There are four ways to check to see if your skillet is oven safe, you can either check the label on the pan, check the manufacturers website, test what metals are in your skillet or finally test it in the oven for a short duration to see if it gets slightly damaged.
Keep reading to find out exactly how to check if a skillet is oven safe.
How to tell if your skillet is oven safe
In order to check if your pan is oven safe, you have four options. We always recommend going with the first option, but if this is not applicable, then try the second, then the third, and lastly the fourth as a last resort
Check for an oven safe label
If your skillet has a label, it will probably have a big symbol or phrase on it that indicates if the product is made of material safe for the oven or not. You will need to check the bottom of your pan in order to see this symbol, and if you cannot find one, then you should use other methods to determine whether or not your pan is oven safe. Some pans with the “Oven Safe” label can also be stamped elsewhere on the pan.
Search manufacturers website for “oven safe”
If your cookware is made by a reputable brand that has its own website, there is probably a page where you can see if the product is oven safe or not. To do this, simply search the website for “Oven Safe” with your model after. Some websites have colorful icons beside each of their products that can also indicate if they are oven safe or not.
Find which metals are used to see if they are oven safe
The second option is to buy a product that tests for this. For instance, my preferred tool for checking if pans are metal or stainless steel in an oven would be a simple hand held tester that can find out quickly and easily what kind of metal it is before using the pan in the oven or frying with it over hot oil on the stovetop.
If you have a skillet made of aluminum, then you might like to invest in one of these products that instantly tests what kind of metal is used to make the pan. All you have to do is touch two metal ends together and then place the opposite end on the surface of the pan. The color results will tell you the exact type of metal it is so it can be determined if it is safe for use in an oven.
Put your skillet in the oven and see if it’s oven safe
The third option is to simply try placing your skillet into a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for about ten minutes and check out how it does. If you notice any pitting or damage to the surface, then it is best to avoid using your skillet in an oven because it might not be oven safe.
What happens if you put a non oven safe pan in the oven?
If you put a non oven safe pan in a 350 degree oven, it will melt, warp or permanently damage your pan. Even if it is only at the temperature for ten minutes, this can still cause pitting or damage to the surface. It is best to avoid putting non oven safe pans into an oven because this could become very dangerous and lead to injuries when trying to remove the pan from the oven.
How Long Can You Leave An Oven Safe Pan In The Oven?
This really depends on what type of material your pan is made out of and what kind of temperature you put it at in the first place. Most oven safe pans can be left in the oven at temperatures of 350 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. However, it is always best practice to follow the directions that are on your pan or stated by the manufacturer on their website about how long to leave these pans in the oven.
What can I use if I don’t have an oven safe skillet?
There are some cooking and baking tools that you can still use in an oven. These include cast iron, stainless steel, porcelain coated cast iron, ceramic and glass. These alternatives can all be used to cook without the risk of damaging your other pans or even burning yourself.
Can you put nonstick pans in the oven?
We do not recommend it. Nonstick pans can be put in the oven, however it is best to avoid leaving them in for long periods of time because they will begin to fail when exposed to high heat or at very high temperatures. Plus, some non stick will melt if exposed to temperatures above 425 degrees Fahrenheit. If the coating on your non stick pan begins to bubble up while you’re cooking with it, then you should avoid using it in the oven and remove it immediately because this could cause the pan’s non stick layer to burn off completely.
How do I protect my pan oven handle in the oven?
The best way to protect the handle would be get a silicone oven mitt that can withstand high temperatures and place it over the handle while you are removing the pan from the oven.
If the handle gets too hot, then it might also start to warp and melt after being exposed to high heat for a prolonged period of time. If this happens, then you will want to throw away the pan and buy another one because trying to repair this kind of surface damage can be very difficult, if not impossible.
Source: Cloudnachrichtem
