Can You Use A Baking Pan On The Stove? Explained

Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by Lori Walker

Baking in the oven gets super easy with the *right baking pans*. These trusty trays, crafted from **glass**, **metal**, **copper**, or **silicone**, handle heat like a charm. Each one offers special heat resistance, fitting different recipes just right.

But can you use a baking pan on the stove? Let’s determine which pan is safe and which is dangerous when exposed to direct heat.

Table of Contents

Can A Baking Pan Be Used On The Stove?

Yes, you can place and use a baking pan on the stove. But you must ensure that the baking tray is made of components with high heat tolerance, such as aluminum and stainless steel.

Baking pans made with these materials have a nonstick coating and are easy to clean. It is commonly used for making baked goods like pizzas, rolls, cakes, cookies, and cupcakes.

In addition, some roasting pan and baking sheet products come from the same components, and you can use them on the stove.

But is it possible to make a cheesecake without using a springform pan?

How To Use a Baking Pan On The Stove

Heating a baking pan directly requires an electric range, but you should do it carefully. Prepare water and drop a small amount into the empty baking pan.

Wait as the water evaporates, and don’t add any more water because the baking dish will be increasingly hot.

You can use a different method to warm your baking pan on the stove, like using ice cubes. Find out the main differences between cooking and baking here.

Baking Pan Materials

Silicone

Baking pans made from silicon can withstand high temperatures of only up to 428°F. It is unsuitable to use where the direct heat can melt or warp the cookware.

“Don’t use glass cookware to cook dishes which require high heat techniques”
– Joe Sevier, Chef and Food Writer

Choose a high-quality and food-grade silicone pan for baking to be safe from any chemicals that could get into the food. Find out if you can put a silicone mold in the oven here.

Glass

Glass pans are not stove-safe unless the manufacturers say otherwise. Some glass bakeware brands are oven-safe up to 425°F, but avoid heating a glass pan directly because it is more prone to shattering.

Read: A 1 Quart Baking Dish: How Big Is It?

Aluminum

Aluminum pan has become a standard choice in baking because of their lightweight nature [1 ]. It can cook food evenly in the oven because of its ability to distribute heat.

Aluminum has a melting point of 1221°F in its purest form. Although you can put an aluminum cake pan on the stove, it can easily burn or melt if left unattended.

But is it okay to put aluminum pans in the oven?

Stainless Steel

A stainless steel cake pan can withstand 500°F to 600°F, but some brands can go higher. It has many advantages when used in baking and cooking, such as being non-porous, non-reactive, and durable.

It is a popular choice for oven use, but placing it on the stove is a different story. The uneven heat distribution of a small gas stove may cause damage to the stainless steel cake pan.

But what should you use instead of a jelly roll pan?

Copper

Copper pan is not as popular as other baking pan materials, despite being an excellent heat conductor, due to their high price. It distributes heat to the food evenly when baking, preventing burnt spots.

Most copper baking pans in the market can withstand heat up to 500°F. You can use it on induction stovetop cooking, but you must carefully read the manual from manufacturers as some brands are incompatible.

But is it okay to use olive oil to grease a pan?

Metal

You can use a metal baking pan for desserts like Skillet Pear Cake, where the recipe indicates to start with the stove and end the process in the oven [2 ].

Metal cake pans are generally safe for oven cooking at temperatures up to 350°F. You can also use this metal pan to prepare braised short ribs on the stovetop before adding liquid and cooking it in the oven.

Read:

Can the Baking Pan Be Damaged When Used on The Stove?

Yes, if you use materials that are prone to damage. The uneven heat of the stove will damage a baking pan made of materials not thick enough to withstand a stove’s medium-high heat and direct flame.

The heat conductivity for each baking dish material differs. For instance, glass and ceramic pans are prone to breaking or shattering. There is also an aluminum or metal baking pan, but it could still be damaged if left unattended.

Cheap roasting pans, sometimes used in preparing large cakes, may not get damaged on the stove but may alter the food’s flavors. Check out these basic steps to follow when you start baking as a hobby here.

FAQs

Can you put a hot tray on the stovetop?

Yes, some people finish cooking by transferring a hot tray from the oven to a glass stovetop. Find out if you can put Le Creuset cookware in the dishwasher here.

What should you not put on a stovetop?

You should not put a glass baking pan on a stove unless specified by the manufacturer. It could be dangerous as the hot liquids could spill and burn you. But what makes a pie pan different from a cake pan?

Final Thoughts

Generally, you can use a baking pan on the stove, but other materials are not suitable for it for various reasons. The thin structure of baking pans won’t withstand stoves’ high and uneven heat.

Aluminum, stainless steel, metal, and copper would be safe to use in low heat and under constant watch. However, avoid glass pans because it is prone to shattering.

References:

https://www.southernliving.com/food/kitchen-assistant/types-of-baking-pans-tins
https://greatist.com/eat/glass-vs-metal-baking-pans-what-is-the-difference#metal-pans

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Lori Walker

Lori is a self-taught baker and former owner of a successful bakery. She shares her love for baking through her blog, featuring delicious recipes, baking tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at running a bakery. You can speak with her directly at [email protected].