Last Updated on September 4, 2021 by Emma W. Thomas
The short answer is no, it’s not safe and you can not put paper towels in the oven. You should not ever put paper towels into your oven because of the risk of a fire. Paper towels can be put in the oven to soak up spills and soak up the moisture, but it is important to know that they should never ever be placed directly on an oven rack. According to the University of Illinois, paper can burn in an oven on a low setting.
Your breakfast is incomplete without a cup of coffee and a loaf of bread. But, running out of coffee filters? Paper towels are there to rescue you. Your loaf of bread is soggy after taking out from the freezer. Don’t worry, wrap up the bread loaf in a towel and see the magic. The bread will remain as fresh as readily made. For this very reason, we all need to know the functionalities of a paper towel. Apart from that, one should be aware of the dos and don’ts of a paper towel.
Is It Safe To Put Paper Towels In The Oven?
We all wonder if we can put a paper towel in the oven. Paper towels are used for various cooking purposes like baking, storing, filtering, and soaking. As a result, sometimes we put the food in the oven along with the paper towel. This process is not recommendable as the paper towel can catch fire at any time. The fire can cause havoc damage to the oven. It can cause a serious burn to the handler too.
Moreover, if not handled the fire quickly, it may spread in the kitchen and house gradually. So, a paper towel in the oven is not safe for you and your family too. Avoid putting a paper towel in the oven at any cost.
What Are The Risks Of Putting A Paper Towel In The Oven?
A paper towel is combustible and can easily catch fire if heated for an extended time. A burning paper towel in the oven ignites the oven, causing a major fire hazard. The oven can burst out if exposed to fire. A paper towel generally does not catch fire at low temperatures. So, many people put paper towels in the oven and think that it is safe. But, if by any chance that someone is not paying attention and keeps the paper towel for a long time, the tremendous heat produced from the oven can ignite the paper towel and cause a devastating accident. The paper towel ignites itself at 451oF. An oven can be heated up to 500oF. If the oven is overheated, then the paper towel in the oven can easily catch fire.
1. Fire Hazard
A paper towel is combustible. It catches fire at a temperature of 451oF. An oven heated more than this temperature causes the ignition of the paper towel. The paper towel burns to flames at a very high temperature. It will insist the fire to the oven and like any other electric tool, an oven will catch the spark and ignite itself.
2. Damage To The Oven
As we all know, a paper towel can cause the ignition to the oven. Even if we turn it off quickly and stop the fire, the oven will get seriously damaged internally. The oven will lose its functionality.
3. Electric Blow Out
As soon as the paper towel in the oven catches fire, the oven will burn too. The short circuits in the electric lines of the house will be cut due to the fire. The house will experience a sudden electric blowout.
The Risks Of Putting Paper Towels In The Oven And What To Use Instead
| Uses Of Paper Towels | Risk Of Putting In The Oven | What To Use Instead |
| As a baking paper | Generally, we bake at high temperatures. High temperature has the risk of over-heating and igniting the paper towel. | Use aluminum foil, baking trays, baking sheets, and pans. |
| As a coffee filter | We use paper towels as an emergency coffee filter and put it in the oven to heat coffee. There is no risk in using it as a filter but avoid putting it in the oven as it can catch fire if not attended to. | Use coffee filters |
| They are used as a layer between trays and greasy food items. | Use the paper towel only for soaking up the grease in the food. But if you put it in the oven, it can be ignited. | Use aluminum foil. |
The Uses Of Paper Towels
We all know that a paper towel might be the easiest and most convenient tool to use in the kitchen. Also, it is used for a variety of other things in our household.
1. A paper towel is used as a wrapping for the loaves of bread. The bread will not get soggy in the freezer.
2. A paper towel is used in a pinch as a substitute for coffee filters.
3. The paper towel is used as a soaking paper for grease, gunk, oil, and water.
4. The cast iron pans and dishes are rubbed with a paper towel. As paper towels are soft and tender, it does not wipe out cast iron on the pans.
5. Paper towels work as a substitute for low-temperature baking. But this is not advisable because it can be ignited due to overheating.
6. They are used for rubbing off the silk from the corns.
7. A wet paper towel is used to cover up brown sugar. It helps to retain the moisture content of the sugar.
8. The soft and natural properties of paper towels are helpful to store seeds and herbs.
Conclusion
We can finally understand that putting a paper towel in the oven would be a bad idea. There are many more cheap options to set your food and slide it into the oven, but a paper towel is not. One should use a paper towel only for storing or soaking purposes. It is not made for cooking as it can’t withstand the heat for cooking. Avoid using a paper towel in the oven for your safety.
