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How Do You Know — Can Metal Go In the Oven? — Without Destroying a Beautiful Pot or Pan?

Did you know that there are all kinds of oven-safe pots and pans, but not all pots and pans are safe to put in a stove?

After reading this article you will become an expert about pots and pans by learning:

  • Can metal go in a stove?
  • The melting points of various alloys
  • How to figure out if a pan is oven-safe
  • If you can use stainless steel or cast iron in a stove

I spent many hours searching blogs and cookware websites to gather this information. I even talked to an engineer specializing in metal alloys, and he warned me about problems with using cheap aluminum alloy pans in the stove.

Are you ready for a fun exploration of pots and pans? Let’s get out all that wonderful cookware in our kitchens and then decide – Can metal go in the oven? – and which pots and pans are oven-safe.

Contents

  1. 1. Can Metal Go In the Oven? →
  2. 2. Can Metal Pans Go In the Stove? →
  3. 3. Can Metal Pots Go in the Oven? →
  4. 4. Can Metal Bowls Go In the Oven? →
  5. 5. Can Metal Cooling Racks Go In the Oven? →
  6. 6. Can Metal Cookie Cutters Go In the Oven? →
  7. 7. Can Stainless Steel Go In the Oven? →
  8. 8. Can You Put Cast Iron In the Oven? →
  9. 9. How Do You Know If a Pan Is Oven-Safe? →
  10. 10. Useful Resources →

Can Metal Go In the Oven?

The easy answer is yes. It can safely go in the oven if you do not turn it on!

That’s a joke to lighten up the mood, and we are going over the safety rules. The best safety rule is not to put any pot or pan in the stove unless you verify from its manufacturer that it is safe to use in the stove.

Some stoves get extremely hot and cook at a sustained temperature of up to 500°F (250°C).

To know if putting something in the stove is safe, you can figure out the melting point of the raw materials used to make the item.

Here are some melting points to consider:

  • Tin: 449°F (232°C)
  • Zinc: 787°F (420°C)
  • Aluminum: 1220°F (660°C)
  • Brass: 1660 to 1880°F (905 to 1025°C)
  • Copper: 1983°F (1084°C)
  • Cast Iron: 2060 to 2200°F (1127 to 1204°C)
  • Stainless Steel: 2750°F (1510°C)
  • Titanium: 3040°F (1670°C)

Seems easy to decide if you know what heat-resistant materials are used to make an item. For example, anything made out of tin would not be oven-safe in an extremely hot stove.

My engineering friend explained the tricky part to me is that items could be made from alloys. Alloys are mixtures of metals that change the properties of the finished product.

For example, an item may look like pure aluminum. Still, to save money, the manufacturer might use the cheaper raw material of aluminum alloy, which includes tin or manganese.

Depending on how much other material, like tin, is mixed with aluminum, the melting point may be substantially lowered and have a melting point below 500°F (250°C). If you put such an item in an extremely hot stove, it will melt and create a horrible mess. It is not safe and may damage the stove.

Another interesting article about safety in the kitchen is what a cooker’s safety value does. You can read it here.

Before you take an old stove to the dump yard, think about how to salvage it instead. There are a lot of valuable parts in an old stove, and it is a treasure hunt to find them.

In this video, by Tin Man Scrapper, the copper, silver, brass, and steel used for a stove are collected for their value as scrap.

It is interesting to see how to find the valuable pieces of an old stove by watching the guy take one apart.

Can Metal Pans Go In the Stove?

The Dalstrong blog says,

Check the package for a new pan to see if it is marked as oven-safe. If the pan is not new, look for the manufacturer and model name and number on the pan and see if you can find it on the Internet.

When in doubt, do not use a pan in the stove unless you are sure it is oven-safe. Not only can you ruin the pan, but you can also damage the stove.

If the pan is oven-safe, of course, it can go in the stove. However, that is not the only thing that should worry you.

Whether you have a good result trying to cook something with a metal pan in the stove also depend on these considerations:

  • Thickness: If the pan is thin, the heat may cause it to warp.
  • Scorching: If the pan is thin, the food may burn easily or get scorched.
  • Stains: Depending on what you cook in the pan, it might leave a stain in it. For example, using oil in a pan to roast meat may cause a stain where there is only oil in that part.
  • Sticking: Food can become stuck in the pan and difficult to remove after cooking.

Thicker pans work better than thins ones. Be sure to use mitts when taking a hot metal pan out of the stove.

Can Metal Pots Go in the Oven?

The Made-In blog defines an oven-safe pan as “one that can withstand sustained heat of at least 500°F (260°C) or higher and not melt.” Not only do you have to be concerned about the pan, but you also have to worry just as much or more about the handle(s).

