Can You Put Handmade Pottery In Your Kitchen Oven? Here's What To Know

If you're a fan of handmade pottery, odds are you enjoy decorating with pottery in your home. But using these items in the kitchen can lead to questions like whether handmade pottery can go in the dishwasher or microwave. If you spend a lot of time cooking, you may wonder if your clay pieces are safe to use in your kitchen oven. In general, many types of handmade pottery pieces can be used in the oven within a certain temperature range. However, there are several factors that impact whether the pottery piece is oven-safe or not.

When figuring out whether a piece of handmade pottery can go in your oven, you should first look at its material. Stoneware and porcelain pieces are usually oven-safe, while earthenware pieces do not fare as well and often shouldn't go in the oven. The temperature the material was fired at is also important to factor in. Pieces fired at higher kiln temperatures are usually less porous and more durable, so they tend to do better in the oven than pieces fired at lower temperatures.

Finally, keep in mind that not all pottery is made with lead-free or food-safe materials, and those pieces shouldn't be used for any type of food prep, in or out of the oven. Some artisans may make their handmade works using clay, dyes, or glazes that aren't suited for food. Most pottery pieces that you buy will have a tag, label, or card noting whether or not it is food-safe. When in doubt, the safest bet is to assume it isn't food-safe and skip using it for cooking.

Given that the price of pottery has gone up drastically in recent years, you probably want to keep any special pieces from breaking in the oven. Once you've determined that your handmade crockery is made with oven-safe materials, there are a few ways you can preserve its integrity. For starters, you should skip using handmade pieces for recipes that require a really high oven temperature (especially the broiler). Aim for oven temperatures of no hotter than 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Before using the pottery for cooking, you should also look for any weaknesses, chips, or fracture lines. If the stoneware has any weak spots, it's more likely to shatter or break when it's in the oven.

When using handmade pottery in your oven, it's important to avoid thermal shock, which happens when the cookware experiences a change of temperature too quickly. If you can, let the pot slowly warm up in the oven as it preheats, and place the piece on the middle rack so it doesn't touch the oven walls. Once you're finished, let the dish slowly cool back down on a heat-resistant surface. Do not try to cool it down by pouring cold water on it, as this can instantly lead to thermal shock, and the piece could shatter. Following these steps can help you properly care for your handmade pottery, ensuring you're able to use it in your kitchen for years to come.