Can You Put Cardboard in the Oven?
Putting cardboard in the oven is generally not recommended due to fire risk. Cardboard can ignite at around 450°F, though it may char or smoke at lower temperatures. While frozen pizza cardboard may survive briefly at lower temps, it is safer to transfer food to a baking sheet or oven-safe dish.
Key Takeaways
- Cardboard is combustible and will eventually burn if heated enough.
- Cardboard with wax coating, [plastic](/can-you-microwave-plastic) windows, or metallic elements should never go in the oven.
- Toaster ovens with closer heating elements pose higher cardboard fire risk than conventional ovens.
Explanation
Cardboard is combustible and will eventually burn if heated enough. The ignition point is around 427-451°F, which is below many oven settings for baking. Even at lower temperatures, cardboard can smolder, release smoke, or catch fire if it contacts heating elements.
Frozen pizza packaging sometimes suggests using the cardboard circle, but this is controversial. If you do use it, keep temperatures below 400°F, stay nearby, and never let cardboard touch oven walls or elements. Most manufacturers recommend transferring to a proper pan.
Better alternatives include using a pizza stone, baking sheet, or oven-safe pan. These conduct heat more evenly anyway, producing better results. The small convenience of keeping the cardboard is not worth the fire risk.
Things to Know
- Cardboard with wax coating, plastic windows, or metallic elements should never go in the oven.
- Toaster ovens with closer heating elements pose higher cardboard fire risk than conventional ovens.
- Pizza boxes should never be used for reheating pizza in the oven.