Since stainless steel cookware is one of the most popular choices for home and professional chefs alike, it’s worth wondering whether or not it can go in the oven—and the answer is yes.
But since not all stainless steel pans are created equal, it's important to be up-to-date on information about your cookware before exposing it to the high heat of the oven. Here's what you need to know.
Is Stainless Steel Oven Friendly?
Due to the elements it contains, stainless steel is considered an alloy—or a metallic substance composed of two or more elements—and has a high melting point, making it oven-safe.
If you plan to use your stainless steel pans in the oven, it's important to purchase high quality "cladded" stainless cookware (or cookware made of different layers of metal, like stainless and aluminum, sandwiched together). This is because lower-quality stainless steel is often not oven-safe, and is dangerous to use in the high heat of the oven.
When shopping for both oven-safe and high-quality stainless steel pans, we recommend opting for 18/10 Stainless Steel and either 304 or 400 grade stainless steel for optimal success in the oven.
Be sure to avoid pans with aluminum bases, as they are not able to withstand the high heat in the oven. If the material of your pan is oven safe but comes with plastic or wooden handles, don't use these in the oven—even if the pan is 304 grade or 400 grade stainless steel, the handles will likely melt.
Advantages of Oven-Safe Pans
Both professional chefs and experienced home cooks know how important it is to have high-quality cookware that's as versatile as it is durable. The ability to cook with stainless pans in the oven is just one of many perks of having high quality cookware in your kitchen arsenal.
- Oven Finishing: Many recipes suggest that you start a dish on the stove and finish in the oven. Oven-safe stainless cookware is the perfect solution for oven-finished dishes like reverse seared steak or Dutch babies.
- Even Baking: Evenly distributed heat is crucial when baking. Stainless steel pans not only absorb heat quickly, but also ensures totally even heat distribution.
- Long Lasting: Since stainless steel is highly corrosion-, rust-, and scratch-resistant, your stainless steel pans will last for a decade or longer if well maintained.
How to Safely Use Stainless Steel in the Oven
When using your favorite stainless steel pans in the oven, it’s always important to be safe. Since our Stainless Clad Cookware can withstand temperatures up to 800F, it’s crucial to take the following precautions.
- Always use good quality oven mitts that are made to withstand high temperatures when handling stainless steel pans in and out of the oven. Even our patented Stay Cool Handle gets hot in the high heat of the oven, so handle with care.
- Double check that the handles of your pan are oven-safe before using —wooden or plastic handles are not oven-safe, even if the body of the pan is.
Ready to Cook?
Our selection of oven-ready Stainless Clad Cookware makes picking the right pan easy. When you want your food to look and taste restaurant-quality straight from the oven, reach for our workhorse Stainless Clad.
