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The phrase “you learn something new every day” applies to everyone. Even seasoned home cooks are not exempt from learning a thing or two in the kitchen. For example, only certain things can be stored in your oven drawer.
It turns out that a lot of people want to know if it’s safe to use waxed paper in the oven—and that’s just one of many questions we’ve heard about oven safe materials. Let’s find out what can be safely put in the oven!
Waxed paper is a roll of paper coated with a thin layer of paraffin wax. You can use it for many things, but definitely not for heating food in the oven.
This paper is non-stick and water-resistant, but not heat-resistant. The waxed paper will likely melt, ruin your pans, and leave your kitchen in a smoky mess.
While some sources say that paper plates are safe as long as they don’t have a plastic coating, it’s advised not to even try. Between the possibility of fire, the presence of dangerous chemicals, etc., it is better to be safe than sorry.”
The same rule applies to paper towels – they may not be 100% paper or natural. For paper output containers, most are lined with wax or plastic to make them leak-proof. Since this liner can catch fire, it is best to transfer the contents to an oven-safe container before reheating.
While oven mitts and pot pans are designed to be heat insulated at a certain temperature, they are not intended to be left in the oven. They may contain synthetic fibers that can ignite.
A lot of our favorite healthy frozen meals come in plastic containers, which means you’ve definitely wondered if any old plastic containers can be put in the oven. While it’s tempting to do so, the plastic will melt in the oven. Plastic also contains harmful chemicals, so even if the plastic container doesn’t melt, chemicals can leach into your food. It’s best to check the label to see if your container is oven safe.
You’ve probably used a lot of cup plates in the oven, so this seems like a no-brainer. But glazes aren’t made equal — unless your dish is advertised as oven safe, like Pyrex, I err with caution. Oven-safe dishes that have been sliced may explode or become damaged when the temperature changes.
Before heating a frozen meal in a glass dish, let it thaw in the refrigerator. The same goes for getting hot stuff out of the oven – don’t put anything on a cold marble counter without a pedestal as a buffer!