The secrets of the kitchen abound. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice cook, there are certain fundamental guidelines to follow. It’s kitchen etiquette 101.
For example, if you make a fantastic supper for the family and have leftovers, how do you reheat them? It may seem that putting the glass dish, Tupperware, or plate in the oven is a no-brainer. But is it secure? If you make the incorrect move here, you might wind up with more than a shambles. You might create a safety hazard.
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. In this comprehensive tutorial, we will answer the question “can you put glass in the oven?” and provide some helpful hints along the way.
You may have heard of glass breaking in the oven or Pyrex becoming dangerous at higher temps. Unfortunately, certain glass materials aren’t actually meant to be used at higher temperatures.
Because there are several varieties of glass, we’ll discuss which are oven-safe and which are more likely to break or shatter. You don’t want to be scooping up glass that has burst in a hot oven.
We’ll also discuss what causes glass to shatter in the oven, how to prevent glass from breaking, and how to properly care for your glassware and cookware in this post!
Contents
A little something about Glass
To begin, realize that glass is composed of sand and other particles. There are procedures in place, as well as many kinds of sand and components, which are outside the scope of this page. To put it simply, glass is created by heating sand (mainly silicon dioxide) to temperatures above 3090 degrees Fahrenheit.
So placing glass in a 450 degree Fahrenheit oven isn’t a huge problem. It’s as if the glass is saying, “Well, been here, done that before.” So, once again, “Yes, you can put glass in an oven.”
There is, however, a caveat to that assertion. At standard oven temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, would the glass get mushy or possibly break?
If not, what is the danger? If so, why, given that the oven, even at 450 degrees Fahrenheit, is nowhere near the melting point of glass?
Let’s look at this more in-depth question.
What Causes Glass to Break in the Oven?
Although glass may be securely used in the oven, there are few situations that might cause it to shatter. To keep your glass cookware from shattering, we suggest avoiding the dangers listed below.
Extreme Temperature Change
Temperature shock is the most prevalent cause of oven glass breakage. Glass is not meant to endure frequent and rapid temperature reductions.
Temperature (thermal) shock happens when a quick temperature shift occurs, such as going from a freezer or refrigerator to a prepared oven. During this fast temperature change, the glass container will either expand or collapse, perhaps shattering.
To reduce temperature changes, allow your glass containers to get to room temperature before putting them in the oven. Simply take your container out of the fridge and set it on the counter for 15-20 minutes before using it in the oven.
Temperature shock may occur in a variety of ways, therefore avoid any sorts of abrupt temperature change.
- From the refrigerator to the oven
- From the oven to the refrigerator
- Filling a chilly dish with hot liquid
- Putting a hot dish in a chilly bath
- Placing a hot dish on a moist surface
Just remember the requirements listed above, and you won’t have to clean up smashed glass!
Incorrect Glass Type
- Untreated Glass
Tempered glass is very robust and heat resistant, and it is meant to withstand drops or knocks to the glass. Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than untreated glass due to its increased surface compression. Less likelihood of breaking when dropped sounds excellent, but there is a catch.
If tempered glass does break, it will fracture into very small fragments that may be very difficult to clean. Fortunately, the glass pieces have fewer sharp edges than other kinds of glass, which may help lessen the risk of getting wounded by a piece.
Tempered glass is more prone to break than borosilicate because of its poorer temperature resistance.
- Borosilicate Glass
Borosilicate glass is the most heat resistant glass available for use in cookware. This glassware is designed to resist higher temperatures and temperature variations.
This style of cookware is often thin, resilient, and highly safe for cooking or baking at most oven settings. Other than heat resistance, there are significant distinctions between soda-lime glass and borosilicate glass.
- Damaged Glass
There should be no problems in the oven as long as you use the proper oven-safe glass and a non-damaged container. It is critical to examine your glass cookware often, especially before using it at higher temperatures.
Any damaged regions with cracks or chips are weak spots in the glass that are more prone to shatter when the temperature changes. To be entirely safe, no glass pan, regardless of size, should be used in the oven if it has cracks or chips.
- High Temperatures in the Oven
Even though the glass is labeled as oven-safe, you should consider the temperature of the oven. Some glass may be OK in the oven at specific temperatures, but it becomes dangerous after those temperatures are reached.
Typically, the manufacturer will provide a maximum temperature that should never be exceeded for safety reasons. If you’re unclear about the limit and can’t locate it online, keep the temperature below 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Prevent Glass From Breaking in the Oven
Use the Correct Glass
Only use glass that has been treated and is strong enough to resist oven temperatures. Tempered and borosilicate glass will be less prone to have a thermal break.
