Oven Dishes Buyer's Guide

Oven to Tableware

Oven proof dishes come under the broader term of ‘Cookware’. But what is cookware?

Cookware is typically pans, baking dishes & serving dishes. Where baking & serving dishes are used for cooking & display purposes, the term ‘oven to tableware’ is used regularly.

With this in mind, there are many considerations when choosing the right oven proof dish, as it has a dual purpose of needing to be versatile and robust to deal with the rigours of daily kitchen life, but also aesthetically pleasing for when being used as a serving dish. 

We will discuss considerations in the next section.

Considerations for Oven Dishes

As mentioned in the previous section, you first need to decide what the oven proof dish will be used for. If it is for cooking and presentation, the size and shape needs to be considered. Are you running a large catering operation for many people or are you looking for something for more personal use? The dimensions of every dish are listed under our product details to help you decide what is right for you and/or your business.

Once you have decided on the right design, cost should be the next thought. Is the dish you have chosen high-end or budget? Budget ranges are obviously cost-effective, but durability and longevity may become a factor, putting catering operations at risk. Sometimes paying a bit more for an item can actually save you money in the long run as it may last twice as long as the next dish for a little more of an initial pay-out. Another small point to consider is whether your choice of dish has matching lids available, as this can go a long way to keeping prepared food hot between oven and table.

With regards to durability & longevity, you need to consider many factors affecting your oven dish over a wide period of time & use. Such as its temperature tolerance; if your dish is going to be used as oven to tableware, then it needs to be able to withstand not only high temperatures, but also extreme changes in temperature with cracking or damaging. Some dishes may need to be refrigerated or even frozen, so a good robust material is needed.

Stoneware

As far as temperature tolerance goes, stoneware is fantastic. The process involved in making stoneware sees the clay kiln-fired up to temperatures of 1300 degrees Celsius for up to 10 hours at a time. This helps to make the dish incredibly tough and durable. As a result, most stoneware has a temperature tolerance range of -20 degrees Celsius to +250 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for oven use and as presentation tableware, or even refrigeration and freezing if necessary.

Stoneware is also chip-resistant, and usually copes well with microwaves and is dishwasher-safe. Although baked goods are notoriously tough and a pre-soak can work wonders before dishwashing. 
This leads on to areas of concern with stoneware. With regards to dishwashing and cleaning, be careful of using abrasive cleaning materials & detergents as this can damage the surface of the dish, as can stacking the dishes together in storage, meaning stoneware could be impractical for mobile catering operations or smaller businesses where storage is at a minimum.

A final important point to consider when caring for your dish is that although Stoneware has a good range of temperature tolerance, you must avoid rapid heating, such as on a hob, as this can cause the material to crack and shatter.

Enamelled Cast-Iron

Cast Iron is used primarily for its strength, conductivity and heat retention, making it ideal for cooking and presentation. Where very hot food is presented, such as fajitas or anything ‘sizzling’, cast iron will normally be used.

The ‘enamelling’ comes from a special coating that is added to the cast iron and then baked on at high temperatures. This helps to prevent premature rusting, and allows for easier care and cleaning, without the need to season the cast iron before cooking due to the smoother surface. This material is ideal when aesthetics are at the forefront of your decision, as the enamelling allows these dishes to be made into a wide variety of colours, for an eye-catching design for any table display.

An important point to consider when choosing this material is that, as with stoneware, abrasive cleaning should be avoided, and they should not be used for frying or fried foods as the enamel has a tendency to stick.

Glass

The main advantage of Borosilicate glass, such as ‘Pyrex’, is that it is non-reactive and does not absorb food odours. What this means is that it will not affect the taste of any food cooked or displayed in it and is also not affected by any foods contained within it. This means that it will not carry odours to the next meal prepared in it, contaminating the flavour. An added advantage of this trait is that it does not absorb bacteria like some other materials, making it extremely beneficial to a clean and healthy kitchen.

A more obvious advantage to glass is that the clarity of the material allows for the food to be checked and observed easily throughout the cooking process. It also retains heat well, but can be prone to thermal shock. Thermal shock is the term used when materials expand or contract at an unsustainable rate making them crack or shatter, this can be caused by rapid temperature changes, such as freezing and re-heating, or using on a stove. This is an important point to check, as some glass dishes are re-inforced to withstand these kinds of thermal shock so always read up carefully on your chosen product.

Ceramic

Earthenware is one of the oldest materials used in Pottery. It is a white & porous clay, usually known as ceramic or ceramic ware, which is glazed and kiln-fired at relatively low temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celsius.

The glazing process means that this material will not absorb water, making cleaning easier, and some types of earthenware oven proof dishes can be vitrified. Vitrification is the process of heating up materials to temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees Celsius, allowing the materials to fuse together. This process turns the dish into a vitreous, non-porous state, meaning water and bacteria from food doesn’t soak into the dish, preventing cross-contamination.

Earthenware absorbs heat slowly and has good heat retention once hot, due to the heat being conducted evenly about the dish. This makes it ideal for slow-cooking in the oven. Another advantage to the enamelling and/or vitrification of these dishes is that the material is non-reactive, similar to glass, so it won’t react with the food and does not affect the overall flavour upon serving.

In Summary

After choosing the perfect oven dish for yourself, don’t forget to consider the maintenance and durability of your chosen material. Ask yourself the following questions...

•  Is it dishwasher safe? 

•  Will detergents and abrasive cleaning procedures affect my dish? If it has a non-stick coating, special rules should apply with cleaning and storage.

•  Is it ‘thermal shock’ resistant? Always check the temperature range of your oven proof dish and ability to refrigerate and freeze.

•  With regards to baking, make sure that the material you have selected is up to the task of dealing with baked goods that can stick and ruin your table presentation.

Lockhart Catering has a range of professional, seamless and hygienic products for the commercial sector, providing excellent heat distribution and durability. Have a look at our Oven Dishes now.