Can You Put a Stainless Steel Pan in the Oven?

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Some homes have a stainless pan usually used for frying and performing other methods of cooking. Stainless steel products are very popular due to their affordability, durability, and versatility. You can cook with it on the stove, but can you put a stainless steel pan in the oven?

Even with all the benefits of stainless steel, one of the biggest areas of confusion is around using it in the oven. Many people are not sure whether or not they can use the stainless steel pan in the oven, and for good reason. Stainless steel cookware varies greatly in materials and construction, with each design decision made affecting its ability to withstand heat.

Can You Put a Stainless Steel Pan in the Oven?

Because of the characteristics of a stainless steel pan, it can withstand more heat than other types of pans and can generally be used in the oven. However, there are many parameters in which you can use your stainless steel pan in the oven.

Stainless steel pan pouring a sauce on a plate

Detachable Handles Not?

The best thing about modern pans is that the handles can be detached from the pans themselves. Therefore, if the handles of the pan are detached without causing any form of damage to the pan, the stainless steel pan is then utilized in the oven without considering what material the handle is made up of.

What Are Handles Made Of?

In the absence of detachable handles, then the making of the handles becomes a thing of concern. The handles of the stainless pan go a long way in determining the usage of the pans themselves. The material used for handles is chosen insulators to allow for proper handling of the pan.

Most pans have plastic or wooden handles, and these materials are not suitable for an oven.

Plastic handles will melt away due to the high level of heat within the oven and the wooden handles may begin to split into two. Although the stainless pan itself may have the ability to be used in the oven, the handle it possesses can stop such from happening. Therefore, experts have suggested that the handle must be silicone insulated, rubber handles or metal handles for stainless steel to be used in the oven.

Why? These materials are able to withstand oven temperature; rubber may lose its color over time but never becomes unusable.

The Lids Matter

While considering your stainless for oven activities, you must also ensure that your lids are oven-proof up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This is important because the tops of the pot may just have the same reaction as a plastic or wooden handle if not oven-proof. Not just the lids but the hold of the lids also matter.

Ensure that while your cover is glass and oven-proof materials, the handle is also oven-proof to avoid melting.

Stainless steel pan with herbs and spices

Benefits of Stainless Steel Cookware

Cooks Healthy Meals

Stainless steel does not interact with food items to release metallic taste or other elements into it. As a result, you can cook any type of food in stainless steel. Sauces, acidic dishes, wine reductions all work well in cast iron without leeching into your food.

Easy Maintenance

Stainless steel is one of the best cooking materials in the area of maintenance. It is dishwasher-proof which means you can clean with a dishwasher and have it ready for use at any time. Even though stainless is generally safe to put in the dishwasher I still recommend hand washing and drying all your cookware.

Durable

Stainless steel pans last for a very long time before being unfit for the kitchen anymore. The durability of this product ensures that you have real value for purchasing the ware, unlike other products that may require you to purchase regularly. Very important, it does stainless not stain-never.

Stainless steel cookware will be resistant to rust but if you neglect your cookware for too long it can still rust or stain.

Fast Cooking

The characteristics of Stainless steel are easy and quick heat absorption. As a result, the cooking performance of a stainless steel pan is relatively high, ensuring that meals are cooked very quickly.

What Cookware Do You Actually Need?

Conclusion

This article brings to light the fact that your stainless steel can withstand the oven’s heat but will only use in the range if other qualities are oven-proof. So next time you want to purchase your pan, ensure that the other attributes are from oven-proof products.

Nathaniel Lee is an avid cook, drawing on his decades of home cooking and fine dining experience. He is a contributing chef at Mashed, and his recipes and contributions have been featured in Tasting Table, Edible Arrangements, Insanely Good Recipes, and The Daily Meal.