Crockeries do not come cheap these days. Therefore, it is understandable why people want to ensure they last long, which honestly does not take a lot of effort if you read and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Some may be oven safe but not safe for the broiler.
What does “no broiler” mean?
Broiler is an option on the oven such as ‘bake’ but some cookware comes with the ‘no broiler’ instruction which means you cannot use it to broil any food in the oven. It means that the dish or pan cannot withstand the heat required to broil. And doing so will undoubtedly ruin the dish or pan.
In order to broil any food, the oven emits high temperature of heat -mainly from the top level- this helps in cooking and crisping food that are delicate or sometimes this process is used to brown and crisp the top of food that is already cooked.
Now not all pans or dishes can tolerate temperatures like that which causes them to crack or break. To help avoid this mishaps, manufacturers of these cookware usually add an instruction with the product mentioning if it can be broiled or not.
There are also a great selection of crockeries that are specifically made for broiling. They are manufactured using materials which allow them to withstand the very high heat used to broil.
Therefore, if you would like to broil your food, it is best to invest in those that are broil safe.
What does “No broiler” means on these material?
‘No broiler’ can be found written in dishes of many different materials and the meaning might differ. We will explain what it means on two most common materials that come with the instruction ‘No broiler’ added with it.
On glass:
If you notice that your glassware has ‘No broiler’ etched anywhere, this means it is not safe for broiling. You can use it in the oven to bake but broiler will ruin the glass.
The heat required to broil is simply too much for glassware to tolerate. In most cases, the high heat will shatter the glass.
Therefore, not only will you lose your glassware but on top of that it is an absolute nightmare to locate and clean all the glass shards from inside the oven as they are clear.
So, it is best to use a pan or dish made of a stronger material if you wish to broil your food as glass isn’t built for this purpose.
On pyrex:
Pyrex is a strong material and pyrex glass bowls are manufactured in a way that allows them to withstand a quite high temperature. Even then you will notice most pyrex comes with the warning ‘no broiler’ because they too have their heat tolerance.
A pyrex glass bowl can withstand heat as long as it is below 450 degrees F. Once the heat begins to climb above that, it puts the pyrex glass bowls in danger of cracking and breaking.
And since a temperature of 500 to 550 degrees F is needed to broiler, it is quite clear why pyrex glass bowl manufacturers add the ‘No broiler’ warning on them. Pyrex is also not safe to be used on stovetops despite being very sturdy.
As we can see these warnings are added on the glass and pyrex dishes and bowls for a reason and they should be taken seriously. Because following these rules can help the glassware last for a long time.
That being said, if you would like to broil your food, use a stainless steel pan or a seasoned cast iron. These will work wonderfully for broiling.
Is oven safe the same as broiler safe?
Oven safe and broiler safe has two different meanings. When glassware or cookware is oven safe it does not also mean it is simultaneously broiler safe. The different options in an oven use different temperatures.
Oven safe is usually used to mean that it is safe to bake food in the dish or bowl. If it is broiler-safe, they will clearly mention it.
Cookware such as stainless steel and cast-iron pans are both oven and broiler safe, meaning they can be used in the oven to bake and also to broil.
On the other hand, glass and pyrex cookware cannot withstand the high heat needed to broil but can tolerate the heat required to bake and heat food in the oven.
Nowadays, almost every manufacturer adds whether a dish is oven safe or broiler-safe at the bottom or side of the dish. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the writing at the bottom or side of the pan and heed the warning.
Can you put pyrex in the oven if it says no broiler?
If you notice that your pyrex glass bowl comes with a ‘No broiler’ warning, it does not mean that you can’t use it in the oven. You can use this Pyrex glass bowl in the oven to bake.
But never broil with this bowl. This warning is added to prevent users from broiling food in their pyrex glassware as they can not tolerate the high heat used to broil food.
Pyrex is safe to use in the oven but the tops of the bowls are usually made by using different sorts of plastics which are not safe to be used in ovens and also never transfer pyrex glassware directly from the fridge to the oven because the sudden changes in the varying temperatures can cause it to shatter.
What does no stovetop or broiler mean?
Pyrex and glass bowls usually come with the no stovetop and broiler warning, it is added to let users know that these bowls should not be used in the oven under the broiler option because of the high heat needed for broiling and also should never be put directly on top of the stovetop. Doing so can damage them because of the high levels of heat.
Instead, they can be used in the oven to bake cakes and other dishes and can also be used on the stove but as a double boiler by placing it on top of a saucepan. This way the heat will not cause the pyrex or glass to either crack or break.
How do I broil without a broiler?
Older models of ovens sometimes have the broiler option missing. But as we know broiling is a great way of cooking delicate foods and crisping the top of already cooked food.
Therefore, if you would like to broil your food, here is a list of steps to guide you in broiling without a broiler! This process can be used even if you do not own a broiling pan.
Clean the oven racks:
The oven racks are an important part of the process. So, it is essential for them to be clean. Clean them by scrubbing them with a steel wool if they are dirty.
Cover baking tray with aluminum:
You will need to grab a baking tray and cover it completely with aluminum foil to catch the oils dripping from the food.
Place the tray in the bottom rung:
For this step slide in the baking tray in the bottom-rung of the oven and slide the oven rack on the rung directly above it.
Place the ingredients:
Place your meat or fish on top of the oven rack.
Set temperature:
Use the setting on the oven to emit heat only from the above and increase the temperature to about 500 to 550 degrees F.
You might have to flip the food in-between but hopefully in a couple of minutes your food will be perfectly broiled even without a broiler or a broiling pan.
Final Thoughts
‘No broiler’ are printed on the bottom of glass dishes and pans to let buyers know that these particular cookware are not suitable for broiling which is usually due to the high heat needed to broil food. Broiling is a great cooking process and can even be done without a broiler or a broiling pan.