The Popular 1970s Saucepan You’ll Use Every Single Day Is on Sale (“It’s a Work of Art!”)

Long gone are the days when you’d have to reluctantly prioritize how well cookware functioned over how pretty it looked. It’s become a trend for brands to make pots and pans that are Instagrammable and total workhorses in the kitchen. From Our Place to Caraway, the market is so saturated with picture-perfect cookware that it’s become difficult to figure out which is the most stylish of them all — but the winner might actually be a cookware line from over four decades ago.

Thankfully, you don’t have to scour your local thrift store or barter with resellers to find it. You might recognize Corningware’s Visions cookware, which took off in France in the late ‘70s before making its way to the U.S. Its distinctive amber-colored glass — Pyroceram, which is built to withstand high temperatures without breaking — still looks as gorgeous now as it did back then. (Seriously: Check out this commercial from the ‘80s!) If you’re as into its vintage vibe as I am and can appreciate the usefulness of see-through cookware, keep reading to find out why it’s worth adding to your collection.

If there’s one item you choose from the entire Vision collection — that is, if you don’t go for one of the sets — it should be the saucepan. You’ll use it every day and for a wide range of tasks. The glass-ceramic construction doesn’t just have the benefit of looking pretty and allowing for constant monitoring; it’s also stain-resistant and non-toxic, free of lead and cadmium. You don’t even have to crank the heat all the way up for it to cook your food all the way through quickly and keep it warm. According to the brand, it’s especially ideal for water-based cooking on electric and gas stovetops. (If you have an induction stove, you’ll need an Induction Adapter Plate.)

Further, if you’re a bit unsure about using glass, the brand confirms that the Pyroceram will hold up against high temperatures and thermal shock up to 1,560°F. That means that you can place it in the oven, reheat your dish in the microwave, and store leftovers in the freezer, and keep an eye on your food in any location. It’ll shock you how durable it is, if the saucepan’s reviews are anything to go by. 

The Kitchn team even has firsthand experience with this retro collection. When we asked our grandmas what kitchen tools they’ve held onto for decades, Vision’s cookware was one of them. Our former groceries editor, Lauren, says that at any given moment, her grandma would have “at least one simmering on the stovetop, one bubbling in the microwave, and one warming inside the oven.” 

Average Rating: 4.5/5

“I grew up with my Mom having a full set of these glass pots. This pot is the perfect size for brewing herbal teas. Does not hold any odor, dishwasher safe!” — Angel

“I have been using Corning Visionware for about 40 years and I love it. Got this pot to replace one my wife dropped on a hard tile floor. I have had a large full set of Visionware for about 40 years and they are very durable, work well, and I have never had one break from thermal shock. You can take these from the freezer to the stove, or from the stove to cold water with no problems. Whomever invented this material is a genius. It is nontoxic, and you can see your food cooking through the pot — very handy.” — Kenneth W. Rohla

“This replaced my original which was 30 years old at least… I couldn’t live without it, so [I] bit the bullet and spent the money… I have zero regrets… all us baby boomers know what I am talking about.” — Kindle Customer

Efficient, time-tested, and a “work of art,” as one Amazon reviewer so aptly put it, this saucepan is definitely worth snagging while it’s on sale. There are even a few pieces available in the rarer cranberry colorway, if that’s more your speed. Quantities are limited, so don’t wait!

Buy: Visions 1.5L Saucepan, $106.80 (normally $119)