You use your oven for so many things: grill, braise, bake, bake, make baked potatoes and of course, bake delicious desserts. There are a million things you can do with it, from warming dishes on low, cooking dinner in a super easy multi-cooker to reheating prepared or frozen foods. However, you should keep in mind a few things that should not be put in the oven for safety reasons. The last thing you want when cooking is cleaning up the mess, or worse, setting a fire alarm! So to keep your baking easy (and safe), here are a few things you should stay away from the oven.
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Plastic
There is no such thing as a secure plastic to use in your oven, regardless of how low the set temperature is. It doesn’t matter if it’s a durable plastic item like a Tupperware or Rubbermaid container, a disposable refrigerated food container for storing leftovers, or plastic wrap like Saran: Plastic has always been an integral part of your life. And yes, I do know a number of your frozen meals are made from plastic, but that’s a billboard tray specially designed and handled and not for home cooks. And no, you can’t reuse them, because, over time they’ve served their original purpose, the plastic has degraded so it won’t be safe for a second use. Plastic can introduce harmful chemicals into your food when heated even if the plastic does not melt so we should not be subjective. Always use appropriate oven-safe materials.
Wax paper
Wax paper is paper sandwiched between two thin layers of wax and it’s not heat-resistant, so the wax melts at high temperatures, leaving the paper exposed. Not to mention, paper can catch fire! Use parchment paper or silicone baking sheets instead, as they can withstand high temperatures without melting, keeping your home and food safe.
Unprotected food and food debris
Cooking can get messy at times, so often food will drip onto the oven rack and other materials, get stuck or cause residue. And if you’ve ever made a bubbly pie or casserole, you know that the oven shouldn’t be left on after a spill.
If you notice food spilling (or smelling like smoke) while it’s cooking, carefully remove the dish from the oven, let it cool, and then check for spills. Too much food debris increases the risk of a fire. Just wipe up food spills and let them dry before using again.
All food entering the oven must be in or in a suitable container, or if something requires placing food directly on the oven rack, a protective pan, or something underneath. in case of drips, spills, or leaks. Food, especially foods high in fat or sugar, can easily cause an oven fire. If food crumbs fall to the bottom, they will burn and smoke and affect the flavor of whatever you are cooking, or worse it can stick to ingredients or catch fire and cause an explosion. Clean up leftovers from your oven if you don’t want smoke or burnt odors to creep into your delicious food and ruin everything, so be sure to clean the oven before preheating.
Glass
Glass is sensitive to sharp and rapid temperature changes (e.g. taking a hot dish from the oven and dropping it into a tub filled with cold water) and it can explode or break due to “thermal shock”. Anyone who has been through this knows how terrifying it is. Look for heat-resistant glass, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe temperatures, and always let your baked goods come to room temperature before placing them in the oven or freezer.
Wet potholder or oven
Keep pets and wet gloves outside of the oven! Because this is the fastest way you can burn your hands. If you use wet gloves to pull something out of a hot oven, you are at a very high risk of burns because the high heat can transfer to the wet glove and cause burns..” Always confirm they’re dry before opening the oven door, otherwise, it can be quite dangerous. (Pro tip: Invest in some silicone oven gloves if you burn easily!)
Empty glassware, cooled glassware, broken glassware, and non-heat-resistant glassware
Of course, you can safely use your glass casserole dish and baking dish in your oven. However, you must be on the lookout for thermal shock. That’s when the temperature difference between the glassware in question is so different from that in the oven that it vibrates the glass, possibly cracking or even exploding! Use only glassware specially designed for use in the oven, filled with food, free of cracks or debris that make it vulnerable, and as close to room temperature as possible. Do not place it straight from the freezer or refrigerator into your hot oven. Thaw frozen foods for at least 24-36 hours in the refrigerator, then leave them at room temperature for at least an hour before placing them in the oven. If you don’t know if the pot is oven safe, use caution and use something else.
Tissues or other paper products
Paper towels, plates, or bowls are not designed to withstand heat at those levels and can burn. The only paper that can be used is parchment paper because n is used in baking and is safe for all of your recipes.
Wet towels, potholes, or oven mitts
Use only completely dry items to handle things going in and out of the oven, including moving racks in and out, rotating or shifting pots or trays, or removing hot items. Any water in your oven towels or bath towels will immediately turn to steam in the oven heat and can cause burns.
To use the oven effectively, you need to understand how it works and what foods we will put in the oven. Just a small mistake will cause our dish to fail or worse, it will cause danger in your kitchen. Grab a pen and paper and make notes about foods that should not be put in the oven. In addition, if you know any other useful information, share it with Sweetwaterbargrill in the comment section below.
