Bare or anodised aluminium cookware
Quick answer
Bare or anodised aluminium conducts heat at about 237 W/m-K, does not work on induction, and is oven safe to about 500F. Sheet pans, cake tins and commercial bakeware, where even heat and low cost matter and induction does not.
Conductivity and density are published material properties. Oven ceilings are what manufacturers publish for this class of cookware and vary by brand.
| Material | Conductivity | Induction | Oven ceiling | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-ply stainless clad | 237 W/m-K | Yes | 600F | No |
| Five-ply stainless clad | 237 W/m-K | Yes | 600F | No |
| Disc-base stainless | 237 W/m-K | Yes | 500F | No |
| Bare cast iron | 52 W/m-K | Yes | 700F | Yes |
| Carbon steel | 50 W/m-K | Yes | 600F | Yes |
| Enamelled cast iron | 52 W/m-K | Yes | 500F | No |
| PTFE nonstick | 237 W/m-K | Depends | 400F | No |
| Ceramic nonstick | 237 W/m-K | Depends | 350F | No |
| Bare or anodised aluminium | 237 W/m-K | No | 500F | Yes |
| Plain stainless steel | 16 W/m-K | Depends | 500F | No |
| Copper, lined | 401 W/m-K | No | 450F | No |
| Stoneware and ceramic bakeware | 1.5 W/m-K | No | 450F | No |
| Tempered glass bakeware | 1 W/m-K | No | 425F | No |
| Wood | not applicable | No | Not oven safe | No |
| Polyethylene and polypropylene | not applicable | No | Not oven safe | No |
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What is bare or anodised aluminium?
Formed aluminium, either bare or hard-anodised into a harder surface layer.
Aluminium conducts about fifteen times better than stainless, which is why almost every good stainless pan has aluminium hidden inside it.
How it behaves on the heat
Its conductivity of about 237 W/m-K sits at the top of the range, alongside aluminium and copper. Heat retention is low, and responsiveness is very high. Evenness is the best of any common cookware metal for its price.
Conductivity and heat capacity are different things and it is worth keeping them apart. Conductivity is how fast heat moves through the material. Heat capacity is how much energy the material holds once hot. Cast iron conducts poorly and holds a great deal, which is exactly why it sears well: the pan barely cools when cold food lands on it.
Induction, oven and care
It does not work on induction. Aluminium is not ferromagnetic, so an induction hob cannot couple to it at all unless a steel plate is bonded on. The settling test is a fridge magnet on the base: a firm grip means it works.
The oven ceiling is about 500F. Uncoated aluminium bakeware handles normal baking and roasting temperatures without trouble. A nonstick coating on it, not the metal, is what sets a lower limit. Dishwasher guidance: Bare aluminium discolours badly in a dishwasher.. This material is reactive: Bare aluminium reacts with acidic and strongly alkaline food, which can discolour both the pan and the food. Anodising largely removes this.
What it is genuinely best at
Sheet pans, cake tins and commercial bakeware, where even heat and low cost matter and induction does not.
On sticking: Yes.
Bare or anodised aluminium cookware
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Common questions
Does bare or anodised aluminium work on induction?
No. Aluminium is not ferromagnetic, so an induction hob cannot couple to it at all unless a steel plate is bonded on. The reliable test is a fridge magnet against the base: a firm grip across the whole base means the pan will work, a grip only in the centre means uneven heating, and no grip means it will not work at all.
How hot can bare or anodised aluminium go in the oven?
About 500F. Uncoated aluminium bakeware handles normal baking and roasting temperatures without trouble. A nonstick coating on it, not the metal, is what sets a lower limit. Remember that the ceiling for any assembled pan is the lowest of its cooking surface, its handle and, if it goes in covered, its lid, and the handle is very often the lowest of the three.
Is bare or anodised aluminium dishwasher safe?
Bare aluminium discolours badly in a dishwasher. Even where a dishwasher is technically permitted, hand washing extends the life of almost every kind of cookware, because detergents are aggressive and the heat cycle is harder on coatings and finishes than anything that happens during cooking.
Can I cook acidic food in bare or anodised aluminium?
Not for long. Bare aluminium reacts with acidic and strongly alkaline food, which can discolour both the pan and the food. Anodising largely removes this. A quick deglaze with wine or a splash of lemon at the end is fine; a two hour tomato braise is not. Use an inert material such as enamelled cast iron or clad stainless for that.
What is bare or anodised aluminium best at?
Sheet pans, cake tins and commercial bakeware, where even heat and low cost matter and induction does not. No single cookware material is good at every job, which is why a mixed kitchen outperforms a matched set at every budget. Choose each vessel for what it will actually be used for rather than buying everything in one construction.