Sometimes you might find a recipe that asks you to move your pan from the hob into the oven. This often gives food a wonderfully crisp texture on the top.
If you’ve never done this before however, you might be wondering whether it’s even possible to move your pan from the hob into the oven, well, it is.
However, it’s not safe for all pans.
Tefal pans are suitable for use in ovens up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit provided that they don’t have a plastic handle as this will melt under the heat. Some high-end Tefal pan models come with detachable plastic handles that should be removed before using the pan in the oven.
While the handle of your pan has a significant impact on whether or not your Tefal pan is suitable for the oven, it’s not the only thing you’ll need to consider.
Instead, you’ll also need to factor in the oven’s temperature, the length of time the pan is inside the oven, the signature Tefal non-stick coating and any additional accessories you’re using during the cooking process, such as a pan lid.
Is It Safe To Use Tefal Pans In the Oven?
The vast majority of Tefal pans are ovenproof and therefore completely safe to use in the oven.
You can confirm whether the Tefal pan you have is safe to use in the oven by looking for the oven-safe logo which should be embossed on the bottom of the pan.
Alternatively, the manufacturer’s guidelines that come with your pan when purchasing should provide you with more specific information about your pans oven safe capabilities including temperatures, duration and any special considerations you should make.
Generally speaking, you can use a Tefal pan in the oven up to 350-degree Fahrenheit without causing any damage to the pan, your food or the oven.
However, there are some exceptions. The vast majority of which are based around the materials used to manufacture the pan and more specifically the pan’s handle.
Types Of Pan Handles
Tefal pans use five different handle styles; however, not all of these are still in production.
So instead, you’ll only find some materials and designs on older Tefal pans, while others are found on budget or high-end makes and models that the manufacturer produces.
Most importantly, not all designs and materials used on Tefal pan handles are suitable for the oven;
Materials
The two primary materials used for manufacturing Tefal pan handles are stainless steel & plastic.
However, only one of these materials can withstand the heat of the oven.
Stainless Steel
Expensive high-end Tefal pans are often made entirely from stainless steel, and because stainless steel is an oven-safe material, the entire pan is suitable for use inside the oven up to 350°F.
However, be sure to look out for some pan handle styles which may feature some plastic decoration to make the handle more ergonomically friendly.
This plastic addition can often make the pan unsuitable for the high temperatures of an oven.
Plastic
Tefal’s budget range of pans can sometimes feature plastic handles, and in this case, the pan is not suitable for use in the oven as the plastic handle could melt.
However, I have used a Tefal pan with a plastic handle in the oven previously on low heat (up to around 180 degrees) for around 5 to 10 minutes.
This did not cause any damage to my pan or its handle, however, it does go against the manufacturer’s guidance.
I believe I encountered no issues when doing this for three key reasons;
- The low heat in which I set my oven to
- The duration I left the pan inside the oven
- The plastic quality of the pan’s handle
If you choose to place your Tefal pan with a plastic handle inside the oven (at your own risk) then you can look to follow the steps I did above.
Going against manufacturers guidelines and putting your pan with a plastic handle inside the oven is done so at your own risk.
You can also look to wrap the plastic handles with damp paper towels and cover them with aluminium foil.
This technique can prevent the handle from getting too hot, provided that the paper towels underneath remain slightly moist (hence the importance of only using the pan like this for a short space of time).
There are some other tips and tricks similar to this that people share online, however, this is the only one that I’ve found works really well for me.
Styles
Another factor you’ll need to consider when it comes to using your Tefal pan in the oven is the style of the handle.
That’s because components that are used to attach the handle or to make the handle more ergonomically friendly might make the pan unsafe for use in the oven.
Bakelite Handles
The Tefal Ingenio range comes with bakelite handles which allow you to detach the handle from the pan.
This means that you’re able to put the pan inside the oven (or fridge) without the handle and then reattach it afterwards.
The Tefal Ingenio pan set is expensive, however, the versatility of being able to move from hob to oven to fridge all in the same pan alongside the ten-year guarantee makes it an incredibly popular choice.
Riveted Handles
Riveted pan handles are often made of stainless steel but can come with some plastic decoration depending on the design of the handle.
A riveted handle design means that the pan and handle are fused to the pan which provides extra strength and durability.
However, once again if the riveted handle has any plastic decoration then the entire pan will not be safe for use in the oven.
Screwed Handles
Handles that are attached to a pan with a screw are the most common among all pan manufacturers.
In this case, the handle can be made from a range of materials and as such, you’ll need to ensure that the material is safe for use in the oven.
Welded Handles
Welded handles are incredibly popular with chefs in restaurants thanks to their incredible durability.
