Can you put a frying pan in the oven?
When we think of oven cooking, the first images that often come to mind are cast iron casserole dishes, cake pans, or even ceramic oven dishes for cooking our delicious Sunday chicken. However, we tend to underestimate the benefits of using a pan in the oven, which is both surprising and unfortunate, especially when you realize the impact an oven-safe pan can have.
Instead of simply baking your food, the ability to pre-sear it on the hob can transform your dish, making it both faster to cook and more flavorful. Imagine crispy chicken thighs, braised lamb, or even roasted vegetables—pre-searing creates a delicious caramelized crust that the oven alone can't achieve. That's why we've written this guide with all the tips you need to use your pan in the oven.
How do you know if your pan is suitable for oven cooking?
To ensure your pan's compatibility, we strongly recommend reading the manufacturer's manual. This guide may contain practical advice, such as our "Ultimate Guide to Successful Cooking," which is included with the purchase of the Good Frying Pan. When reading the manual, pay particular attention to the product specifications and descriptions. And if you still have questions, don't hesitate to contact the manufacturer or its representatives for more information!
Oven compatibility, points to check:
Before placing your pan in the oven, we recommend you consider certain criteria to ensure safe cooking:
1. Handles and lid:
- Handles: Make sure the handles are made of metal, as plastic, silicone, or wooden handles can melt and burn at high temperatures. Therefore, avoid placing these pans in the oven at all costs.
- Lid: If your pan has a glass lid, check its heat resistance. Some glass lids can break if exposed to excessive heat.
2. The material and thickness of your pan:
Material:
- We obviously recommend steel pans (stainless steel, cast iron, iron) which can withstand high temperatures perfectly. Our stainless steel pans are perfectly suited for the oven, for example.
- However, cookware with a non-stick coating may have a lower temperature resistance than stainless steel pans and therefore may not withstand the heat of an oven.
Thickness:
- We also recommend paying attention to the thickness of your pan: the thicker it is, the more resistant it is to high temperatures.
- For example, Atma pans are made of 3-ply stainless steel. This means they are composed of two layers of 18/10 stainless steel with a layer of aluminum in between. This construction provides excellent heat distribution and high temperature resistance, making Atma pans perfectly oven-safe.
Any precautions to take when putting your pan in the oven?
Of course, cooking in the oven is not without risk, and since you can never be too careful, here are a few tips for handling a hot pan safely:
- Follow the recommendations carefully to avoid overheating your cookware.
- Make sure there is enough space between your oven racks to accommodate the pan, including the handle.
- Use Thick, heat-resistant potholders to protect your hands from burns.
- Grip the pan firmly with both hands to ensure a better grip and prevent accidents.
- Be careful of the edges of the pan, which may be hot.
- Remember that your pan is oven-safe, so don't try to pick it up with your bare hands 5 minutes after removing it from the oven (an unfortunate experience that happened to us!)
By following these tips, we hope you can enjoy your cooking with complete peace of mind!
Another question you ask us very often is whether pans are compatible with induction cooktops. We recommend our article, which explains whether your pans are compatible with these induction hobs.
You can, of course, follow these tips for all your cookware, from Dutch ovens to sauté pans, including stainless steel pans.
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