Can I Put This Pan in the Oven? Here’s How to Know
From casserole-style one-pot meals to perfectly tender proteins, there are plenty of recipes that start on the stove and finish off in the oven. But to master this cooking technique, you need a pan that can move between the two without missing a beat. So stick with us as we break down exactly how to tell if a pan is oven-safe, our favorite cookware materials for stove-to-oven cooking, and more.
Understanding “Oven Safe” Labels
When shopping for a pan that you can use in the oven, you’ll want to pay close attention to the packaging or product descriptions. Most manufacturers—Circulon included!—will designate if a pan can be used in the oven. You can also check the manufacturer’s guide that comes with the cookware. If it is oven-safe, these places are where you’ll find guidelines for the maximum temperatures that the pan can withstand.
Pay close attention to those temperature guidelines, as they’ll tell you if the pan is only oven-safe at low temperatures or if it can withstand the high heat of broiling. Cooking within your pan’s recommended temperature range is important for your health and safety, as repeatedly exposing a pan to too-high temperatures can cause elements to melt, or nonstick coatings to degrade (and potentially end up flaking off or cause your food to stick).
A Note on Handles and Lids
We’ll explore the types of materials that make for great oven-safe pans in more detail in the next section, but before we get there, it’s important to understand how a pan’s handle and lids can affect its oven safety.
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Handles: Rubberized handles can impact the temperatures to which a pan is oven-safe. For example, the Ciruclon ScratchDefense A1 Series features ergonomically designed silicone handles that are oven-safe up to 400ºF. This means our A1 series pans are generally oven-safe, but they shouldn’t be used if you plan to turn on the broiler.
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Lids: Similarly, always double-check that your pan’s lid is made with oven-safe glass. Occasionally, oven-safe cookware will be sold with lids that are oven-safe to lower temperatures than the pans themselves—which means you should remove the lid to finish off a dish at higher temperatures. For example, glass lids with steam vents are typically only oven-safe to 350ºF, whereas those without (like many of the ones we use here at Circulon) are safe up to 500ºF.
Types of Oven-Safe Pans
Understanding how common cookware materials fare in the oven can help you figure out if a pan you already have in your collection can go in the oven safely. If you’re in the market for a new pan, this guide will help you choose the right one for your preferred oven cooking method.
Nonstick Coated
Nonstick coated pans are a kitchen staple for good reason: they’re easy to use, super versatile, and for the most part, oven-safe. Nonstick pans like those in Circulon’s ScratchDefense A1 Series are oven-safe up to 400ºF, while those in our ScratchDefense C1 Series are oven-safe up to 500ºF. The maximum temperatures nonstick pans can withstand tend to be lower than cast iron or stainless steel (which we’ll get into in a minute), but are still high enough for making sure the juicy chicken thighs you seared on the stovetop are cooked all the way through.
Hard-Anodized Aluminum
Hard-anodized aluminum pans are another great option if you're looking for cookware that can take you from the stovetop to the oven with ease. They tend to be more durable than stainless steel, making them perfect for weeknight casseroles and pasta bakes. A great example are Circulon’s Elementum pans, which are twice as strong as stainless steel, oven safe to 400ºF, and a great conductor of heat.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel pans are a firm favorite of professional chefs because they can be used for a wide variety of cooking methods and techniques, including in the oven. The temperatures to which stainless steel pans are oven-safe can vary by manufacturer and the exact composition of the pan. For example, professional-grade clad stainless steel pans can be oven-safe up to 800ºF, while stainless steel pans that feature nonstick coating—like the Circulon SteelShield Series—are usually oven-safe up to 500ºF.
Cast Iron
Like stainless steel, cast iron pans can typically withstand cooking in the oven at extremely high temperatures (some up to 900ºF!), making them ideal to use for both broiling and baking. That said, cast iron pans tend to be extremely heavy—which can make them hard to maneuver safely from the stovetop to the oven and back again, especially when they’re hot.
Pans You Should Avoid Putting in the Oven
While most modern pans are oven-safe to at least 350ºF, there are a few pan materials that don’t hold up well to oven cooking.
Ceramic
While ceramic pans can be a great alternative to traditional nonstick cookware, they are not the best choice for oven cooking. Some ceramic pans are oven-safe, but they typically can only handle very low temperatures. In fact, most ceramic cookware is designed to only be used with medium- to low-heat cooking methods, and are more prone to thermal shock than other cookware materials. Always double-check the temperature that your ceramic pan is safe to before using it in the oven.
If you do decide to use it in the oven, it is best to avoid placing a completely cold ceramic pan into the oven—instead, allow it to come to temperature by first using it on the stove, or by placing it in the oven while it preheats.
Plastic
Like we mentioned at the outset of this article, the plastic, rubber, and silicone elements on a pan can impact its ability to be used in the oven. Circulon pans featuring silicone handles are all oven-safe to 400ºF, but pans made with very low-quality rubber handles may warp or even melt in the oven.
Tips & Tricks for Using Your Pans in the Oven
Establishing that your pan is oven-safe is extremely important before you give that shepherd’s pie recipe a try. Before you get started, keep these tips and tricks in mind to ensure you stay safe while using your pans in the oven.
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Beware of hot handles: If you normally only cook with your pan on the stove, it can be easy to forget that the long handle you’re used to grabbing will stay hot for an extended period of time when it comes out of the oven. Even if your pan has a stay-cool handle, keep high-quality oven mitts nearby to ensure you don’t accidentally burn yourself! We always recommend placing the oven mitt over the handle to remind yourself that it’s hot and to help prevent any accidental brushes with the hot handle as you move about the kitchen.
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Use the right oil: If you plan to cook at temperatures above 300ºF, be sure to use an oil with a high smoke point like avocado oil, coconut oil, or peanut oil to avoid burning your food.
Go from the Stove to the Oven with Confidence
Cookware that can move from the stovetop to the oven and back is an essential part of any home chef’s collection—which is why choosing the right one is key. Once you’ve found your perfect stove-to-oven pan, you’ll find yourself reaching for it time and again to cook up thick cuts of meat, delicate frittatas, rich lasagnes, and much more.
For more tips, recipes, and to shop some of the best pans on the market, visit circulon.com.