Can You Use Cast Iron on Electric Glass Top Stoves? (Do's and Don'ts) - Prudent Reviews (2024)

FAQs

Can You Use Cast Iron on Electric Glass Top Stoves? (Do's and Don'ts) - Prudent Reviews? ›

Cast iron cookware is safe to use on ceramic-glass stoves and cooktops and shouldn't cause damage to the pan or cooking surface when you follow the right tips. Because cast iron is heavy, always place it gently on the cooktop and pick up, rather than slide, when you need to move it around.

Cast iron cookware is safe to use on ceramic-glass stoves and cooktops and shouldn't cause damage to the pan or cooking surface when you follow the right tips. Because cast iron is heavy, always place it gently on the cooktop and pick up, rather than slide, when you need to move it around.

The materials that don't work well on glass top stoves are cast iron, stoneware, and other glass or ceramic cookware. These are typically rough and can very easily cause scratches, especially when dragged across the smooth surface while full of food.

Using a Heat Diffuser

Made with durable metal, heat diffusers can also help protect your glass stove top from the heaviness and the rough bottoms of cast iron pans. One way to think of heat diffusers is that they're a buffer between the bottom of any pan and the surface of the stove.

What type of cookware is best for a glass cooktop? Cookware for a glass stovetop should be heavy and flat-bottomed so that the pots and pans evenly distribute heat and stay put while you cook, which prevents scratching, according to baker Claire Wells, who recommends stainless steel.

Always lift pots and pans off ceramic cooktops – do not slide, as doing so can scratch the glass. Never cook the food directly on the ceramic glass.

The most glaring danger is that your heavy, rough cast iron skillet will scratch your shiny, new induction cooktop. There's no denying that you need to be careful, because induction stovetops don't come cheap. You need to be super-careful, in fact.

The weight of a canner filled with jars and water may crack the cooktop. The manual for the All-American pressure canner states that "All-American Pressure Cooker/Canners are not recommended for use on glass top/flat ranges because its weight may cause the glass/ceramic to break.

While glass top stoves are not complicated to replace, the cracking and breaking of the glass could be an indicator that it is time to replace your stove and oven entirely. Most ovens and stovetops are made to last between 15 to 20 years. Some will last longer, and some won't last as long.

Spraying the entire glass top with vinegar and wiping it down with a microfiber cloth in between deep cleans can keep it looking brand-new. If you're feeling like maybe you need something a bit stronger (like glass cleaner), make sure that you use a product specifically designed for cleaning glass-top stoves.

Can you leave a hot pan on a glass top stove? ›

“It's so important to be aware of what you place on any cooking surface, but in this instance, it is crucial to avoid placing anything hot OR cold on your glass cooktop while cooking,” Shimek continues. “Also, don't ignore a cracked cooktop for your and your family's safety.”

This is usually due to grease build-up on the bottom of cookware that, when heated up, can basically get cooked into the glass or ceramic. Ensuring that your cookware is clean will prevent this from happening and keep you from spending a lot of time and elbow grease cleaning your stovetop.

Clad Stainless Steel Cookware for Electric Stoves. Clad stainless steel is our number one pick for electric stoves because it's our number one pick for good quality cookware that lasts (regardless of the type of stove you have).

Is there a difference between glass and ceramic stovetops? Not really. While they might be called by various brand names, flat stovetops are made of a glass and ceramic blend — not just all-glass or all-ceramic.

Copper Bottom pans are also good, but they can leave a residue on the cooktop that appear as scratches. These can be removed if cleaned immediately. Never let a copper-bottom pan boil dry. An overheated copper pot will leave a residue that will permanently stain the cooktop.

Miradur® is the world's first and only scratch-resistant glass-ceramic cooking surface. It withstands the mechanical and thermal stresses of everyday cooking – and scratches.

First and foremost, the easiest way to keep your glass-top stove clean is by wiping down the surface after each use. Ideally, you'll want to use a microfiber cloth or sponge moistened with vinegar or water, and never a scouring pad or scrub brush.

Heating on Electric Stoves

Electric stoves heat up more slowly than gas stovetops, which is actually what you want for a cast iron pan. Like I mentioned earlier, quick heating makes for uneven heat and can even cause warping or cracking over time.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter into hot pan and immediately place steaks in to sear. Cook the meat 3-4 minutes on the first side without touching it or moving it around. Flip your steaks over, top each steak with 1/2 tablespoon of butter and transfer to the hot oven for 5 minutes, keeping them in the same skillet.

For instance, you can't really drag your cookware on and off without risking scratches, which also risk the heat causing the glass to crack where those scratches are. Another drawback is that they have poor heat control, fast to heat and slow to cool down. They also tend to be more expensive than coil tops.

Can you use Windex on a glass stove top? ›

People often ask, “Can I use Windex on my glass or ceramic stovetop?” We don't recommend it. Glass cleaners contain ammonia and can lead to permanent stains and streaks on stove cooktops. It might seem like an easy clean, but ammonia is too strong of a chemical to consistently use on glass and ceramic cooktops.

Coarse particles such as salt, ground pepper, rosemary, etcetera, may get trapped between the bottom of pans and the cooktop surface which can cause scratches. For ceramic glass cooktop cleaning instructions, visit: Electric Range & Cooktop - Glass Cooktop Cleaning Instructions.

While cast iron is tough, you can still scratch and mar the surface if you're too aggressive with your cleaning. Scars in the surface of the pan—shallow or deep—increase the risk of rust. This is the same reason that you should try to avoid metal utensils when cooking with cast-iron.

Protect the Induction Stovetop– Because the surface of the stovetop doesn't get hot, since it is all about magnetic heating, you can put a piece of heat-resistant paper, such as parchment paper, in between the cast iron skillet and the induction stovetop to help prevent scratching.

