Can You Put A Plate In A Toaster Oven?

You can use toaster ovens not only for baking, roasting, and toasting. Many people use them for plate warming as well as keeping the food warm when they have already plated it and the guests haven’t arrived yet.

But can you put a plate in a toaster oven? Plates can go in a toaster oven so long as the manufacturer claims that they are oven-safe. If the oven-safe symbol is missing, read the manual of the oven. Plates made from glass, ceramic, and metal are often safe to go in a toaster oven. 

If you have ever had trouble deciding what plates you can warm in the toaster oven, this article will put an end to your questions. 

Can You Put a Plate in a Toaster Oven?

Not every plate can into the toaster oven. 

To find out whether a specific plate is safe for the toaster oven or not, turn it over and look for a symbol or text on the bottom base of the plate indicating that it is oven-safe.

In addition to this, it is also helpful to read the manual that comes with the device as most manufacturers tell you what materials can go into the specific toaster oven.

What if the oven-safe symbol missing and you have no idea where your oven’s instruction manual is?

Here’s where the general knowledge about what materials are safe for the oven comes into use. Knowing what materials are oven-safe will help you avoid such issues as thermal shock and fire caught in your toaster oven. 

In case you didn’t know, thermal shock happens as a result of drastic temperature changes. It can cause ceramic or glass plates to crack and metal plates to warp. 

Additionally, a lot depends on the temperature of the oven. If you have set it at low to simply keep the plate warm before you serve it, doing this might work with many materials. 

However, you should never ignore the ‘not oven-safe’ label. This is particularly important if you are going to set the temperature at 250 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. 

What Plates Are Safe to Put in a Toaster Oven?

There is no definite answer when it comes to the materials of plates that are toaster oven-safe. But here are the popular materials plates are made from and whether they can go in the toaster oven or not. 

Ceramic 

Ceramic plates can potentially go into the toaster-oven if they are designed for that purpose. The same goes for stoneware plates. You can also put earthenware plates in a toaster oven if they have the oven-safe label. 

Keep in mind that even if your ceramic dinnerware is considered to be oven-safe, it may still crack if your toaster oven heats very unevenly. 

If you are taking a risk on ceramic, go for sturdy, thick and durable plates, which have a better chance of withstanding the heat. We can’t make you any promises, however, which is why it’s best to stick with what you know is oven-safe.

Glass 

Glass plates can go in a toaster oven so long as they are labeled oven-safe.

While most glass plates are not oven-safe, some manufacturers produce oven-proof glass dishes. With these, make sure to check the maximum heat your glass plates can take. 

If you don’t know how your glassware will fare in the oven, you can always opt for a small, shallow glass cake pan. You know it will be oven-safe, and it is probably worth washing an extra dish rather than replacing a cracked, ruined plate.

Metal 

Plates made from such metal materials as stainless steel or aluminum are not as popular as ceramic and glass dinnerware. However, these are plates that for the most part can safely go in the toaster oven. 

When using aluminum foil plates to warm food you should prevent the plates from touching the heating elements of the oven. As for stainless steel plates, they can go in the oven so long as the manufacturer states that they are oven-safe. 

Plates You Should Never Put in a Toaster Oven

There are certain materials you should avoid putting in your toaster oven as the chances of burning them are high. 

Plastic Plates 

Plastic and heat are not best friends. You probably know that by now, but here’s a friendly reminder.

However, note that well-made plastic plates can withstand up to 400 degrees of heat. But even with these plates, putting them in a toaster oven is not recommended. 

Paper Plates 

Even if you are going to set your toaster oven at the lowest heat, paper plates are a big ‘no-no’.

As toaster ovens are small and the chances of your plate touching the heating elements are high, you are risking setting your kitchen on fire by trying to warm up food in a paper plate using the toaster oven. 

Even if the paper plate doesn’t touch the heating coils, it may catch fire under high heat. For the same reason, cardboard plates shouldn’t go into the toaster oven either.

Styrofoam Plates

Styrofoam plates come in handy for storing cold food. But they are not safe to go in the oven as they will start to soften at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Additionally, the high heat causes Styrofoam plates not only to melt but also leach into the food. 

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