Check for an Oven Safe Label
Most heat resistant glassware will have a label stating that it is oven safe. If there is no label and no information available, the glass should not be used in the oven.
Inspect the Glass for Cracks
Before using any glass in the oven, inspect it. Any minor chip may compromise the glass’s integrity and cause it to shatter at high temperatures.
How to Know if Glass is Oven Safe
On the bottom of your glassware, there should be a label indicating that it is oven safe. An “oven-safe” marking implies that the pan may be used for baking in the oven, but it does not imply that it can be used at whatever temperature your oven is capable of. There may also be a sign with wavy lines and a temperature, indicating that it may be used in the oven as long as the temperature does not exceed the number.
The highest temperature that the glass may be used in will be listed on the manufacturer’s website. If there is no label on the glassware, here is the next best place to look. If no information can be obtained, the oven may still be safe to use, but it should be tested at lower temperatures first.
Can You Put Glass in the oven at 350ºF?
As long as the glass is labeled as oven safe, putting it in an oven at 350oF is not a problem. Before putting your glassware in the oven, ensure sure it is oven-proof and has a safe higher temperature limit.
Rapid temperature changes are not tolerated by the glass. Glass containers may be moved directly from the fridge to the oven without shattering, although this is not advised.
When using oven-safe glass, always stick to the manufacturer’s maximum temperature. This temperature threshold might be anywhere between 350oF and 500oF, but it should be kept much lower to be safe.
Before using glass cookware, inspect it for tiny cracks or scratches—fissures or defects in the glass indicate sensitive spots that may shatter when exposed to temperature fluctuation.
Drinking glasses and tiny glass bowls should not be used in the oven unless they are particularly constructed to resist high heat.
What Temperature Makes Glass Break?
When exposed to temperatures exceeding 300°F or considerable thermal swings, glass may shatter or break. Glass bottles and jars are not harmed by high, low, or fluctuating temperatures.
Rapid temperature changes (60°F or greater) may produce stress fractures in the glass, which can lead to breaking. The thin glass, for example, starts to shatter after a temperature increase of 302°F to 392°F.
Aside from temperature, the rate and distribution of heat during the heating process have a considerable influence on glass expansion and compression, resulting in shattering and breaking.
You may decrease or eliminate thermal breakdowns and stress on the whole item by gently heating glassware and glasses.
Glass may break when temperatures fall below freezing. Furthermore, if the cap is not removed, the glass may shatter, and the contents inside may freeze and expand.
Conventional glass jars may shatter or burst in a microwave. Some glass containers made of heat-resistant materials, on the other hand, can be microwaved.
Aside from the nature and intensity of the impact, elements such as glass thickness and distribution, as well as annealing degree, determine whether or not a glass container would shatter.
Microwave-safe glass products feature a “Oven Safe” label at the bottom. Secure lids should not be used while microwaving glass containers.
How Do I Make Sure My Glass Doesn’t Break in the oven?
- Use only oven-safe glasses to ensure that your oven can withstand the heat. Thermal breakdowns, for example, are less likely to occur if the glass is tempered or borosilicate.
- After removing baked products from the oven, place them on a warm surface rather than a damp towel. Place the hot plate on a dry cloth potholder.
- It is better to avoid dropping it or slamming the glasses together. Even though they are not visible, tiny chips and fractures might occur inside.
- You can determine whether a piece of heat-resistant glassware can be used in a microwave by glancing at the label. It is dangerous to use glass in the oven if there is no label or information.
- Inspect the glass before using it in the oven. Even a little flaw or scratch may weaken the glass and cause it to shatter when heated to high temperatures.
- Before you place the full glass baking dish in the oven, be sure it’s warmed. Some ovens’ glass may be shocked if they begin heating at a high temperature before cooling to the appropriate temperature.
- If you’re roasting anything that doesn’t cover the whole surface of a glass baking dish, use a tiny quantity of liquid to help maintain a constant cooking temperature.
Final Thoughts
Is it possible to bake glass? There are a few variables that may make using glass in the oven risky, but in general, you can use glass in the oven safely. Tempered and borosilicate glass are OK at lower temperatures, but untreated glass should never be used in the oven.
Before putting glassware in a hot oven, be sure it has an oven-safe label. If the glassware is constructed of oven-safe glass and isn’t broken or chipped, it should be perfectly safe to use in an oven.