

Jennice House Pure Cotton Potholders Set of 3 $10

DII Cotton Chambray Pot Holders Set of 2 $8

Ritz Royale Collection Terry Cloth Pot Holder Set of 2 $10

Neoviva Cotton Denim Quilted Heat Resistant Pot Holders Set of 2 $14

Honla Round Woven Fabric Trivets $7

Looms & Weaves Kitchen Pot Holder $10

Here are some meal-prep hacks that’ll save you money. Or, learn how to make this quinoa enchilada casserole.