Baking Pan on Stove: Different Materials (Explained!)

Baking pans are great cookware not only for baking but also for cooking other dishes that need to go under the oven’s heat. Now, while these types of pans work well inside the oven, you may wonder if you can also use them in cooking on a stovetop. So, what happens if you put a baking pan on the stove, you may wonder.

Baking pans come in different materials, and while they all work the same inside the oven, they differ if you use them on a stove. For instance, thin metal baking pans tend to warp due to the uneven heat distribution in a stovetop. On the other hand, aluminum roasting pans are more suitable in stovetops, as they are durable enough to withstand combustion in a stove.

Baking pans usually have the same properties that suit oven temperatures. Thus, it can be worrisome to think that they may not work well on a stovetop. In this article, you’ll see a list of different materials of baking pans and how they work on a stove. 

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Baking Pan on StovePin

Can you use a baking pan on the stove?

You can use a baking pan on a stove, but you should be aware that it may cause some damage to your pan. 

For instance, it’s completely safe to place a baking pan on the stove since it’s designed to withstand heat for cooking. However, a stove’s heating system is different from an oven.

Unlike the oven, a stove’s combustion is entirely uneven. Thus, your baking pan can be prone to warping since only the bottom part would heat up quickly while the other parts remain unheated. 

Thus, if you don’t care about your baking pan warping, then you can continue and put it under the stovetop’s direct flames. 

Now, if you don’t want things like that from happening, it would be better to get a roasting pan to use on your stovetop. Roasting pans are thick enough to withstand direct heat and prevent warping. Also, it’s a suitable replacement, especially when you’re cooking dishes instead of baking. 

Can I use a metal cake pan on the stove?

Like a baking pan, a metal cake pan is not suitable for use on a stove. Still, you can do so, as long as you don’t care about the pan warping due to uneven heating. 

Now, one thing to keep in mind is that these metal cake pans are thin enough that they can burn your ingredients quickly. Thus, even if you don’t care about warping, you’ll likely end up burning your ingredients even with medium-high heat.

As I mentioned earlier, if you want to cook on a stovetop, consider using a roasting pan instead of a baking or metal cake pan.

This way, none of your cookware will get damaged, and you can enjoy cooking at controlled temperatures, preventing any unwanted burning or toasting of ingredients.

As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid using inexpensive baking pans whenever you’re cooking on a stovetop. Even if these pans do not warp, you can burn the aromatics or other ingredients. Non – stick stainless steel, or aluminum roasting pans are often best for stovetop heating.

Can I use an aluminum cake pan on the stove?

You can use an aluminum cake pan on the stove, but it’s not an ideal thing to do. An aluminum cake pan may absorb the heat, but it’s still thin enough to warp due to the combustion.

Like other baking or cake pans, this one is not suitable for stovetop cooking. Thus, to ensure that you get the best cooking experience, you should consider using an aluminum roasting pan instead.

Such a kind of pan is thick enough to withstand stovetop cooking. So if you need to put it in the oven after searing, you can do so without worries.

Can I use stainless steel cake pan on the stove?

You can use a stainless steel cake pan on the stove. However, like all other cake pans, this one’s prone to warping as well due to the uneven heat distribution of the stove.

A stainless steel cake pan is ideal for all types of oven cooking. However, it’s not the same thing if you use it on a stovetop.

Of course, if you understand the effects, you can proceed with it as it’s alright. However, to make sure you get the best out of your stainless steel cake pan, you should use it in the oven instead of a stove.

Summary

So, what happens if you put a baking pan on the stove? Baking pans, despite the material, have a thin structure that’s prone to warping if put under the uneven heat distribution of the stove. Thus, despite the materials they’re made of, any baking pan isn’t suited for stovetop cooking.

As a general rule of thumb, take baking pans as the best cookware suitable for oven cooking. If you need to cook on a stovetop, consider getting a roasting pan of any kind. Such pans are thick enough to withstand the fire on the bottom of a stove, making them ideal for cooking dishes.

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Image credits – Canva

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