From meal prep to food storage purposes, there are many ways to keep ingredients and leftover food fresh. Whether for short or long term, you can use the same container in the refrigerator, freezer and oven.
There are different kinds of containers including plastic, glass, ceramic, and disposable to name a few. Unlike microwave or stovetop, oven-safe containers must be tolerant of high temperatures, durable, odor resistant as well as adaptable to drastic temperature changes from fridge or freezer to oven.
Other than oven-safe symbols and maximum temperature requirements, there has to be better ways to identify containers that are suitable for oven heating.
What container can I put in the oven? Oven-safe containers are typically made out of glass, ceramic, and some disposable plastics. These containers are heat resistant, durable, and usually made with borosilicate or tempered glass.
Non-tempered glass has less heat resistance and cannot withstand rapid temperature changes.
Furthermore, avoid plastic containers or plastic lids as these can melt or might catch fire.
If uncertain, check the manufacturer’s direction for safety.
Popular brand such as Tupperware and Pyrex make product lines that are capable of high heat and direct transfer from fridge to oven without tempering to room temperature beforehand. This makes it easy to store and serve food all in one container without creating multiple dishes to clean up afterwards.
Numerous brands and instructions on containers indicate whether it is oven friendly or not. In some cases, there might be no symbols or temperature requirement shown on the container.
This article shares the different containers that are allowed to put in the oven. Answered below are frequently asked questions about what cautions to take when using glass, plastic, or any other receptacle materials in the oven.
Is it safe to put a plastic containers in the oven?
No, it is not safe to put a plastic container in the oven. There are some specialized materials manufacturers have recently developed, but plastic containers are not typically capable of high heat without melting, altering the container shape or leaching harmful chemicals into your food.
When plastic containers are used in the oven, it may start to soften from the inside or melt completely. As a result, plastic chemicals can leak into the food and create a mess inside the oven.
Plastic releases chemicals, sometime the fumes that smell awful, and it can also catch on fire if certain types of material get too hot.
Melted plastic is often time very difficult to clean until after the oven has completely cooled down. In contrast, a self cleaning oven will automatically burn off the plastic resin and make it easy to just wipe away.
For best results, always clean and remove any plastic residue before running the oven for the next meal.
Will plastic melt in the oven?
Yes, plastic may melt in the oven depending on the type of material and chemical compounds. Many plastic containers start to soften during the preheating mode or low oven temperatures, and then it will completely melt down once the oven reaches higher temperatures.
However, there are certain kinds of plastic that won’t melt in the oven.
Plastic wrap typically doesn’t melt until the food get between 220 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. When a container is covered with plastic wrap to prevent the steam from escaping, the moisture maintains a steady temp without getting hotter than 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Furthermore, there are different types of plastic that have varying melting points such as polyethylene terephthalate or PET.
Here are different melting temperature of PET level:
- PET 1: 255 degrees Celsius or 491 degrees Fahrenheit
- PET 2 and 4: 130 degrees Celsius or 266 degrees Fahrenheit and 120 degrees Celsius or 248 degrees Fahrenheit
- PET 5: 170 degrees Celsius or 338 degrees Fahrenheit
- PET 6: 100 to 120 degrees Celsius or 212 to 248 degrees Fahrenheit
The plastic containers usually indicate the PET level, which can help you to determine the melting point of plastics and determine which one is useable in the oven.
Is Tupperware safe to use in the oven?
Yes, Tupperware makes a line of products that are safe to use in the oven. Not only is the material heat resistant, it is also elegant, lightweight, and stackable which is the cookware brand is popular in many households.
However, not all plastic container from Tupperware are oven friendly. Many will melt inside the oven and may cause fire.
Generally, Tupperware containers can withstand a temperature up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit, which make it safe for storing and reheating food in the microwave. But according to Tupperware, the plastic storage containers can only tolerate up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and should not be used for cooking purposes.
What containers are heat safe for oven?
Ovens offer high temperatures to be able to bake, roast, and cook all sorts of food indirectly compared to any other kitchen appliances. Therefore, it is a must-have appliance in every household.
When it comes to containers that can do both food storage and meal prep in the oven, searching for the right pairing is a dream come true.
Oven-Safe Containers: Conclusion
Food containers ranges from plastic to glass and disposable options. Depending on personal preference and budget, narrowing down the list of food containers that are also oven safe is an important task.
Whether the container purpose is for leftovers storage or prepping a meal, there are variety of option to choose from.
Find the vessel that can be stored in the fridge or freezer, and put into the oven right away without damaging the container and food is not easy.
Identifying the right oven-safe container will save you time and money. Due to high temperatures transitions, containers must be heat resistant, durable, and made of material that allows sudden change of temperature.
Tempered glass and ceramic containers are our personal favorites.
We tend to avoid plastic containers, even if they are considered oven safe by the manufacturer. Plastic may melt in the oven, leach harmful chemicals into the your food or cause a fire.
When in doubt, reference manufacture recommendations to use the container efficiently and safely. Select materials that you feel comfortable using, and follow the best practices to make sure your oven ready containers last a longtime.