Can you put that pan in the oven? The handle (and lid) will determine whether or not a pot or pan can go in the oven for roasting or baking, etc. Here I cover the maybe/maybe-nots for the different stove top pans, plus a quick reference guide for your convenience.
What kind of pans can go in the oven? If your pan is all cast iron or 100 percent ceramic, yes it can go in the oven. If your pan has handles of wood, steel, silicone wrapped or labelled plastic, phenolic, or Bakelite, then maybe / maybe not. Read on…
How to know if a pan is oven proof
How to tell if a pan is oven proof? An oven-safe symbol on the pan (try the base) is an obvious sign. Also, the instructions should say if the pan is oven-proof or not. Otherwise, read on for a case-by-case of whether or not you can put that pot in the oven…
There are fairly standard symbols to show that products are oven-safe.
Otherwise…
Case-by-case, can you put a pot in the oven? + How to know if skillet is oven proof
You can put all pots and pans in the oven but only to certain temperatures. For temperature conversions: see my handy free printable.
Look for oven-safe limits in the instructions or check out the materials in the handles, knobs, and surfaces of your cookware as these will determine the temperature limits.
My quick reference guide further on down will help with what kind of pans can go in the oven and up to what temperature.
Can you put a frying pan in the oven? How to tell if skillet is oven safe? How do I know if a pan is oven safe? These are common questions I see asked all the time… and rightly so. You don’t want to ruin your cookware.
There are a few tell-tale signs to get to know to help you with these.
When it comes to what pans can go in the oven or knowing “is my skillet oven safe?” we can start with whether or not the pan or pot is a nonstick type.
Can you put a nonstick pan in the oven?
The traditional early nonstick cookware or PTFE (Teflon) pots and pans are not suitable for high heat oven use. Some modern ceramic nonstick pans as well as some Teflon makes can go in the oven up to certain temperatures. It depends on various factors, which I’ll explain.
Basically, there are two types of nonstick cookware: Teflon and ceramic.
Can you put nonstick pots and pans in the oven if they are Teflon (PTFE)?
The gas emitted from PFTE at high heat is potentially harmful – see my article on what to know about Teflon vs ceramic here.
In which case, it’s best to avoid using this nonstick cookware in the oven. My advice is to stick to using it on the hob for low-fat cooking at medium temperatures.
Ceramic nonstick
Is the nonstick ceramic cookware oven-safe? Some newer ceramic nonstick designs allow you to put these types of pans in the oven. For example, GreenPan markets a range of nonstick pots and pans with advanced technology for their safe oven use up to very hot temperatures.
I compared six modern GreenPan ceramic nonstick sets – check it out.
The Italian-made Vesuvio by DaTerra can go from stovetop to oven temperatures of up to 450ºF.
Just be aware that if it is not this advanced design, at high heat, the nonstick coating may start to deteriorate, and that will affect its nonstick performance on the stovetop.
Can you put a metal pot in the oven?
Can you put metal in the oven? Yes. Most metal pots can go in the oven. It’s just the handles and lid construction that determine whether they will be safe to use at given temperatures.
I list the common cookware materials and their safe oven cooking temperatures in the quick reference guide below that you can use to guide you.
If the metal pot is 100 percent molded cast iron pans or stainless steel with lids and handles constructed of stainless steel, go right ahead.
Can stainless steel go in the oven?
Stainless steel pots and pans can be used in the oven depending on the material of the handles, or the lid (if you’re needing a lid in the oven) These will determine whether or not you can use your stainless steel pots safely in a very hot oven.
Ones like the Made In brand of premium stainless steel, which are designed with oven safe handles and lids, deemed safe to use in very hot ovens (up to 500ºF).
Can you put a cast iron pan with wooden handle in the oven?
Cast iron skillets can be used for baking and roasting in the oven if their handles are part of the mold, i.e. cast iron. Wooden handles however can scorch in hot ovens.
With molded handles, just make sure to use potholders as they will be very hot to handle.
I have one with a wooden handle, and yes you can put it in the oven but only at low heat, i.e., warming temperatures. Too high of heat and you’ll find the wood will scorch. I admit my wooden handle has a slight scorch mark from the effects of heat.
So if you are wanting to dry off your cast iron pan to avoid it rusting or intend putting it in the oven for re-seasoning, you are limited to warming temperatures. The alternative is to use the stovetop for these purposes.
The thing with wooden handles is that the timber and the lacquer can emit gases when heated to certain levels. You don’t want these gases affecting your food. This, of course, will vary with the timber and lacquer used, but to be safe, 200ºF is the temperature limit recommended by Tomlinson Industries, according to Hunker.
What about pots and pans with plastic handles?
Is it safe to put a pot with plastic handles in the oven? Pots with plastic handles (or phenolic resin; Bakelite) are safe to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 °C) unless other features (e.g. surface coating) restrict this.
Another frequently asked question is “can I put a pan with a rubber handle in the oven?” By rubber, I take it to mean ‘silicone’, at least that is how many people regard it. (Not sure if there are actual rubber handles on cookware. Let me know if I am wrong.)
Silicone handles are good for heat up to 400°F (204°C).
To be on the safe side, I recommend checking the user instructions that come with the cookware and look for the oven safe pan symbol. But, mostly you’ll find manufacturers state the following for cookware with these features:
- Stainless steel handles are oven safe to 500°F (260°C)
- Phenolic resin (Bakelite) parts to 350°F (175°C)
- Silicone parts to 400°F (204°C)
- 100% ceramic and cast iron will suit very high oven temperatures
Safety tip: Always use pot holders when taking items from the oven.
Quick reference guide to what makes a pan oven safe
Whether you can use a steel pan or any other pan, skillet, or pot (apart from nonstick) in the oven or not will depend on the type of handle or lid.
My comparison table below is a guide for how to tell if your pan is oven safe (or not) up to certain oven temperatures.
FAQs on brands and their oven use
People often inquire about a specific brand…
For that perfect bakeware, see the selection in my buying guide on baking pans and dishes.
Popular recipe for using a frying pan in the oven
Living the Nourished Life has a great chocolate chip cookie recipe for baking in a cast iron pan.
Final thoughts on how to know if my pan is oven safe
So for the question, can pots go in the oven? The answer is yes, but only to a safe temperature. Apart from restrictions such as a nonstick coating, the oven-safe temperatures for cookware depend a lot on the material used in the handles and features.
With pans that are a complete mold of cast iron or pure ceramic you have no worries with whether or not you can use the pan in the oven — at any temperature. They others will depend on the materials in the handle, as I’ve explained.
In a nutshell: How to tell if a frying pan is oven proof?
My quick reference guide covers it! It lists the oven-safe temperatures for the different materials used in cookware.
Another way is to look for an oven safe mark in the manufacturer’s user instructions. It may have an oven safe pan symbol that shows what type of pans can go in the oven. Or, the manual/instrusctions should specify the oven safe temperature. Otherwise, check if there is a mark stamped on the underside indicating whether it is an ovenproof pan.
Information and further reading
T-Fal User Instructions | Le Creuset enameled cast iron instructions | Cuisinart Stainless Steel Cookware User Instructions | Hunker: On Wooden Handles