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Not oven safe

Not oven safe
Do not put this in a conventional oven.

What it looks like

The oven outline with a cross through it.

What it means

It appears on microwave-safe plastic tubs more than anything else, and the pairing is the point: microwave heating warms the food while the container stays comparatively cool, whereas an oven heats the container directly to the air temperature. Polypropylene melts around 160 °C, well below a normal baking temperature. Ready-meal trays marked this way are usually CPET or aluminium if oven-safe, and PET or PP if not, and the two look almost identical.

Defined by Manufacturer declaration. Where a symbol differs between standards, the difference is described above rather than resolved — both versions are in circulation on real labels.

Other cookware and containers symbols

Symbol Means
Microwave safe The maker states the material is suitable for heating food in a microwave.
Do not microwave Do not heat this container in a microwave.
Dishwasher safe The item survives a normal dishwasher cycle. Some versions specify the top rack only.
Not dishwasher safe — hand wash only Wash this by hand.
Oven safe The item can go in a conventional oven, up to the stated temperature if one is given.
Freezer safe The container can be used in a freezer without cracking or failing.
Induction compatible The pan has a ferromagnetic base and will work on an induction hob.
BPA free The item contains no bisphenol A. It is a marketing claim, not a certification.
Do not use metal utensils Use wood, silicone or nylon tools with this surface.

Common questions

What does the not oven safe symbol mean?
Do not put this in a conventional oven.
What does it look like?
The oven outline with a cross through it.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked