Glass bakeware and cookware is usually referred to as "tempered" glass, because it's been strengthened to increase its resistance to shattering. Ordinary glass is made by heating silica -- essentially, a pure form of sand -- until it becomes liquid. Heatproof glass or laboratory glass is usually referred to as borosilicate, because the silica has oxides of boron added to it. It expands less when heated, making it resistant to shattering. Other tempered glass is made by adding lime to the silica, and pre-stressing to counter the effects of heat. This type of glass is less robust but also much less costly, so most modern glass cookware uses silica-lime glass.

Some materials, such as aluminum, are valued for cooking because of their ability to conduct heat quickly and efficiently. Others are used for exactly the opposite reason, because they retain heat. Glass bakeware, like cast iron, falls into the second category. Once heated, it stubbornly retains its temperature, giving foods an even, all-round exposure to the heat. This can be a definite positive when roasting, though smart cooks know to make a few adjustments.

One of the most notable characteristics of glass roasting pans is their ability to brown your roasts. The heat trapped in the borosilicate radiates against the meat, as if the oven walls had moved to just a few inches away. This creates richly browned roasts and gives your chickens a crisp, golden skin, but it's also possible to have too much of a good thing. Most cooks turn down their oven's heat by 25 degrees Fahrenheit to compensate for the browning effect, and keep the meal from getting too dark. A glass roaster will also keep cooking the meat after it's removed from the oven, because of its heat retention, so remove your roast or bird to a serving tray immediately.

Although tempered glass roasters are tough and durable, they can still break if they're mishandled. Glass is famously fragile, and glass cookware is no exception. Although it's thick, it will still break if it's dropped or banged into a hard object. A glass roaster hot from the oven is likely to shatter violently if you pour in room-temperature water, or set it down on a cold surface. Using steel-wool scouring pads or metal utensils can scratch the surface, creating grooves that trap moisture and cause the glass to shatter when it's heated. Still, if you bear those limitations in mind while you work, good-quality glass cookware can last for generations.