A Sudden Blast in the Kitchen

Willie Mae Truesdale was startled by a loud explosion from her kitchen. Rushing in, she froze in disbelief — her oven’s glass door had shattered into countless pieces.
“It was unbelievable — you had to see it to believe it,” she recalled. “Glass everywhere, all over the floor. I just thought, ‘What in the world happened?’”

Even more frightening, her oven wasn’t even on. Unfortunately, Truesdale’s experience isn’t unique.

Another Shocking Incident

During the COVID-19 quarantine, Cheryl, a suburban mom, faced a similar nightmare. She was baking brownies when she noticed they were soggy in the middle. Her oven, barely three months old, was already 25 degrees off in temperature.

After quarantine, she planned to call a technician. But first, she ran a self-cleaning cycle. As it neared the end, a loud explosion echoed through her home — the oven’s inner glass door had shattered and fallen inside.

Cheryl’s oven was a Bosch, while Truesdale’s came from Frigidaire. Yet reports of exploding oven doors span across many brands. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has logged about 450 similar complaints since 2019.

What Causes Oven Doors to Shatter?

The Type of Glass Matters

According to Mark Meshulam, a glass specialist with Chicago Window Expert, two main factors often cause oven glass to break on its own.
“One type is soda-lime glass, similar to regular window glass,” Meshulam explains. “It’s tempered through heating and rapid cooling. The other is borosilicate glass, found in older Pyrex and lab glassware, which better resists temperature extremes.”

He notes that the industry’s move toward soda-lime glass has increased the number of breakages since it tolerates heat cycles less effectively.

Tiny Flaws, Big Consequences

Meshulam also points to nickel sulfide inclusions — microscopic flaws that can trigger spontaneous shattering. “It’s only about a tenth of a millimeter in size, but over time, that little imperfection can cause stress inside the glass,” he says. “When exposed to intense heat, like during a self-cleaning cycle, it can fail without warning.”

Even so, he reassures homeowners that using the self-cleaning feature is generally safe. “Most people will go their entire lives using it without a problem,” he says. Still, even small chips or scratches can weaken the glass — sometimes leading to a delayed explosion long after the damage first occurred.

How to Prevent Oven Glass Breakage

Handle With Care

While some microscopic flaws form during manufacturing or shipping, others happen at home. To reduce risk:

• Avoid harsh cleaners or scrubbing pads that can scratch the surface.

• Don’t slam or lean heavily on the oven door.

• Inspect the glass regularly for small chips or cracks and report them early.

• Be cautious with the self-cleaning cycle, especially if you’ve noticed any damage.

The Bottom Line

Shattering oven doors may sound like something out of a movie, but they happen more often than most people realize. With careful handling and awareness, you can lower the risk — and keep your kitchen safe from an unexpected explosion.