Can You Put Hot Pans on Granite?
Granite is heat-resistant and can generally handle hot pans without damage. However, using trivets or hot pads is recommended to protect the sealant on the granite surface and prevent potential thermal shock from extreme temperature changes.
Key Takeaways
- Granite is an igneous rock formed under high heat and pressure, making it naturally resistant to heat.
- Darker granite tends to hide heat marks better than lighter colors if any occur.
- Quartzite is often confused with quartz; natural quartzite is heat-resistant, but engineered quartz can be damaged by heat.
Explanation
Granite is an igneous rock formed under high heat and pressure, making it naturally resistant to heat. The stone itself can withstand temperatures far higher than any cooking pan. Brief contact with hot cookware is unlikely to damage the granite.
The concern is primarily with the sealant applied to granite countertops. Sealants protect against staining but can be degraded by repeated heat exposure. Over time, this may leave the granite more vulnerable to stains and require more frequent resealing.
Thermal shock is possible if an extremely hot pan is placed on a cold granite surface, potentially causing cracks. While rare, this risk increases with repeated thermal stress. Trivets provide inexpensive insurance against both sealant damage and thermal shock.
Things to Know
- Darker granite tends to hide heat marks better than lighter colors if any occur.
- Quartzite is often confused with quartz; natural quartzite is heat-resistant, but engineered quartz can be damaged by heat.
- Outdoor granite in cold weather may be more susceptible to thermal shock.