Mug cakes are the talk in town right now, but it just turns out that I’m not a fan of microwave baking. However, the temptation still comes quite often, so I decided to dig deep into the internet to determine if my coffee mugs are oven safe.
So can coffee mugs go into the oven? It depends; stoneware mugs are pretty much suitable for the oven. Also, you need to check your mug’s label to see if it’s marked “oven-safe.” Porcelain, Chinese mugs, or Earthenware mugs will crack when placed in the microwave.
In this post, I’ll take a dig into whether coffee mugs can go into the oven and if it’s safe to do so. Additionally, I’ll try to cover some of the most frequently asked questions related to our nitty-gritty.
Read: Can you put a plate in the oven?
Are Coffee Mugs Oven-Safe?
Yes, SOME COFFEE MUGS are oven-safe, especially those made of Stoneware and marked as “oven-safe” by the manufacturer. However, they can easily break when baked in the furnace and decor components incorporated after the finishing glaze is applied.
Don’t put porcelain, bone china, and earthenware mugs in the oven. They might crack in the oven when exposed to high temperatures.
While coffee mugs come in different varieties, the construction materials and decorations may vary as well. After all, mugs tailored for specific brews such as coffee, tea, and chocolate are rare to find, among other hot beverages. Usually, they include printed texts stating, “never serve at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Due to the stiff competition in the mug industry, there has been an increasing number in the production of low-quality mugs that cannot withstand temperatures higher than 100 degrees Celsius.
This is because manufacturers want to make more sales out of a few pennies to strive in competitive markets. It is also worth noting that when consumers’ demands are high, there’s always an increased demand for cheap low quality coffee mugs.
What Happens If You Put a Mug in the Oven?
Your coffee mug might explode when subjected to steam. While many coffee mugs exhibit ceramic construction, ceramics are safe for oven use. However, they will easily explode when exposed to steam, especially if the mug was poorly built.
More often, mugs are glazed to prevent the mug from absorbing water during heating. Please don’t put it in the oven; instead, use it as decoration in your kitchen cabinet.
How Long Do You Put a Mug in the Oven?
Half an hour. Before you start baking your coffee, preheat your mug to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for at least half an hour. To prevent your mugs from thermal shock, please put your mug in the oven before heating up and take it out once the oven cools.
How Much Heat Can a Coffee Mug Take?
Typically 140 F is the ideal heat for a coffee mug. Once the coffee is taken out of the oven, it will start to cool. The construction material will then release its heat back through the mug’s lining to keep the coffee hot.
Also, the recommended serving temperatures should range anywhere from 185F to 200F. This means that any coffee served at temperatures above 140F will burn, so we recommend 140F as the ideal temperature.
What Temperature Does Ceramic Crack?
Ceramics can withstand high temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit; however, they will crack upon subjecting them to a sudden change in temperatures.
How Can I Know that My Coffee Mug is Oven-Safe?
Oven-safe coffee mugs are oven-safe to use. However, if you have several mugs in your kitchen cabinet, you can check out for the manufacturer’s recommendations and see whether or not the material is safe for oven use. Meanwhile, is your coffee mug oven-safe? Below are the materials to help you leverage your choices:
1. Material Used
- Stoneware: Stoneware is heat-resistant, which makes this material safe for oven use. Usually, the stoneware mugs are thick and opaque. Also, they come in two distinct specifications – rough and shiny- baked texture.
- Porcelain: Porcelain is another oven-safe material; however, not all porcelain mugs are recommended for oven use. This is because porcelain is thin and receptive to thermal shock.
- Earthenware: Like stoneware, earthenware is also thick and heavy; however, not safe for oven use. Earthenware is the most common material used in kitchen utensils and is often printed. Despite its heavy material, earthenware is susceptible to chipping. To identify earthenware mugs, check out for the plain white clay beneath the mug or the paint.
- Bone china: Bone china are usually delicate, and therefore, it should never be used in the oven. Bone china mugs are thin and often exhibit intricate designs. Also, they are painted on the outside.
- Metal: A mug made from pure metal looks like a camping mug. And since metals are good conductors of heat, metal mugs are ideal for oven use. Again, your mug should be made of pure metal and not exhibit any traces of plastic or non-stick finishes as they are poor heat conductors.
- Plastic: Because plastics are not heat-resistant, any plastic mug will automatically melt when subjected to high temperatures. Therefore, a mug with a plastic base or handle isn’t safe for oven use.
- Glass: It’s a common belief that glass cannot withstand high temperatures. However, with the advance in technology, some varieties have been developed to withstand the oven heat. Therefore, it would be best to check the manufacturer’s recommendations before baking on a glass mug.
