Advantages of oven-safe pans (and which one to choose!)

We are so used to only using molds, trays or occasionally a casserole in the oven, that we often stop making the most of many utensils that we have in the kitchen.

Today I want to talk about pans that can go in the oven . They are pans that we normally use on the hob, but due to certain characteristics they can also be used in the oven. It is an added value that they have since they have a lot of advantages. I tell you in this post.

Advantages of pans that can go in the oven

What do oven-safe pans allow you?

• You can prepare an entire recipe in it (yes, you can make a roast chicken or some thighs with its onion, garlic and boletus in a pan, if you want!), later allowing an original presentation on the table and comfort when serving (thanks to its low walls).
• You can make recipes that first require a stir-fry, a stir-fry or some initial cooking on the fire, and then put it in the oven , without having to change the container . You mess less and save time.
• You can finish a recipe in the oven, such as a gratin .
• If you have prepared your recipe on the fire a while before, you can give the food a heat stroke with the oven to heat it up , without having to turn the heat back on (reducing the risk of burning underneath) or without changing the container (What would you have to do if you want to microwave it?
• In some cases, they allow you to save space and money if you were considering buying two utensils , one for the fire and the other for the oven.

Things to keep in mind about oven pans

Let's be clear: not all pans are suitable for the oven . Although it is true that there are many pans on the market that can go in the oven up to 120 and 150º for a few minutes. You can look at the manufacturer's recommendations for the pans you have at home. All of these will allow you to at least give your recipes a heat stroke to heat them up, if that is what you are looking for.

Now, there are the pans that have been designed to go both on the stove and in the oven , and today's post is about them. First of all, keep in mind:

• There are oven-safe stainless steel, iron, and nonstick pans.
• In case of going to the oven, they are likely to be subjected to very high temperatures (from 180 to 250º). Therefore, the quality of the pan is very important:
• They will be pans that do not have plastic or wooden elements (they could melt or burn).
• in the case of the non-stick ones, they must be of very high quality , so as not to deteriorate and not to pose a risk to health.
• The pan must fit in the oven (in the case of large-diameter pans, apart from being suitable for the oven, they must have a removable handle).
• We should always handle them with gloves or oven mitts, since they will reach high temperatures.

What pans can go in the oven?

1. Stainless steel pans

All stainless steel utensils can go in the oven as long as they do not contain wooden or plastic parts. Thus, stainless steel pans (like pots) can safely go in the oven. Some examples of them are:

• The WMF frying pan or the De Buyer stainless steel frying pan
• De Buyer's beautiful Affinity frying pan
• Stainless steel sauté pans , with straighter sides and a little taller, like Le Creuset's

De Buyer Affinity frying pan , Le Creuset stainless steel frying pan and Le Creuset sauté

2. Iron pans

Things get interesting : iron is a great heat transmitter, and in turn performs a great function when it comes to reflecting heat. So being able to cook on iron and in the oven ensures you roasts of ten! (apart from being able to do so many other things in it).

The iron pans that we recommend to be able to go both on the stove and in the oven are:

• Le Creuset skillet frying pan: it is a frying pan made entirely of vitrified iron (it is exactly like a cocotte, but low and with a handle instead of handles), designed to be in your kitchen for a lifetime. And it's gorgeous! If you plan to use it in the oven, we recommend complementing it with a protective cover, either cotton or silicone , which will help you handle it (in no case can the covers go in the oven).
• De Buyer frying pan with removable handle : You already know how we are in love with De Buyer frying pans, because of the flavor that leaves from yesteryear when grilled and fried. In the case of wanting to put it in the oven, you can also with it!, as long as you have the removable mango version ( this one )
• De Buyer frying pan with stainless steel handle or the French Collection : the traditional Mineral frying pan also exists with a stainless steel handle, both the " standard " and its more French version (with the Eiffel Tower handle, also made of stainless steel). . In these cases, you can also prepare your recipes in the oven with all the confidence of great results without the risk of damaging the pan.

Skillet frying pan from Le Creuset , De Buyer frying pan with stainless steel handle and the French Collection

3. Non-stick pans

We are entering the most delicate terrain. Nonstick pans are the lightest and most comfortable to use, but many have handles that can't go in the oven. For this reason, we will only recommend the pans designed to be able to go in the oven , without materials that can melt:

• Bra Infinity Frying Pan – Definitely my first choice when recommending an oven-safe nonstick pan. Its handle is removable precisely to give it that use. In the same way you can use the Infinity grill pan in the oven.
• De Buyer Non-Stick Frying Pan : Its stainless steel handle is more than oven-safe.
• Le Creuset Non-Stick Frying Pan - Exactly like the De Buyer, you can bake it with confidence. Like its sauté version (beautiful and with higher sides that will allow you to work with a greater amount of food or liquids).

Bra Infinity frying pan , Le Creuset non-stick frying pan and Infinity grill pan

Ideas to use your pan in the oven

• Roasts : arrange the ingredients in the pan, from the meat to its accompaniment (garlic, onion, tomato, carrot...), salt, pepper and a good splash of oil. Enjoy!
• Chicken or drumsticks with lemon, orange, wine... there are a thousand ways to prepare chicken and you can do many of them in a pan.
• Pizza! After preparing the dough with its seasoning, put the pizza in the pan, and directly into the oven. It's time to enjoy Saturday night.
• Baked fish : roast some onion and laminated potatoes in the oven, and when they are somewhat done, place some white fish fillets on top. A super healthy and super quick meal to make.
• Cookies. If you want to know how to make them you can see this recipe: giant cookies .
• Gratins : from cannelloni and macaroni to gratin vegetables... what you would do on a large tray at a family meal, you can do on a daily basis in a frying pan.
• Fideuá : Has anyone told you that you cannot prepare it in a pan and give the final touch to the oven in it?
• Frittatas – There are an indecent number of ingredients you can use to make a delicious frittata, and making it in the pan is optimal. What do you have in the fridge today?
• Sautéed vegetables with baked egg : sauté the vegetables over the heat (onion, asparagus, mushrooms...) and, when they are ready, crack an egg on top, add salt and pepper and place the pan in the oven until set. Remember to bring bread to the table.
• Bread: There are many breads that you can prepare and bake in the oven in a skillet.

I hope these ideas have sparked your imagination! Because there are endless recipes that you can prepare in your frying pan despite often being used in other utensils : ratatouille , some picantones with mustard and honey , meatballs with sauce , tomato clafoutis (or if you prefer it sweet, one of strawberries ) or even a tarte tatin (making the first steps on the stove and the last ones in the oven).

Get the frying pan and turn on the oven!