Sometimes a recipe consists of you cooking your food on a stove and then again, putting it in the oven. More often than not, you don’t want to use too many pots because let’s face it, doing dishes can sometimes be a pain in the flesh.
If you don’t have a dishwasher, doing dishes is such a draining chore. I bet the feeling of you putting your pot in the oven has crossed your mind not once but many times.
To answer your question on whether you can put your pot(s) in the oven, it depends on the kind of pot you’re using.
If you are wondering what type of a pot you can use in your oven; here are a number of the things you should look out for; first and foremost you should try and check the underside of the pot to see if there’s any symbol showing that you can put the pot in the oven.
Some pots have words you see on them, like “oven-safe” which indicates that the pots are oven safe while others will have some symbols showing an oven or something looking similar to an oven. The metallic material used to make a pot also shows whether it is oven safe or not.
Generally speaking, oven-safe pans are usually made from materials like ceramic, copper, cast iron, aluminum or even stainless steel. If your frying pan or pot is made of any of these materials or from a combination of them, then both your pot and pan are safe to go in the oven.
What Type of Pots Can Go in the Oven?
1. Cast Iron
Cast iron is super durable and considerably non-stick if seasoned properly. This kind of metal can even go into an open flame!
Cast iron can be fairly inexpensive, which makes it a great choice to go from stove to oven.
2. Enameled Cast Iron
Just like normal cast iron, enameled cast iron can withstand being put in the oven. This is often likely the kind of pot that the recipe referenced above is looking for.
Enameled cast iron is also considerably non-stick itself, but it does not have to be seasoned. It is coated with enamel, which acts as a non-stick coating.
Enameled cast iron can cost a reasonable amount more than normal cast iron, and it’s quite heavy. The price tag of it, is quite worth it though, as its versatility makes it an important part of any kitchen.
3. Stainless Steel
A lot of stainless steel pots and pans can also go in the oven. You’ll want to watch your dish though because it can cook unevenly.
4. Carbon Steel
Carbon steel is a combination of both stainless steel and cast iron. It’ll have to be seasoned like cast iron because (it can rust if not), but it is a lot cheaper.
It is lighter than a cast iron pan, which can be beneficial.
5. Copper
Copper may be a bit more finicky than the rest of the metals listed. It doesn’t do well at high temperatures, since copper may be a very reactive metal. It is always lined with another metal because of its reactive nature.
Copper is an outstanding metal to work within pots and pans, as the cook can control the temperature significantly better thanks to its high conductivity. This high conductivity leads to high prices for this kind of cookware.
6. Aluminum
Aluminum must be treated before it can be utilized in cookware. When combined with other metals or treated to improve its durability, it makes an affordable, lightweight option.
7. Non-Stick
Though most non-stick pots are probably not a good option for the oven, some are specifically made to be versatile in the sense that. This kind of cookware is where you’ll want to look for the oven-safe symbol.
With all of the pots, you’ll want to double-check together with your manufacturer to see if there’s any recommended maximum temperature that they advise.
How Do I Know if My Pot is Oven-safe?
For you to know if your pot is completely oven-safe, you need to first figure out if all the various components of the pot can withstand such high temperatures.
These components comprise the material the cookware is made of, the coating on the surface of the pot and also the handles of the pot.
Furthermore, you ought to also find out if the lid of the pot is heat-resistant if you plan to cover the pot with it while baking.
The simple tips on various components explained below will help you decide if your pot is oven-safe or not.
What Material is the Cookware Made of?
When deciding if it’s safe to put a pot in the oven or not, the first thing to assess is the material of your frying pot. Generally speaking, oven-safe pots are usually made from materials such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel or even ceramic.
If your pot is made from any of these materials or a combination of them, then your pot is safe to go in the oven.
Is the Coating on the Pot Heat Resistant?
The next thing to consider is the coating on your pot surface. Non-stick coatings on pots make life a lot easier but they also limit the heat resistance of the pot. If your pot has a non-stick Teflon coating then there are higher chances of it having specific temperature restrictions.
As a general rule of thumb, remember that the non-stick coating of a Teflon pan gets damaged when exposed to temperatures as high as 500°F. This is often when the Teflon coating begins to tear apart and release toxic fumes into the air. This is why you should avoid baking in non-stick pots.
