Ovens are undoubtedly one of the easiest ways to heat, cook, and bake food and drinks. With just a few clicks, you can quickly heat or cook a dish and leave it as it is instead of placing it in a pan and looking after it while heating.
However, not all tableware, like coffee mugs, are oven safe. If you’re wondering whether you can safely use your cups at home in an oven, read this article before you use them.
Can You Put a Mug in the Oven?
Yes, you can put a mug in the oven, but not all mugs are oven safe. You should use a mug in the oven if it’s labeled “oven-safe mug.” If it’s not, it’s safe to assume that you shouldn’t use them in heating, cooking, or baking because there’s a tendency that they may crack or explode while inside the oven. (Read Can You Use Powdered Sugar In Coffee)
To know whether the mugs you have at home are oven safe, we listed down some of the most commonly used materials in cups below:
Porcelain mugs
Are they oven-safe? No.
Typically made from white kaolin clay, porcelain coffee mugs are fired at a high temperature, making them durable despite their thin and delicate material. However, it is less heat-resistant than their counterparts, so you should keep them from the oven. The porcelain mug tends to crack inside or when it cools down once you take them out.
Despite not being oven-safe coffee mugs, many still opt for porcelain mugs for their daily cup of joe since it absorbs less flavor than plastic or metal cups.
Ceramic mugs
Are they oven-safe? Yes.
Ceramics is a type of clay usually made from different materials. Unlike porcelain, it’s fired at a low temperature, retains heat, and holds its shape more effectively. While ceramic coffee mugs are usually oven-safe, you should still handle them cautiously because they can be susceptible to thermal shock when steam is involved.
To avoid this, keep your ceramic mug at room temperature before and after using them.
Glass mugs
Are they oven-safe? Yes.
Gone are the days when you couldn’t use glass coffee mugs in the oven. While ordinary glass may crack when exposed to high heat, other glass kinds, such as borosilicate glass, are oven-safe. They have higher resistance to thermal shocks than regular glass, which makes them suitable for reheating or cooking in the oven.
If you need to check whether your glass mug is oven-safe, it’s best to check the packaging before letting it go in the oven.
Stoneware mugs
Are they oven-safe? Yes.
Stoneware mugs might not be as popular as other mug materials, but they are durable and more resistant to chipping. It is also very durable to resist scratches from steel tools and usually lasts several years. As long as your stoneware mug is made of genuine stone, you can safely use them in the oven.
However, it would be best not to place this cold mug into the oven because it’s prone to thermal shock when it’s too cold. Only place a stoneware mug at room temperature to ensure safety.
Plastic mugs
Are they oven-safe? No.
Plastics are usually classified depending on their recyclability and other microwaveable properties. There are seven resid ID codes, and codes 2, 4, and 5 are the only ones that are microwave-safe. While they can go in the microwave, it is of note that they are not oven-safe. Plastic mugs may not melt in the oven, but there’s a tendency they will exude toxic fumes inside it that can make the food or drink inedible and harmful when consumed.
Melamine mugs, nitrogen-based hard plastic mug, are also not considered oven-safe coffee mug since it is not an ideal cooking vessel.
Metal mugs
Are they oven-safe? Yes.
Metal mugs are probably one of the safest coffee mugs in the oven. This material is hard and durable, so they are commonly used for thermoses and water bottles. A pure metal cup, such as a camping mug, is the best example of what you can safely use in an oven.
Take note, though, that metal is not microwave-safe since metal reflects microwaves. It would be best if you didn’t put them in a microwave oven because they cannot heat or cook anything inside the metal mug.
Earthenware mugs
Are they oven-safe? No.
Earthenware is a common material for household dinnerware since it’s cheap and straightforward. They make great material for plates, bowls, and mugs. But since it’s cheaper, it is also less sturdy and easily chips and breaks, making earthenware coffee mugs unsuitable for oven use. (Learn How Much Does A Coffee Mug Weigh)
Enamel mugs
Are they oven-safe? Yes.
Enamel mugs are metal cups coated with a layer of ceramic glaze and fired at a high temperature. The enamel coating of the mug prevents the metal from rusting, so it will not form an oxide layer on the surface once heated in the oven.
However, while enamel mugs are oven-safe, they are not microwave-safe since they are built with steel and porcelain.
Bone china mugs
Are they oven-safe? Yes.
