Oven Faux Pas: Examine These Unconventional Items Prohibited in the Oven for Best Results
Oven No-No's: Items You Should Never Cook With
Your oven is the lifeblood of your kitchen, handling daily duties like reheating leftovers and baking desserts with ease. But there are some everyday items that should never see the inside of an oven to protect your beloved appliance and yourself.
Thankfully, most cookware comes labeled with whether it's oven-safe or not, taking the guesswork out of the equation. However, there are some items that you may not realize aren't oven-friendly. Here are the top offenders:
1. Plastic, Even Cookware with Plastic Handles
No plastic whatsoever belong in the oven, be it a pan with a plastic handle or a thick plastic storage container. Plastic can melt, warp, and even release harmful fumes when heated[3]. If your cookware has any plastic components, double-check to make sure it's labeled as oven-safe.
2. Non-Heat-Resistant Glass Dishes
Unless your glassware is labeled as heat-resistant glass, like Pyrex or tempered glass, keep it off the oven shelf[1]. Glass can shatter, which is messy, dangerous, and unfortunate for your glassware collection.
3. Batteries and Kitchen Gadgets
Even a digital meat thermometer should stay out of the oven. Batteries can explode when they reach temperatures above 212 degrees Fahrenheit[1], causing potential fire damage. Consider using a classic oven thermometer or taking your food out of the oven occasionally to check the temperature.
4. Foam Containers and Takeout Boxes
Foam containers and takeout boxes should not be put in the oven, even with the temperature set low. Foam starts to soften at just over 200 degrees Fahrenheit and can release microplastics into your food, no one wants that![1][3] Always transfer food to an oven-safe dish before heating.
5. Wax Paper (Don't Confuse It with Parchment Paper)
While parchment paper is oven-friendly, wax paper is not. The wax can melt and scorch the bottom of the oven, and make whatever food it touches inedible[1]. Consider using reusable silicone mats as an alternative for lining pans and cookie sheets.
6. Pizza Boxes and Cardboard Materials
Reheating pizza in its delivery box might seem like a time-saver, but it can lead to disaster[5]. Transfer the pizza to a pizza stone or a skillet to keep the crust crisp and safely heat your pizza.
7. Unprotected Food
Never cook food directly in the oven without proper cookware. This can damage your oven and cause messes that can interfere with the heating elements over time[5].
8. Clothing
Using the oven as an extension of your closet, as Carrie Bradshaw did on Sex and the City, is best left to TV shows[5]. Clothing can be highly flammable and should never be in the oven.
9. Cans
Cans can release harmful chemicals or even melt when heated, especially if they contain plastic linings[4]. Transfer canned food to an oven-safe container before heating to ensure safety.
10. Personal Items
NEVER put any personal items in the oven, such as phones, keys, or jewelry[5]. These items can easily melt or catch fire when exposed to high temperatures.
Martha Stewart's cooking lifestyle encompasses a wide range of food-and-drink techniques, from cooking how-tos for various dishes to home-and-garden tips related to kitchen equipment. In her guide, she warns against cooking several items in the oven to preserve the appliance and one's safety. Some of these offenders include plastics, non-heat-resistant glass dishes, batteries and kitchen gadgets, foam containers and takeout boxes, wax paper, pizza boxes and cardboard materials, unprotected food, clothing, cans, and personal items.
