While high fire and extreme temperatures are used to harden clay, the glaze makes a difference in ceramics. For example, engineers can create high-temperature porcelain enamels and ceramic coatings to withstand temperatures ranging from 1200ºF to 2000ºF (649ºC to 1093ºC) for an extended period.
Manufacturer websites and home blogs typically advise if can you use plates in the microwave convection oven, why do plates get hot in the microwave, and how to use their plates at acceptable or safe cooking temperatures.
Using plates that are not safe in your oven poses two significant dangers. First, thermal shock is the simplest and most common type of shock. The quick heating or cooling of a dish that is not intended for oven use might cause it to crack, shatter, or even explode.
Dinner dishes that say “heat-proof” may still break if you don’t take the proper measures. Imported plates, handmade plates, and vintage plates all have the potential to be a total mystery, as well as being hazardous to one’s health and vulnerable to breaking in the event of rapid temperature fluctuations.
Even heat-resistant materials can fracture if they are not appropriately handled. Dinnerware no longer regarded as food safe or only safe at room temperature is a more subtle danger. This mainly affects plates that are more than a decade old.
How Much Heat Can a Ceramic Plate Take?
Ceramic is heated to 2,650ºF (1454ºC) during making it, which is higher than the temperature an oven can achieve. Therefore, high oven temperatures of roughly 572°F (300ºC) are no match for the ceramic’s resistance.
With some exceptions, ceramics can tolerate oven heat. However, ceramic plates aren’t all created equal, and some can’t take the high temperatures required in an oven.
After shaping the clay into the required shape and firing it in a high-temperature furnace, ceramics are ready to use. However, if the glaze on a ceramic plate is not impermeable and the porous clay underlying is not protected, it may not always be oven safe.
Cooking on ceramic plates does not necessitate the use of cooking oil. As a bonus, they’re also straightforward to clean up afterward. They’re also impervious to scents, pathogens, or other components because they have no pores. This implies that the clay doesn’t release any harsh chemicals that could harm the environment when heated.
A few exemptions to the overall rule are that most dishes can be safely used in the oven. Furthermore, there are numerous exceptions to this rule because of the type of oven, plate, and the oven’s temperature.
Dishwasher-, oven-, and microwave-safe designations can be found on the package or on the plate itself. When cooking in a hot oven, the material used to manufacture the plate can make all the difference.
What Temperature Do Ceramic Plates Crack?
Temperature ranges from 1200ºF to 2000ºF (649ºC to 1093ºC) can typically be accommodated by ceramics. However, due to its amorphous structure, glass isn’t ceramic.
As technology has progressed, practically every home now has an oven. However, even while the microwave is an excellent tool for reheating food in the kitchen, you may prefer to do so on a ceramic plate.
It is possible to use ceramic plates in a low-temperature oven. In contrast, you should steer clear of plates decorated with logos or other promotional elements. Unless they are specially designed for use in a range, these decorations are more likely to come out when cooked.
Like all glassware, ceramics can withstand a wide range of temperatures. However, after 572°F (300ºC), your ceramic plate is more prone to breaking. Thermal stress, which occurs mainly during the firing process, is a common cause of cracks.
Even though ceramic is less efficient at heat retention, it can still be used. This is because conduction occurs when two different phases—hot and cold—come into contact. As a result, conduction in ceramics is slower than in glass due to its porous composition.
You should proceed with extreme caution when taking a ceramic dish out of the oven. Plates are harder to remove from the oven than pans are.
Are Ceramic Plates Safe in the Oven?
In the oven, ceramic plates can be used. The only caveat is that they should only be utilized in frigid conditions. Because ceramic plates have a wide range of structural variations, heat can cause them to shatter, so preheating the oven is a good idea.
If you’re running late, you’re more likely to forget to take your plates and bowls out of the oven. After that, things like broken or cracked bowls start to happen.
Before you use any plate in the oven, you must ensure it is safe. Ceramic is an excellent example because it is fragile and sensitive to temperature changes. So before you use it in an oven, make sure it’s safe.
Putting non-oven-safe plates in your oven poses two significant risks. First is the possibility of your ceramic plates having a thermal shock.
If a dish is heated or cooled quickly, it could crack, shatter, or even explode—a phenomenon known as thermal shock. This is also a standard indicator to denote that your ceramic plate—or any other dinner is not safe for oven use.
People can break even heat-resistant materials if they aren’t careful when using them. At best, it’s a waste of food, and at worst, it can be dangerous.
If a plate isn’t marked, it’s best not to use it in any oven, especially if it’s old, vintage, handcrafted, or from another country. Old or imported stoneware, pottery, and ceramic plates may have lead in them, which could make your food taste bad.
There are times when oven-safe plates can break when exposed to sudden temperature changes or wet surfaces. Even if the container says it is oven-safe, this can happen.
Glass shards or other pieces of the dish could get into their food. This is the worst-case scenario. There are other times when the bowl splits in two, spilling everything in it all over the oven and making clean-up a real mess.
