The surface of a pot or pan reaches 200°F to 300° when smoking or cooking on the lowest of heat settings. Medium heat cooking heats the surface of a pot or pan from 300°F to 400°F. A stove's highest temperature heats the surface of cookware to between 400° to 600°F, which is roughly the same temperature reached in an oven. Certain materials like cast iron get even hotter. This is why it is vital to allow all hot cooking vessels to cool down for up to five minutes before placing them on a trivet or suitable placemat or table runner.