Carbon steel pan in the oven – handles and temperatures
Time: about 10 min
Kockums carbon steel pans can go straight from the hob into the oven. The handle decides how hot it can get – and your oven gloves decide how it ends.
Short answer
Kockums carbon steel pans can be used in the oven, but the handle sets the limit. For the classic pan with a black lacquered handle, a maximum of 200 °C is recommended, as the coating may flake at higher temperatures. The pan with an ergonomic stainless steel handle has no temperature limit in the oven. The pan with a detachable handle goes in without its handle. Handles get hot, so always use oven gloves.
What you need
- Carbon steel pan: classic, ergonomic or with detachable handle
- Oven gloves or pot holders
- Handle sleeve
- Neutral oil
How to do it
- Check which handle you haveA black lacquered handle with an embossed logo and hanging hole means the classic pan; brushed stainless steel means the ergonomic one. The pan with a detachable handle is recognised by its two handles.
- Set the right temperatureWith the classic pan, set the oven to no more than 200 °C. The ergonomic pan has no temperature limit in the oven and suits recipes that need more heat.
- Take off the detachable handleRemove the handle before the pan goes into the oven. It then fits more easily, and you lift it by its two handles.
- Brown on the hob firstHeat the pan slowly on the hob and brown the meat or vegetables there. Then move the pan into the preheated oven to finish cooking.
- Take it out with oven glovesThe handles get very hot in the oven. Lift the pan out with oven gloves or pot holders and set it on a heatproof surface. The handle sleeve is for use on the hob and should come off before the pan goes into the oven.
- Let it cool before washingLet the pan cool before rinsing it with hot water. Dry it thoroughly and wipe on a few drops of oil.
Common mistakes
- Putting the classic pan in an oven hotter than 200 °C.
- Grabbing the handle with a bare hand just after the pan comes out of the oven.
- Leaving the handle sleeve on when the pan goes into the oven.
- Putting the carbon steel pan in the microwave.
Why the handle decides
In a normal oven it is not the carbon steel that sets the limit, but the handle. The black handle on the classic pan is powder-coated, and the coating can flake at temperatures above 200 °C. The ergonomic handle is made of stainless steel and therefore has no temperature limit in the oven.
FAQ
Why is 200 °C the recommended oven maximum for the classic pan?
The handle is powder-coated, and the coating can flake at higher temperatures. It is the surface of the handle, not the steel of the pan, that sets the limit.
Can a carbon steel pan go in the microwave?
No. Kockums carbon steel pans can be used in a conventional oven but not in a microwave.
Can the handle sleeve stay on in the oven?
No. Take the sleeve off before the pan goes into the oven and lift the pan out with oven gloves or pot holders.
Can I bake a pie in the frying pan?
Yes, the pan with a detachable handle doubles as a frying pan and pie dish, made for both frying and oven dishes. If you bake in the classic pan, the 200 °C limit applies.
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