What Metals Are Magnetic? Most metals with magnetic properties are ferrous: metals and alloys that contain iron. These ferrous metals include mild steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, and wrought iron.

While you might imagine that a glass stove top should be cleaned with a glass cleaner (like Windex), these cleaning products are actually not suitable for a cooktop, as they can lead to permanent stains and streaking on the fragile surface. Cleaning with distilled white vinegar is your best bet.

Your glass-top stove can be well-protected by using a heat diffuser. Between the pan and the glass stove, a diffuser's flawlessly flat and smooth bottom forms a barrier that will keep the glass cooktop from becoming scratched.

Black glass stove tops can easily be cleaned with an ingredient you probably already have in your pantry: vinegar. Vinegar is a natural, cheap glass stove top cleaner and degreaser that works super well. Just fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and apply it to your glass-top stove.

Can you use cast iron on a glass-top stove or cooktop? Cast iron cookware can be used on a ceramic glass-top stove without causing damage to the surface or pan itself. Take the stress out of dinner with the ability to cook a variety of different meals in a cast iron pan without damaging your cooktop.

If you need to replace your glass cooktop, no need to buy a new stove. You can replace the cooktop easily yourself.

What is the easiest electric stove top to clean? ›

Induction and smoothtop electric cooktops are the easiest to clean. Induction and electric cooktops (including our top-rated induction ranges) are the hands-down winners in the easy-to-clean club. They are simple to keep sparkling, since they use electromagnetism to heat pans directly.

Use an Induction Cooktop, Not Gas

Choose an induction cooktop instead. They don't emit any chemicals into the air in your home. The smooth surfaces make them a snap to clean, too.

To avoid damaging your stovetop, always use a non-abrasive cloth and gentle cleaner. Dawn® dish soap makes cleaning stovetop surfaces So Dawn Easy - whether it's glass, ceramic, enamel, or stainless steel. The unique formula quickly breaks down grease particles while staying gentle enough to not cause any damage.

Always wipe when the surface is cool.

Always wipe it down when it's cool to avoid water burning onto the surface and be sure to remove any food that is on the cooktop. You can use soap, water, and a sponge for regular cleaning, and be sure to avoid any corrosive or abrasive products or materials.

Steel wool scrubbers are another big no-no when it comes to stove cleaning since the rough texture can damage the delicate glass and leave marks. Even fine metallic texture, like Brillo pads, can mess with the glass stove top.

Never place the fryer on a stovetop—a hot stovetop could cause the unit to smoke, melt, and even catch fire.

Using a Heat Diffuser

Made with durable metal, heat diffusers can also help protect your glass stove top from the heaviness and the rough bottoms of cast iron pans. One way to think of heat diffusers is that they're a buffer between the bottom of any pan and the surface of the stove.

Never use plastic or aluminium foil dishes on the cooktop. Aluminium and copper-bottomed cookware can leave a metallic residue on the cooktop. If left, this becomes difficult to remove. Clean the cooktop after every use.

Yes, it's true — electric stovetops (even ones with glass tops!) can handle the trendy, trusty, and yes, very heavy, cookware, both regular and enameled.

Glass stovetops are unfortunately prone to scratches, from pots, pans, and utensils. Like all glass panes and products, it's impossible to remove a scratch from a glass stovetop fully. However, it is possible to drastically reduce the look and feel of glass stovetop scratches.

Will cast iron scratch on induction cooktop? ›

The most glaring danger is that your heavy, rough cast iron skillet will scratch your shiny, new induction cooktop. There's no denying that you need to be careful, because induction stovetops don't come cheap. You need to be super-careful, in fact.

Using Coarse Sponges or Steel Wool

But even the scrubby side of a sponge can be too much for a glass stovetop's delicate surface. Abrasive cleaners or scouring tools (including steel wool) can lead to tiny scratches or even deep pits on your stovetop.

To ensure your ceramic hob remains in good condition and easy to clean, we recommend heavy gauge coated aluminium or hard anodized stainless-steel pans with a thick base. You can also use good quality enamel on steel or cast-iron pans, but these may scratch the hob surface.

Glass or Ceramic cookware is not recommended. These pans may scratch the cooktop surface. Glass is a poor conductor of heat so cooking times will be longer and they may require constant attention during cooking. Stoneware is not recommended.

Electric stoves heat up more slowly than gas stovetops, which is actually what you want for a cast iron pan. Like I mentioned earlier, quick heating makes for uneven heat and can even cause warping or cracking over time.

For instance, you can't really drag your cookware on and off without risking scratches, which also risk the heat causing the glass to crack where those scratches are. Another drawback is that they have poor heat control, fast to heat and slow to cool down. They also tend to be more expensive than coil tops.

Can you use cast iron on a glass-top stove or cooktop? Cast iron cookware can be used on a ceramic glass-top stove without causing damage to the surface or pan itself. Take the stress out of dinner with the ability to cook a variety of different meals in a cast iron pan without damaging your cooktop.

And the extra good news is that for messes of any kind you can turn to your Mr. Clean Magic Eraser made especially for the kitchen. All it takes is wetting it down, then squeezing a few times to activate the foam and cleaning enzymes. Wipe any affected areas, rinse, and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Since induction burners rely on a magnetic field to generate heat, they'll only work with cookware that's made of ferrous metals (that is, metals that contain iron). Cast iron and most stainless steel pans work well on induction, but copper or aluminum won't, unless it's been specially built to work with induction.

An induction stove is 5 to 10 percent more energy-efficient than conventional electric stoves and about three times more efficient than gas stoves. And unlike gas, it's better for indoor air quality. They have a built-in safety feature. If you turn on an induction burner with no pot on it by mistake, it won't get hot.