The Ultimate Thrifting Guide to Fire-King: How to Spot & Collect These Vintage Gems

If you missed my post on my thrifted Anchor Hocking / Fire-King casserole dish, you could find it here.

I thought it would be wise to give you a thrifting guide on how to find these in the wild.

The key is to go to thrift stores and go often. I like to go at least once a week. Once you know what to look for, you can spot these classics anywhere, especially if they are next to something more modern.

When I spotted mine at the thrift store, there was just something about it that caught my eye. To me it looked old. The pattern on the side just looked classic. I turned it over and saw Anchor Hocking Fire king on the bottom and by the font; I knew it was old.

My Vintage Anchor Hocking Casserole Dish found at the thrift store for $5.99, notice the old timey look, the vintage reflective milk glass shine and mid-century design; simply stunning and easy to spot amongst more modern decor.

My Anchor Hocking Casserole Dish Backstamp; the top says Anchor Hocking, the middle says Fire King, Oven Proof, Made in USA, 1 QT (for Quart) and USA is printed at the bottom. The stamp is circular, vintage and awesome.

These treasurers are normally in the glassware section, but sometimes they are on display at the front of the glassware section, trying to get people's attention, they certainly get mine.

Pro Tips:

• Go to the thrift store and go often, as time permits go once a week, usually on Thursday's if you can.

• Look at every single piece, turn it over and look for the backstamp.

• If you are in the thrift store and you hear the bins rolling out by a worker, make sure to go over to the bins and do a quick once over. You do not have to wait until the worker puts it on the display shelf.

• Do not be afraid to rummage through the isles, I have found vintage bakeware like Pyrex, under stuff, look through everything. Once you know what you are looking for you will be able to find it easily.

There’s a reason vintage Fire-King glassware makes collectors’ hearts race—its durable, oven-safe design and dreamy pastel hues are the stuff of mid-century kitchen dreams. But with reproductions and lookalikes flooding thrift stores, how do you know you’ve found the real deal?

What Makes Fire-King Special?

Made by Anchor Hocking from the 1940s–1970s, Fire-King was designed to rival Pyrex with its heat-resistant glass (hence the fiery name!). Unlike delicate China, these dishes were built to last—which is why so many survive in thrift stores today.

Beyond their nostalgia, these pieces are perfect for modern use, which makes them a collectors dream. All you need to do is just start searching for them. Use our tips above to make that happen.

Have you found one in the wild? If so, where did you find it? I would love to hear your story, comment below.