How to Determine if your Cooking Pan is Oven Safe

Baking is cooking food with dry heat. This art, which allows bakers the chance to create unique but familiar dishes, has been in existence for centuries. Baking is both an interesting and fulfilling craft. Bread, cakes, pastries and cookies are some of the staple baked goods. In recent times, however, the ongoing campaign that links the consumption of healthy diets to good health also connects cooking method to a healthier diet. This is because cooking methods are believed to affect the nutritional value and fat content of meals.

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Baking is one of those healthy cooking methods. A lot of people have adopted this method of cooking and foods like jollof rice, chicken, plantain, and fish are cooked more in the oven now than ever before. More people are also willing to join the bandwagon but one of the things they need to know is which pans are safe to put in the oven and which ones are not. Today’s article addresses this issue as it discusses four factors that determine a pan’s oven safety.

The material the pan is made of

One of the things that determine a pan’s oven safety is its components. These are the materials the cooking pan is made of. More often than not, oven-safe pans are usually made of such materials as ceramics, copper, cast iron, stainless steel and even aluminium. Thus, if your pan is made of any of these materials or a combination of these materials, know that it is oven safe.

The coating on the pan’s surface

Another factor that determines a pan’s oven safety is the coating on the pan’s surface. While non-stick coatings on cooking pans make life easier, it also limits the heat resistance of the pan. That’s because pans with non-stick Teflon coating usually have specific temperature restrictions. As such, they may get damaged if exposed to temperatures as high as 500F.

The handle of the cooking pan

The handle of the pan is just as important in determining a pan’s oven safety. The handle of pans that are made with insulating materials like plastic and wood can restrict the use of such pans in the oven. This is because they easily melt in the oven at a higher temperature. Thus, if you want to use cooking pans with insulated handles in the oven, go for the ones that are made of silicone. They are better at withstanding heat and are, therefore, safe to put in the oven at temperatures around 330F to 475F. Metal handles like stainless and ceramics are sturdy and safe to put in the oven too; they can tolerate temperatures of 500F. Moreover, pans with detachable handles have higher heat resistance. Once the handle of the cooking pan is detached at the push of a button, it becomes oven proof automatically.

The pan’s lid

The last thing that determines your pan’s oven safety is the lid. Most cooking pans come with glass lids; glass lids can tolerate temperature as high as 400F. However, if the lid has a plastic knob, the heat in the oven will most likely melt it. So, avoid using them. In the alternative, you can buy stainless steel knobs and use them to replace the plastic ones. This will make your lid oven safe. In conclusion, if you consider the factors discussed herein, they’ll prevent you from damaging your pans while cooking or attempting to cook in the oven.   Sources:  Anybody can Bake World of Pans Featured Image Source: iStock

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