For example, a wooden handle might work great on a stovetop because it remains relatively cool to the touch, but a wooden handle can catch fire when a pan is in the stove.

You can put metals in the stove, like cast iron, that do not need any manufacturer’s information to prove they are safe. You only need to observe if any other metal or material is a lid handle. The handle part may not be oven-safe.

My grandma had a beautiful cast iron pot that she used on the stovetop to boil potatoes. It had a top with a metal wire handle, but a wooden dowel covered the metal wire.

One day she tried to make potatoes au gratin by using this pot for baking the casserole in the stove.

Everything was fine, but she charred her wooden handle when it was in the stove. The metal wire heated up and burned the wooden dowel.

Can Metal Bowls Go In the Oven?

It is always helpful in a kitchen to use whatever you already have at hand.

Many metal bowls are stainless steel. It is safe to put them in a stove if they are only metal without any other materials used for handles, lids, etc.

Another question we answered here is about using cooking bags in a crockpot. You may find that article interesting.

Safety Tip: Never put any metal in a microwave. Metal reflects the microwave energy, instead of absorbing it.

The metal will create an electrical arc with bright sparks and loud popping sounds. This is very dangerous. Using metal in a microwave may destroy the microwave. This mistake can set the microwave on fire and catch your house on fire.

In this video, produced by Cooking Couture Atlanta, there is a presentation of the differences between cooking with glass and metal baking dishes.

Glass is slower to heat up but gets really hot. Metal heats up faster and cools down quicker but does not distribute the heat as evenly as glass. Enjoy the video for more baking tips.

Can Metal Cooling Racks Go In the Oven?

Metal cooling racks are usually fine to use in the oven. Just be sure there are no rubber feet that need removal first. Whenever you put something in the stove, you need to check to see if all parts of it are strong enough to withstand the heat.

In this video, produced by W Service, there is an explanation about why it is a bad idea for various reasons to use aluminum foil in the stove.

The explainer says that using aluminum foil on a cooking rack stops the proper airflow that distributes the heat for more even cooking. Using foil at the bottom of the stove to catch spills is bad too because it causes the porcelain finish of the stove tray to scratch and degrade faster by reflecting the heat.

Can Metal Cookie Cutters Go In the Oven?

Yes, you can use a metal cookie cutter in the stove. This is a quick way to make a single cookie.

For example, if you are making pancakes and end up with some extra batter, you can add some chocolate chips to the batter and then use a cookie cutter to hold the batter in place on a cookie sheet or cooking tray cooks in the stove. It is fun to make a cookie out of it in an interesting shape. Kids love these treats.

Can Stainless Steel Go In the Oven?

Stainless steel is useful for many pots and pans as well as baking implements.

Stainless steel is good for things that need a crisp crust, such as cupcakes, loaves of bread, or muffins. Glass is better for casseroles because stainless steel may cause the bottom of the cooking food to get too hot and burnt.

Are you interested in learning more cooking tips? Another helpful tip on whether you can freeze fried fish is here.

This video, produced by Bright Side, discusses four types of toxic cookware and four safe alternatives.

It is important to note that non-stick coating on pots and pans may be toxic. Heating these pans in a stove to high heat may cause the release of dangerous chemicals into the air or the cooked foods.

Can You Put Cast Iron In the Oven?

The Organic Kitchen blog says “nothing beats cast iron cookware. It is oven-safe and becomes like a non-stick pan without a toxic coating when seasoned properly with oil.

The one caution is that cast iron adds small amounts of iron to your cooking. You don’t want to use it with tomato sauce or other acidic foods because the pan’s iron will dissolve more and leave a weird taste in the food.

Cast iron pans are durable but can be heavy for some to lift.

How Do You Know If a Pan Is Oven-Safe?

The easiest way to figure this out is to find the information from the manufacturer. If you have the original packaging that the pan came in, it should be marked oven-safe on the box. Or you may find a warranty card with a telephone number to call.

If the pan has an unusual design or color and there are no markings on it to let you figure out the manufacturer, you may be able to find it by taking a photo of it and using the image search feature on Google.

If you don’t mind taking a chance of ruining it, you can always try heating water in it while it sits in the hottest setting of your stove for an hour. To do this test safely, you cannot leave it unattended, and you show use mitts to take it out of the stove at the first sign of trouble, such as warping.

Useful Resources

Hot Endings

Now that you know the answer to the burning question – “Can metal go in the oven?” – you will be the center of attention at your next bakeoff contest.

Cindy Becker

3 thoughts on “How Do You Know — Can Metal Go In the Oven? — Without Destroying a Beautiful Pot or Pan?”

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