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A Good Housekeeping report citing AO.com appliance expert Jade Golding-Gault advises against storing sheet pans and other cookware in an oven that will be used for cooking. Items may interfere with airflow and heat distribution, and forgetting they are inside can damage unsuitable items or create a fire risk. The report recommends keeping the oven clear and using only a compatible oven liner if protection from drips is needed.
A Good Housekeeping report says people should remove sheet pans and other stored items before using the oven, citing advice from AO.com appliance expert Jade Golding-Gault. Items left inside can interfere with airflow and heat distribution, while forgotten objects may be damaged or, in some cases, pose a fire risk.
Golding-Gault told Good Housekeeping that baking trays and pans can restrict airflow and stop heat circulating efficiently through the oven. The effect depends on the item’s size and placement, as well as the cooking mode. A large pan on the oven floor may obstruct airflow in a fan-assisted oven; on a conventional setting, a tray on the lowest shelf can absorb heat from below.
The report says disrupted heat circulation may contribute to uneven cooking and make the oven work harder to reach or maintain its target temperature. It also warns that repeated additional demand may contribute to wear on parts such as heating elements and fan systems. The report does not provide testing data quantifying how much cooking time, energy use or appliance lifespan might change.
There is also a risk of forgetting what is inside when the oven is switched on. Golding-Gault warned that non-oven-safe objects, packaging, or cookware with plastic or rubber handles can melt or be damaged, and in some cases may create a fire risk. Even cookware intended for oven use can discolor or degrade if it is repeatedly heated unintentionally or exposed to prolonged high temperatures beyond its design limits.
How Stored Pans Can Affect Cooking
Keeping trays in the oven may seem like a simple way to free up cupboard space, but the concern is practical: an oven is an appliance in use, not a dependable storage location. Anything left inside can alter the space available for heat to circulate, and objects that are not safe at oven temperatures can become a hazard when someone turns the appliance on without checking.
The possible effects range from less even results to damage to cookware or appliance components. The source describes these as potential outcomes, not guaranteed ones; it gives no measured rate of failures or energy savings from clearing an oven. Still, making a habit of checking that the cavity is empty is a low-effort precaution, particularly in households where several people use the kitchen.
The report also cites an energy-cost illustration from comparison site Go Compare: a 2,000-watt electric oven is estimated to cost 53 pence per hour in use, or £192.36 per year. It says an extra 10 minutes of cooking per hour would add £30 over a year. These figures are an example in the report, not a measurement of the effect of storing trays; the report does not establish that a stored pan will cause that additional running time.
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Why the Oven Becomes Storage
The report describes the habit as a response to limited kitchen storage: an empty oven can look like unused space, and cookware may seem suited to high temperatures. It distinguishes between leaving oven-safe items inside while the appliance is off and using the oven with those items still there. The principal warning is about the latter, as well as the possibility of forgetting stored objects before switching the oven on.
Some people place a spare tray on the oven floor to catch drips. Golding-Gault advises against leaving a tray there, because it can affect airflow or heat movement. For residue, the report identifies a reusable oven liner as an alternative, provided the product is compatible with the particular oven and used according to its maker’s directions.
Good Housekeeping says liners commonly last around six months, but that estimate can vary. It advises checking the brand’s instructions and replacing a liner when required, especially if it becomes warped or damaged. The report does not recommend placing an ordinary baking sheet on the oven floor as a substitute.
““If items, such as baking trays or pans, are left inside the oven when it’s in use, they can restrict airflow and prevent heat from circulating as efficiently around the space.””
— Jade Golding-Gault, AO.com appliance expert, quoted by Good Housekeeping
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What the Report Does Not Measure
The source offers expert guidance but does not report controlled tests measuring how much a tray changes oven temperature, cooking time, energy use or equipment lifespan. The extent of any effect depends on oven design, item placement and cooking setting, according to the explanation provided.
The cited energy figures are not a direct estimate of the cost of storing a sheet pan, and the report does not show that an oven will use a specific amount of extra energy as a result. It also does not identify a universal liner specification: compatibility varies by product and oven, so manufacturer instructions remain necessary. No new safety notice, recall or regulatory change is described.
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A Simple Check Before Cooking
The practical step recommended by the report is to remove stored cookware before switching on the oven and find it a permanent place elsewhere. A brief check of the cavity can also catch packaging, utensils or other objects that should not be exposed to oven heat.
For people using a liner to catch drips, the next step is to confirm it is approved for their oven and follow the product instructions on placement, cleaning and replacement. The report sets out no formal follow-up study or scheduled update; its advice is based on the expert’s explanation of airflow, component demand and the risks of forgotten items.
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Key Questions
Can I leave a sheet pan in the oven while it is turned off?
The report’s main warning concerns using the oven while items are inside and forgetting those items before heating. However, it advises finding cookware a permanent storage place rather than relying on the oven, since it must be cleared before use.
Why can a pan affect how food cooks?
According to AO.com expert Jade Golding-Gault, a pan can restrict airflow or absorb heat, depending on its location and the oven setting. That may affect heat distribution and contribute to uneven cooking, though the report does not quantify the effect.
Could storing a tray in the oven cause a fire?
The report says forgotten non-oven-safe items, packaging, or cookware with plastic or rubber handles can melt or be damaged and, in some cases, create a fire risk. It does not say that an oven-safe metal tray by itself will cause a fire.
What can I use to catch drips instead of a tray?
The report suggests a reusable oven liner, but says to check that it is compatible with the oven, follow the manufacturer’s directions and replace it if warped or damaged. Its stated lifespan of around six months is an approximate guide, not a universal rule.
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