Corning Ware Profile: Grab-Its, Sidekicks and other Little Dishes

The Corning Ware "Little Dishes" product line was comprised of various individually-sized shapes that are suitable for microwave or oven use.  These include: Grab-It (P-150, 15 oz), Grab-A-Meal (P-240, 24 oz), Snack-It (P-185, 6"), Casser-ette (P-14, 14 oz), Sidekick (P-140, 11 oz, 4½" x 6¾"), Main Plate (P-811, 8½" x 11½").

Snack-It and Main Plate.

Of this group, the first item to appear was the Main Plate, about 1976.  This oval platter was part of a selection of plain white Corning Ware pieces meant to complement Centura Tableware.  In 1977 it moved to the Corning Ware Microwave Set and was re-named "Micromate Serving Platter", and then "Cook 'N' Serve Platter".  When it became available individually it was called a Main Plate.

Grab-Its debuted during 1977 and were included in the same Microwave Set.  They were also placed among Centura's Corning Ware accessories, but in this context they were called a "Porringer" instead.  Grab-Its were also offered in pairs and in Corning Ware boxed assortments.  When they first appeared, lids were not provided.

Grab-Its: Wildflower and Blue Cornflower.

Frequently Grab-Its are plain white, but there are some decorated ones, namely: Spice O' Life, Blue Cornflower, Wildflower.  The latter two might be unique to Canada.  Another design marks Super Bowl XVIII in 1984.  Grab-Its were also manufactured in beige-tinted Corning Ware with dark brown Fireside Pyrex lids.

(Photo: Logo says "Super Bowl XVIII ... Tampa Stadium · Tampa, Florida · January 22, 1984".)

Sidekicks were introduced during 1978 or 1979, but the shape is older than that.  They were originally meant for airline food service and were marked PL 003, usually along with the name of the airline.  As an ordinary Sidekick they are always plain white, but airline examples often have a decoration of some kind.

Sidekicks.

Casser-ettes debuted in 1979, and they are a shallow oval version of a Grab-It.  They were sold individually as well as in the Microwave Starter Set.  Normally they are plain white, but they can be found in Spice O' Life too.  From the early 1980s, a 1¼ Qt Corning Ware casserole (P-270) resembles an oversized Casser-ette, but it is round instead.

(Photo: Spice O' Life Casser-ette, image from 1985 catalogue.)

A Snack-It is a shallow square shape that appeared about 1981.  They were often sold in pairs as well as in a Grab-A-Snack Set which paired a Grab-It with a Snack-It.  Its size was typically stated as 6", but they measure 6¾" from side to side.  Snack-Its are almost always plain white, but Australian-made Blue Cornflower ones also exist.

Casser-ette & Beige Grab-It.  It seems that all beige Grab-Its are unpatterned.

A Grab-A-Meal is an extra-large Grab-It with an additional handle, and this size was introduced about 1982.  It was sold individually and also appeared in a Cook/Heat 'N' Serve Set alongside a Grab-It and a 1¼ Qt P-270 round casserole.  Grab-A-Meals are most often plain white, but some are decorated with Spice O' Life.

Clear Pyrex lids were made for Grab-Its, Casser-ettes and Grab-A-Meals.  Plastic lids were sometimes provided for Grab-Its and Casser-ettes, and they are appropriate for food storage, but not for the oven or microwave.

Spice O' Life: Grab-A-Meal, and Grab-Its with two pattern variations.

Certain Little Dishes became available in Visions glass-ceramic.  In amber Visions this includes: Grab-It, Grab-A-Meal, Casser-ette.  The Grab-It and Grab-A-Meal also can be found in Cranberry Visions, but it is unknown whether the Casser-ette was offered in this colour.  In Visions, these items carry the same model number as Corning Ware ones, but they are prefixed with "V" rather than "P".

A clear Pyrex product seems to be modelled after the Casser-ette.  It is smaller, holding 1 cup, and came with a white plastic lid.  Its model number is 328, and it also can be found with a decorative Coca-Cola logo on the bottom in place of the usual Pyrex backstamp.

Visions Casser-ette & Grab-It, and clear Pyrex 328, 1 cup oval.


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Centura Gallery: Corning Ware Cook 'n' Serve
Corelle Profiles: Blue Cornflower, Spice O' Life, Wildflower
What about the French phrases on Spice O' Life?
Corning Ware Petite Pans
Corning Ware Fast Food Dishes
What was Corning Glass Works of Canada?