- Decorated: Any utensil with decorations isn’t ideal for oven heat. This is because the decorations are often added upon completion of the firing process, and when exposed to heat, they will crack or even break.
2. Check the Manufacturer’s Recommendations
More often, you’ll find the manufacturer’s recommendations, including the material type beneath the coffee mug. Therefore, you should anticipate the following writings on your coffee mug – “dishwasher, microwave, and oven-safe.”
If the coffee mug doesn’t include such printed information, check the package that came with it. Most coffee mugs include a care guide manual in the form of a tiny book. Also, most mugs come with a brand logo that identifies the manufacturer. So you may confirm whether or not your mug is oven-safe through the manufacturer’s website.
Can Coffee Mugs Go in the Microwave?
Yes, some coffee mugs can go in the microwave while others won’t. Even so, coffee mugs with properly formulated glazed ceramics, including stoneware, are safe for microwave use. To test your coffee mug’s efficiency, put a ½ cup of water for at least 30 seconds, and see whether or not it will overheat. If it doesn’t overheat, then it’s an ideal choice for use in the microwave.
Why is My Coffee Cracking After Baking?
Poorly fired coffee pots will often crack when subjected to high oven temperatures. However, materials such as Porcelain and stoneware are proven oven-safe since they don’t crack in the oven.
Usually, pottery cracks due to sudden changes in temperatures. Therefore, when a cold mug is exposed to hot temperatures and vice versa, it will suddenly crack.
The entire cracking process is referred to as thermal shock. Like any other solid, pottery will also expand when subjected to high temperatures and contract when subjected to cold temperatures. Similarly, the molecular bonds will disintegrate once there is a sudden change in heat.
That said, all pottery is vulnerable to thermal shock, and as such, your choice of pottery should be strong enough to adapt to different temperatures.
How Can I Avoid Thermal Shock for My Coffee Mug?
Stoneware, Porcelain, and glass are susceptible to thermal shock. However, you can still protect your coffee mugs against thermal shock through the following precautions:
- Know the maximum temperature for your dish: Although Porcelain is vulnerable to thermal shock, some won’t react to a sudden change in temperatures. However, delicate ceramics will crack once they are exposed to heat.
- Let your coffee mug rest on the counter: Regardless of the temperature, let your coffee mug rest for at least 20 minutes before taking it to another environment. This will allow the mug to adapt to the room temperature, preventing your mug from cracking.
- Don’t run hot cups under cold water: Again, refrain from exposing your coffee mugs into sudden temperature change. Once you’ve taken it out of the oven, let it cool before you can run cold water in it.
- Don’t move cups from the freezer to the oven: While different recipes call for different procedures, consider wrapping your dough in oven-safe paper wax before moving it to the freezer. When the recipe prompts you to bake immediately after freezing, allow it to sit at room temperature before moving it to the oven.
- Don’t expose normal mugs to direct heat: Because an oven is an enclosed environment, its contents are heated evenly. Therefore, if you use an oven-safe mug over a stove, only a single part of the cup will heat. This will eventually lead to a crack due to the difference in temperatures.
How Much Heat Can a Coffee Mug Take?
Ceramics can typically withstand very high temperatures of between 1,000-1,600 degrees Celsius. However, glass isn’t grouped under ceramic due to its amorphous feature.
What Kind of Mugs Can You Put in the Oven and for How Long?
Stoneware, some porcelain (not all), and metal are proven safe for oven use for at least 2 hours. However, ordinary Porcelain and earthenware mugs aren’t recommended for oven use as they can easily crack or even break when exposed to a sudden change in temperatures.
While coffee mugs come in different varieties, the construction materials and decorations may vary as well. After all, mugs tailored for specific brews such as coffee, tea, and chocolate are rare to find, among other hot beverages. Usually, they include printed texts stating,” never serve at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Due to the stiff competition in the mug industry, there has been an increasing number in low-quality mugs that cannot withstand temperatures higher than 100 degrees Celsius. Reason? Manufacturers want to make more sales out of a few pennies to strive in the competitive markets.
To answer your question, I’ll emphasize ceramic coffee mugs, although other materials are considered oven-safe. Ceramics can further be broken down into Stoneware, Porcelain, Earthenware, and Bone china. Out of these sub-categories, Earthenware and Bone china are rare to find and often not considered oven-safe.
So we only have two options left for you, and that includes Stoneware and Porcelain. Both of these materials are considered oven-safe unless decor components have been incorporated after the glaze finishes.
And because Porcelain is thin and receptive to thermal shock, make sure not to subject them to any force while hot, instead of handling them with care. Ultimately, Stoneware and porcelain coffee mugs are an ideal choices for oven use.