People often refer to bone china mugs as porcelain, but they differ. Bone china usually includes bone ash and other materials and is highly heated when manufactured. Bone china mug is generally safe unless it comprises other materials that can be harmful when put in the oven.
Things to Remember When Using Coffee Mugs in the Oven
Now that you know which materials are safe to put in the oven, make sure you also keep in mind these things once you place your coffee cups in it:
Temperature coffee mugs withstand
Most coffee mugs can usually hold up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but it still depends on the cup’s material. Take a porcelain mug, for instance, which can handle extremely hot temperatures of up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, while a stoneware mug can handle even more.
Remember that even though some materials can handle as much temperature, the ideal temperature is 140-155 degrees Fahrenheit.
Length coffee mugs should be in the oven
Depending on the material of the coffee mug, you can leave them for about two hours in the oven, such as porcelain and glass mugs. Meanwhile, metal, stoneware, and enamel can be used in the oven for over 2 hours. It’s best to look at the packaging or manufacturer’s recommendation of the coffee mug to know how long you should let it in without breaking.
Thermal shock
Thermal shock happens when a cold mug is suddenly exposed to a hot temperature or vice versa. But you don’t have to worry about thermal shock if the coffee mug’s material is oven-safe, such as stoneware mugs. It is only prone to it if the cups are of poor quality despite being known to be oven-safe.
How to Avoid Thermal Shock
People who aren’t familiar when using coffee mugs are prone to thermal shock. If you’re planning to cook or bake using a coffee mug in an oven, keep in mind these things to prevent thermal shock from happening:
Ensure you know your mug’s maximum temperature because you must not go overboard at this temperature. Some materials can be too delicate that they will easily shatter once the temperature becomes too hot.
If the mug or dish you’ll make comes from the refrigerator or freezer, you must first cool it to room temperature. Placing it immediately in the oven will result in thermal shock, no matter how sturdy the coffee mug is.
Let the mug sit on the counter once you remove it from the oven. NEVER run it under cold water because it will crack no matter how durable the cup is.
Just because your coffee mug is oven-safe doesn’t mean you can use it on direct heat. Don’t use your oven-safe coffee mug on the stove or over a fire since it is only prone to thermal shock.
The Best Coffee Mug for Mug Cakes
The famous mug cakes are one of the easiest dishes you can make using only a mug. It is quick and easy, and you’ll only need a few ingredients to make it. But what kind of mug is best when making the TikTok-famous mug cake?
Stoneware mugs make the perfect mug for baking in the oven. They are not only oven-safe, but they also offer several other benefits:
- Stoneware can withstand any oven temperature without cracking, so you can bake at the maximum temperature and not worry about your coffee mug breaking.
- Stoneware is also famous for its nonstick surface, making it perfect for baking. It’s non-porous, so the food will not stick in the mug.
- And since it’s nonstick, it’s also relatively easier clean since there won’t be any residue you have to deal with after baking.
Best Mug Cake Recipe You Should Try
If your mugs are ready, you may now dig into the best fudgy chocolate mug cake you can try in your oven.
Ingredients:
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 tbsp milk of your choice
2 tbsp sweetener of your choice
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp additional regular cocoa powder
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2-3 tsp oil
Procedure:
Combine all the dry ingredients in the coffee mug and mix well.
Add the liquid ingredients and stir. Make sure the consistency is smooth and not clumpy.
If you cook it in the microwave oven, leave it for about 40-60 seconds.
Alternatively, leave it for about 14 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit if you bake it in the oven.
Take the fudgy chocolate mug cake out, let it cool, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a coffee mug oven-safe?
Many coffee mugs are oven-safe, but not all. Some coffee mugs you can safely use in the oven include ceramic, glass, stoneware, metal, enamel, and bone china mugs. (Read Average Size Of A Coffee Mug)
What is the best coffee mug material to be used in the oven?
Metal and stoneware mugs are the best materials you can safely use in the oven because of their durable properties.
What makes coffee mugs oven-safe?
You can consider a mug to be oven-safe if it won’t break or make your food inedible or harmful to be consumed.
Final Thoughts
Knowing whether a mug is oven-safe is essential because it spares you from the possible danger of using a cup when it’s not labeled oven-safe. Now that you know which materials you can safely use in the oven, make as many dishes as you want with your favorite coffee mug!