High quality stoneware bowls designed for oven baking can oven safe up to a certain temperature. Pampered chef stoneware is oven safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Many stoneware bowls and dishes are not oven safe as the temperatures could damage the glaze or affect the patterns. Pioneer woman and Gibson for example are dishwasher and microwave safe but are not recommended for the oven.
This article will explain how to know if stoneware bowls are oven safe and how to keep them in the best condition for as long as possible.
Regular stoneware dishes are glazed and should not be placed in the oven. Stoneware bowls designed for baking like Pampered Chef are oven safe.
How to know if a stoneware bowl is oven safe
There are a few ways to know if a bowl is oven safe. Check these before putting your stoneware bowl in the oven to avoid damaging them.
1. “Oven safe” is written on the bottom
The first thing to do is to turn the dish over and have a look at the bottom. Check out for printed words that say oven safe or sometimes it can be stamped into the stoneware. Over time this can be washed off if you place these dishes in a dishwasher often.
If the bowl states that it is oven safe then make sure you preheat the oven and it is always best to keep the oven at a temperature of a maximum of 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius. Pampered Chef stoneware has been baked at a very high temperature making them oven safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Recognized brands
Check the brand of the stoneware to see if you know the brand. This makes it easy to check online to see if the dish is oven safe. Popular brands including Pioneer Woman, Gibson and Elama do not state that their bowls are oven safe.
Most high quality stoneware brands will explain their manufacturing process and will indicate the maximum temperature that the bowls can stand.
Pampered Chef make a great, large mixing bowl which can be transferred straight into the oven to bake cakes, bread or even Christmas pudding.
3. Made for baking
Stoneware that has been designed for baking will usually be oven safe. It is still best to check the base of the bowl to make sure it is marked as oven safe. Dishes that are made for baking are designed to mix the ingredients and for baking in.
How to safely put stoneware bowls in the oven
If you discover that your stoneware bowl is oven safe there are a few steps you should follow to make sure it is safe
1. Don’t put it in the oven if it has chips or small breaks
Check the bowl over first to make sure that there are no chips or breaks in the stoneware. These can indicate that the bowl has been damaged and could be weak in some places. This means that if the stoneware experiences a rapid change in temperature it could shatter or break further.
2. Preheat the oven first
Always preheat the oven before placing any stoneware inside. This is because the oven will blast high heat to get it up to temperature as quick as possible. This could expose the stone to heat that is higher than what is recommended.
This could cause thermal shock as the temperature changes rapidly and could cause the oven to crack and break.
3. Don’t heat the stoneware when it is empty
Don’t put empty stoneware in the oven to heat up. Always make sure it has the food in it that you will be baking to slow the rate that the stoneware heats up. Stoneware bowls can be used to bake breads, cakes or even casseroles.
Always make sure that the dish is at least 2/3 full to slow the rate that it heats up.
4. Place the dish in the middle or bottom of the oven
When baking in a stoneware bowl it is best to place it in the middle or bottom shelf of the oven. The top part of the oven gets very hot and can bake the top of the food quicker than the bottom. This means that the food may not cool through evenly and brown on the top before the bottom cooks through.
5. Season the stoneware first
Unglazed stoneware needs to be seasoned first to help it to become non-stick. To season the stoneware start by baking food in the bowl that has a high fat content. This could be a butter-based cake or pastry. This will start to create a layer on the stoneware which will eventually make it non-stick.
You may need to repeat this process 2-3 times for maximum non-stick protection.
Are stoneware bowls oven safe? | Summary
Many stoneware bowls can be used in the oven if they are designed for baking. Pampered Chef makes high quality stoneware bowls that are perfect for baking. Most stoneware bowls that are used for serving food like plates and bowls should no the place din the oven. They often have a glazed finished that could crack under high heat.
Stoneware dishes that are designed for serving including large platters should not be used in the oven. They can however be used in the microwave and dishwasher.
For more on this, check out my previous article here on using stoneware in the dishwasher: Putting Stoneware in the Dishwasher | Best Way to Clean Stoneware Safely
I have 3 large stoneware serving bowls and sets of plates and dishes. These have served me well for at least 5 years. They have developed a few scratches which show up because they are a light gray color and only have a thin glaze.
For more on preventing scratches on stoneware, check out my previous article here: Does Stoneware Scratch Easily? | How to Prevent and Remove Scratches
I am an accredited practicing dietitian, experienced gardener and a dedicated cook. I love writing and sharing my experience so you can learn from my successes and mistakes.