Everyone loves a good cup of coffee, but can a coffee mug go in the oven? Or will it be subjected to thermal shock and end up with several cracks, breaks, or chips?
It is important to take care of your coffee mugs if you want them to keep your coffee warm for years to come.
Our guide will help you evaluate your own coffee mugs and determine which are oven safe mugs, and which aren't.
Can I Put A Coffee Mug In The Oven?
Oven safe mugs can be really useful. It means you can warm up old coffee or tea, or any other liquid you might have in there.
Plus, if your coffee mug's oven safe then you can make mug cakes (which are becoming really popular on TikTok).
However, before you start working out that mug cake recipe you need to know is your coffee mug oven safe. That all comes down to the materials.
Coffee mugs are made out of all different kinds of materials. Most coffee mugs can be put in the oven, but they should be clearly marked as 'oven safe coffee mugs'.
If you don't see that then it probably isn't an oven safe mug.
Porcelain coffee mugs, bone china mugs, and earthenware coffee mugs should generally not be put in a conventional oven.
Let's take a closer look at which coffee cups are safe in the oven:
1. Porcelain Mugs
Porcelain mugs should not be put in the oven. They will crack in the oven or as they cool down when they are removed from the oven.
Porcelain, sometimes known as bone china, is a thin material and will experience thermal shock. Porcelain bone china is typically dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe but not oven-safe.
There are a few exceptions where manufacturers will create oven-safe porcelain coffee mugs, but this is rare.
Do not put a porcelain mug into the oven unless the manufacturer has specifically stated that the bone china mug is oven-safe.
2. Stoneware Mugs
Stoneware mugs are oven safe.
However, sometimes earthenware mugs are mistaken for stoneware mugs, and earthenware mugs should not go into the oven as they aren't heat resistant.
Make sure that your stoneware mug is made of genuine stone and not any other materials.
It is also important to not place this cold mug into the oven because thermal shock can occur. Room temperature stoneware mugs can be placed in the oven.
3. Metal Mugs
Metal mugs are oven safe because they were originally made to be placed over fire and withstand very high temperatures. In fact, this type is one of the most oven safe coffee mug options.
This is a favorite coffee mug for camping, but not all metal coffee mugs are a pure metal cup or could qualify as a camping mug.
Some metal mugs have plastic pieces on the handle or as a decorative element. This won't be oven or microwave oven safe.
Plastic cannot be placed in the oven because a nonstick finish will melt or crack. Make sure that your metal mug is pure metal before placing it in the oven.
And keep in mind that when you remove it, it will be very hot!
4. Ceramic Mugs
Ceramic mugs can usually be used with the oven, but we do recommend checking to make sure the label says that it's an oven-safe mug.
Ceramic mugs are also susceptible to thermal shock when steam is involved, so it is important to proceed with caution.
Keep the mug at room temperature before and after placing it in the oven to avoid thermal shock.
5. Enamel Mugs
Most enamel mugs are oven-safe but not microwave-safe.
The reason for this is that enamel mugs are built with both steel and porcelain.
While fine china porcelain mugs are typically microwave-safe, steel can create dangerous electricity when used in the oven.
Keep your enamel mugs out of the oven and away from high temperatures.
6. Glass Mugs
A glass mug can typically be used in the oven. However, it is recommended that you check the manufacturer’s instructions before doing so.
Borosilicate glass is usually marked oven safe, but some other materials used for glass coffee mugs are not oven safe, and many coffee mugs made from glass mugs are susceptible to thermal shock.
When using glass mugs, make sure that you move from room temperature to the oven rather than from the fridge or freezer to the oven.
When removing the mug from the oven, let it slowly cool down.
7. Melamine & Plastic Mugs
Melamine mugs and plastic mugs should not be used in the oven.
These mugs are also not a microwave safe mug and should not be exposed to any temperatures above 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
If placed in the oven, a plastic mug will melt. It is important to keep melamine mugs and plastic mugs at room temperature.
How Long Should You Put A Mug In The Oven?
How long you can place your mug in the oven is dependent upon the type of material that your mug is made from.
Metal, stoneware, and enamel mugs can typically be used in the oven for up to 2 hours.
Porcelain and glass mugs can sometimes be placed in the oven for up to 2 hours, and other types can not be used in the oven at all.
It’s important to look at the manufacturer's instructions for all porcelain and glass mugs.
How Much Heat Can A Coffee Mug Take?
How much heat a coffee mug can take is dependent on the type of mug. However, most coffee mugs can hold hot liquids up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Porcelain mugs can withstand greater temperatures and can handle temperatures up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the mug is made out of stoneware, any type of temperature can be handled.
When heating coffee in a mug up, the ideal temperature is between 140-155 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make sure before you heat your coffee up that you know how high of a temperature your coffee mug can handle. Each mug material has a different temperature capacity.
How To Avoid Thermal Shock When Putting A Coffee Mug In The Oven?
The first step to avoiding thermal shock when putting a coffee mug in the oven is to make sure that your coffee mug is oven safe.
If it is not oven-safe, no amount of preventative measures will change the outcome. Even if your mug doesn’t crack from thermal shock today, it likely will tomorrow.
Even if your coffee mugs oven safe it can still be impacted by thermal shock.
If your mug is oven safe, you want to start by letting your mug warm up to room temperature first.
Make sure that it hasn’t been in a cold or chilled space and if it has, let it sit out on the counter for several minutes first. This will prepare it for the high temperatures.
Next, be careful with the way you remove the mug from the oven.
As much as the mug can be susceptible to cracks from thermal shock, it can also suffer damages if it is reintroduced to cold temperatures too quickly.
Do not take a mug directly from the oven and place it in the refrigerator or freezer, for example. Keep the mug at room temperature once you have removed it from the oven.
Common Coffee Mug Oven Questions
How do you know if a mug is oven-safe?
Most mugs have an “oven-safe” symbol on the bottom of the mug if they can be used in the oven.
The symbol typically looks like an oven or has wavy lines near a box, rectangle, or other “oven” type of image.
If your coffee mug comes with a tag or small care packet, you may also find the answer there.
What temperature does ceramic crack?
Ceramic can sometimes withstand oven temperatures, but the ceramic mug needs to be oven-safe.
If it is not oven-proof, then a high temperature will create a thermal shock when the mug is brought out of the oven and back into the room temperature range.
Make sure that your ceramic mug is oven-safe before placing it in the oven.
How do you keep a mug warm without using the oven?
If you want to keep your mug warm without using the oven, you can try heating your cup in the microwave.
This may not work if your mug is also not microwave safe. In the event that your coffee mug is not oven safe and not microwave-safe, we recommend using a hot liquid to keep it warm.
You can also buy coffee mug warmers that wrap around your mug to conserve heat loss.
However, your best bet will be purchasing a new coffee mug that is oven safe or microwave safe so that you can easily reheat your mug.
Are ceramic mugs from China safe?
We do not recommend using glazed ceramic mugs from China. China ceramic coffee mugs are sometimes made with kilns that have lead inside of them.
For ceramic mugs and cookware, we recommend choosing from American potteries to ensure that you do not accidentally end up with lead poisoning symptoms.
Unfortunately, small amounts of lead exposure can still lead to painful and frustrating medical symptoms.
Conclusion
Coffee mugs can go in the oven if they are oven safe. Make sure that the word “oven-safe” or the symbol for “oven-safe” appears on the bottom of your mug.
You can also check the manufacturer’s instructions. If your coffee mug is not oven-safe, do not put it in the oven to avoid thermal shock and cracking your mug.