In this case, the pan handle is made from stainless steel but it can sometimes include some plastic decoration (especially if the pan is marketed towards home cooks rather than professional chefs).
Provided that your handle is entirely stainless steel then it will be safe to use in the oven up to 350°F.
However, if the pan handle features any plastic components then the entire pan becomes unsafe to use in the oven as the plastic could melt.
Tefal Pans Non-Stick Coating
Another thing you’ll want to consider before putting your Tefal pan in the oven is whether it has a non-stick coating.
This non-stick coating is iconic to Tefal pans and features a thermal spot indicator to signal when the pan has been heated up entirely.
The spot starts to glow as a pale red colour as the pan begins to heat up. Then once the pan has heated up completely, the glow turns a dark red.
This indicator allows you to then preheat your pan to the required temperature and reduces over or underheating.
This indicator and the non-stick coating is titanium reinforced hard anodized and is created through an entirely natural water-based electrolysis process.
This means that even at high temperatures the coating remains non-toxic.
However, this non-stick coating does bring down the temperatures that the pan is able to withstand to around 350-degrees Fahrenheit.
So, even if your Tefal pan is made from stainless steel which is frequently suitable for oven temperatures up to 500-degrees Fahrenheit if it has a non-stick coating then its temperature limit is going to be around that 350-degrees Fahrenheit mark.
How To Use Tefal Pans In The Oven
This is the process that I follow when using a Tefal pan in the oven to ensure the best results;
Firstly, I begin by ensuring the pan is safe for use inside the oven. You can do this by looking for the oven-safe logo which is printed on the underside of the pan.
Then I look at the style and materials used to manufacture the pan.
If the pan has a bakelite detachable handle then I know I can detach the handle when using the pan in the oven.
If the handle is riveted to the pan I know I’ll need a tea towel on hand to remove the pan from the oven as the handle will be very hot.
Then I go ahead and cook my meal as required, pre-heating the oven etc.
Once my oven is pre-heated and my pan is ready to be transferred I go ahead and make any adjustments to the pan that are necessary.
These pan adjustments can include removing the handle or adding a glass lid.
The lids of pans are an integral part of Tefal pans. Tempered glass lids are oven safe up to a maximum of 350 degrees centigrade. Ensure you remove the pan's lid before placing it in the oven. If your glass lids have knobs made from pure Bakelite, then they can withstand a temperature of 350°F for a maximum of one hour.
Once I’m happy with everything I transfer the Tefal pan into the oven.
I then continue to monitor my oven and the pan throughout the duration of the cooking process.
I’ll be sure to remove the pan and turn off the oven if I sense something isn’t right, or adjust the temperature if required.
Once the cooking process is complete I’ll safely remove the pan from the oven and turn off the appliance.
Once the meal has been served and the oven and pan have cooled I’ll check for any damage and clean as required.
Can I Use Any Temperature In The Oven?
Tefal pans are safe for up to 350°F provided that they do not contain any plastic components.
At this temperature, your pan will be able to withstand the heat of the oven without any damage to the handle and the non-stick coating.
What Happens To Tefal Pans if They Get Too Hot in the Oven?
If your Tefal pan is in the oven for too long, on a heat higher than recommended or is placed in the oven despite not being suitable then your food will likely spoil as the pan begins to disintegrate.
The degrading of the pan can include the handle, any components holding the pan and handle together as well as Tefal’s signature non-stick coating.
This will then mean that you’ll need to dispose of your pan as it’s no longer fit for purpose.
This could also lead to the pan warping dramatically.
I’ve had this happen to me in the past (especially with budget pans) and have been unable to correct the issue and instead had to buy a replacement pan.
It’s also worth considering that in some cases using a pan at a higher than recommended heat for an extended period of time may also cause irreparable damage to your oven as the components of the pan melt onto the ovens surfaces.
Cooking At Higher Temperatures
If you would like to cook at higher temperatures then you could look to either upgrade your Tefal pan to the best model or look for an alternative pan manufacturer who offers pans in carbon steel or cast iron.
That’s because these two materials are the most oven safe and are able to withstand extreme temperatures in the oven.
Sadly, Tefal currently doesn’t offer pans in either of these materials so you will have to research an alternative manufacturer.
Using A Tefal Pan In The Oven With A Lid
In some circumstances, you may look to use a lid on top of your Tefal pan inside the oven.
According to the Tefal manufacturing guidelines, tempered glass lids are oven safe up to 350F.
However, be sure to check your lid for damage prior to putting it inside the oven.
The smallest crack under the heat of the oven will likely cause the glass to break and shards of glass to go into the food.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.