9 Surprising Things You Should Never Put in the Oven (But Probably Have)

Plastic (Including Cookware With Plastic Handles)

Anything with plastic absolutely does not belong in the oven, be it a pan with a plastic handle or a thick plastic leftover container. Plastic can melt and warp, possibly damaging the oven's interior or releasing harmful fumes.

If there is any plastic components of your cookware, it needs to be marked as oven-safe—otherwise, assume that it's not.

Glass Dishes

Unless your glass is labeled as heat-resistant glass—that is, borosilicate glass (like Pyrex) or tempered glass—keep it out of the oven. The glass can shatter, which is dangerous and messy to clean up. And also, a sad goodbye for your glassware. 

Batteries (Including Those in Kitchen Gadgets)

Anything that uses batteries needs to stay out of the oven, even a digital meat thermometer. Batteries can explode when they get over 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and cause major fire damage.

Some newer ovens have connected probes to use as oven thermometers. You can also check your food's temperature safely by taking it out of the oven, sticking the thermometer in the thickest part, and then removing it before resuming cooking. 

Foam Containers and Takeout Boxes

Foam takeout containers absolutely do not belong in the oven. Foam starts to soften at just over 200 degrees Fahrenheit and can leach into your food as well as coat your oven.

In fact, as a rule of keep all takeout containers out of the oven and transfer those egg rolls to an oven-safe dish before warming. Trust us on this—you don’t want those microplastics in your takeout. 

Wax Paper (It Is NOT the Same as Parchment)

Unlike parchment paper, wax paper is very much not oven-friendly. The wax can melt off and scorch the bottom of the oven and make whatever food it’s touching inedible. Consider silicone mats as a reusable solution for lining pans and cookie sheets.  

Pizza Boxes

Reheating pizza in its delivery box may seem like a time-saver—but it can quickly spell disaster (more so than just a charred crust). Even if you’re trying to keep your pizza warm at a low temperature, it’s generally best practice to keep any cardboard away from the oven. Transfer the pizza to a pizza stone or a skillet to keep the crust crisp and warm the pizza safely. 

Unprotected Food

Food cooked in the oven should always be on some type of cookware to protect your appliance from drips, spills, and charred sediment that can obstruct the heating elements over time.

Don’t just throw an eggplant or chicken on the grates—an oven isn’t a grill! Always use oven safe cookware when roasting or broiling, and consider investing in a pizza stone for frozen pizza night.   

Clothing

Sure, the iconic Carrie Bradshaw used her oven to extend her closet—but that was just a TV show. Clothing can be highly flammable, and your garments can easily be destroyed if someone preheats the oven with a few wool sweaters or polyester pants inside.

Your oven is not a storage space, and clothing can also be a major fire hazard, so keep it out of the oven. 

Cans

While the packaging may seem like a convenient tool to heat up a can of beans or soup, it’s generally not recommended. Cans sometimes contain plastic in their linings that can melt when heated. And even if they don't, cans can leach metal toxins into food that are harmful to your health. Always transfer canned food to an oven-safe container before heating.