On the other side, enameled cookware and ceramic-coated pots are usually oven-safe up to 500°F. So you are advised to use these pots instead.
Are the Handles of the Pot Oven-Proof?
The handles of a pot are most often responsible for restricting its use in the oven. These handles are usually made from insulating materials for example wood and plastic to give comfort in holding the pot. However, these materials also hinder the use of the pot for baking as they easily melt in the oven at higher temperatures.
This is why you need to be cautious when placing pots with insulated handles in the oven. Insulated handles made from Silicone are better at withstanding heat. They’re also oven proof and also safe to set in the oven at temperatures of around 330°F to 475°F.
Rubber handles are usually oven-safe. You may notice discoloration in them after being put in the oven but this does not affect their functionality.
Metal handles such as stainless steel and cast iron handles are sturdy and also safe to set in the oven. They can withstand high temperatures of about 500°F so you don’t need to worry about melting them. Just remember to be cautious and always use oven mitts to remove these hot pots from the oven.
Are the Handles of the Pot Detachable?
Many modern models of pots come also with detachable handles to shift your cooking from the stove to an oven. This can be a smart and effective solution as you will be able to remove the handle by simply pushing a button and make your pot oven-safe instantly.
Having detachable handles on your pot increases its heat resistance. As a result, you’ll be able to safely use your pot in a variety of pots and not just for cooking on top of a stove.
Can You Put a Pot With Plastic Handle in the Oven?
Things to know before putting a plastic handle pot in the oven
When deciding whether it is safe to put a pot in the oven, there are many factors to consider.
What you’re baking, the time duration and also the temperature are all important factors that come into play.
The plastic-quality is used to make the handles is also important. Cheaper plastics normally tend to melt at around 100 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, studies suggest that certain plastics can withstand temperatures of up to a hundred and 80 degrees Celsius.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s always better to avoid putting a pot with plastic handles in the oven. This is simply because the melting plastic can cause many health hazards.
However, many pots with plastic handles can withstand high temperatures for a specific time. This can be usually specified in the manual, so make sure you read the manual to prepare an informed decision.
If you have lost or misplace the manual but know which plastic the handles are made from, then you can easily find out the melting point of that type of plastic by doing a quick search on Google.
Most plastics can withstand a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. So this can be a safe temperature to set your oven for pots with plastic handles. Otherwise, you can bake or cook food in a pot at a lower temperature than the melting point of the handles.
This will allow you to decide which food can be baked in your pot with plastic handles in the oven.
Can Pot Go in the Microwave?
Most metal pots don’t usually allow food to heat properly and could be unsafe when used in a microwave, but some kinds of pots are friendly with microwaves.
You can normally use heat-proof glass and ceramic pots, most of which will be labeled for microwave use. Some pots made from metal or other materials are specially designed for microwave ovens, and these also will be clearly labeled.
Why Most Metal Pots are Ineffective
Your microwave uses a type of radiation that passes through most materials but is absorbed by water, or the water content in foods, and bounces off of metal. Because it’s deflected by metal, this radiation is less liable to come into contact with food that you have placed in the metal pot, and therefore the food will not heat properly.
Why Some Metal Pots are Unsafe?
Using a metal pot can prevent microwave radiation from being absorbed by food, and this unabsorbed energy may damage your oven. Metal placed in a microwave can also cause arcing, or sparks created by microwaves under certain conditions.
This is very likely if the pot you’re using has metal trim or other thin metal parts. Arcing can even result in fires in some cases.
Other Pots to Avoid
While most glass and ceramic pots will as well work in your microwave, some types will cause problems. Glazed ceramics may absorb some microwave energy and become extremely hot to the touch.
Lead glaze, is specifically, unsafe to be used with food under any circumstances. A pot of any material that has metal trim, gold paint, or other metallic parts is probably going to cause arcing.
Glass, Ceramic, and Other Microwave-Safe Pots
The safest and most powerful pots to use in your microwave are those that have been specifically tagged for microwave use. These may include pots made from glass, ceramic, metal, or even plastic material. If none of your pots is labelled for this use, then you are advised to safely use any heat-proof glass or ceramic pot.