The story: CorningWare started out in the space-racing 1950s as Pyroceram, a material that would safely absorb temperature fluctuations in rocket nose cones. By 1958, it was introduced into homes with the ability to go directly from the freezer to the oven to the table, a substantial benefit for those preparing the family meals and cleaning up after.
The glass-ceramic — and later, stoneware and aluminum — material, with its secure-fitting lids and availability in a variety of sizes, has been a mainstay in kitchens ever since.