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Glass top stoves have become more and more popular in recent times. With digital versions to touch-sensitive, from voice activated to LED, you can purchase a glass top stove in just about any style you fancy. They are easy to clean and just about as safe as a stove can get. They are stylish and resistant and easy to use, however, they are still glass.
Table of Contents
- What pans should not be used on a glass top stove?
- Is it OK to use cast iron on a glass top stove?
- Can you cook directly on a glass top stove?
- What can I put on my glass top stove to protect it?
- Cleaning and Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Glass Top Stove
- Protecting Glass Top Stove from Scratches
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
As we know, glass breaks under pressure, it cracks with heat, and it scratches more easily than it polishes. The thought of using a cast-iron pot on a glass top stove is more than enough to strike fear in anyone who has invested in a fancy hob.
Most of us do own cast iron pots and pans and so investing in a brand-new kitchen of utensils and equipment just does not seem like a feasible option simply because we want to upgrade our stoves.
Have no fear, there is a way to keep all your cast iron goods without having to completely turn your kitchen cupboards upside down as well.
Cast iron cookware is heavy, sturdy, and can be rough on your stovetop and counters. So, in this article, I am going to look at helping you to understand how to protect your glass top stove from cast iron equipment and how you can do this in a safe and convenient way.
When following careful steps, you hopefully won’t have to replace your glass top stove for a very long time!
What pans should not be used on a glass top stove?
Older, rougher cast iron pots and pans can be more dangerous to use on a glass stove. Newer versions of cast iron skillets tend to have a smoother bottom which will help prevent scratching and scraping the glass coating. Smaller and lighter cast iron pots and pans are also less likely to scratch and damage your stove because they weigh less.
Alternatively, you can opt for a different material to avoid scratching. Stainless steel tends to be the best material for this. It has enough weight to remain stable and not slide around but is smooth enough to resist scratching the glass.
Is it OK to use cast iron on a glass top stove?
It is okay to use cast iron on a glass top stove as long as you are careful. As mentioned above, smaller, lighter cast iron pots and pans are less likely to scratch. There are also some simple steps you can follow to help protect the glass from your cast iron cookware.
Make sure that when you are cooking with cast iron cookware you are lifting it when moving it around the stove. This is the number one way to protect your glass top stove.
Delicately handling your pots and pans will not only look after them, but it will prevent the pressure from the pans causing the glass to break. Heavy sliding on the hob surface will not only scratch it, but heavily placing your cast iron cookware on the glass top stove may cause the glass to crack or break.
Instead of dropping or sliding your cookware, gently lift and place down your cookware and this will help to prevent unnecessary damage.
Further to this, you can in fact season your entire pan to prevent damage to the glass. Usually when we cook, we only think to season the inside of the pan to avoid our food from sticking to the inside.
It is, however, a good idea to spread some of the cooking oil that you use to coat the inside of the pan, on the outside of the pan as well. This works as a protective and carbonized layer on the pan, which essentially acts as non-stick, just as it does on the inside.
Coating the entire pan and then popping it in the oven, upside-down, at a high temperature will help to create a smooth and even layer of seasoning. This seasoning will be the part that comes into contact with the glass top stove and the smoothness will prevent scratching the glass.
Can you cook directly on a glass top stove?
Now, with the delicacy of a glass top stove, many people fear that they cannot place their cookware directly on the stove. However, these stoves have been designed to be cooked directly on, if not then they would come with additional layers.
It is completely safe to cook directly on a glass top stove just as you would on a gas hob or a ceramic plate. However, to preserve the glass there are a few things you can do to help.
Not only can you season the pots you are using to create that protective layer mentioned above, but you can also purchase external items that can help to prevent your glass top stove from scratching or cracking.
What can I put on my glass top stove to protect it?
The first, and possibly the easiest and most accessible option, is to buy a heat diffuser for a glass top stove. This will work by diffusing the heat, hence the name, and will then dispense it through the bottom surface of the pan.
Not only will it help to transfer the heat from the stove to the cookware, but it will also protect the delicate glass surface from any heavy and rough pots – particularly your cast iron ones.
The buffer is made from a light, yet durable metal. They are cheap to buy and will save you from damaging your stove. They are possibly one of the easiest and most affordable ways of keeping your glass top stove safe. It acts as a protective layer between the pan and the glass top stove but does not prevent the heat from traveling through.
Alternatively, you can purchase another form of protection. Glass cooktop protectors are available as a safety layer for glass top stoves. They are a s slim cover that is usually made from rubber or silicone and they help to keep your cooktop safe.
Not only do they prevent the pans from damaging the glass top stove, but they also work as a non-slip surface and can help protect your stove from any spills or grime. They are easy to use, affordable, easy to clean and they can come in all shapes and sizes.
Glass stove protectors can also be used on other types of hobs, and can also work as protection on counters or tables if you need to place hot and heavy cast iron pans down somewhere after cooking.
They are easy to store away and are very affordable, however, they are not as attractive as heat diffusers and they do not transfer the heat as quickly and easily.
Cleaning and Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Glass Top Stove
Not only does the equipment you use on a glass top stove matter, but proper maintenance of your glass top stove will help preserve it and keep it strong for when you do use those cast iron pots on it.
Keeping grease and dirt away from your stove is one of the best ways to maintain the surface. Not only do the protectors help this, but regular cleaning will also help, particularly after a spillage.
Ensuring that your spillages don’t end up sticking to the stovetop will make it a lot easier to clean.
On top of this, regular cleaning will also help do the job. Using warm, soapy water and a strong sponge will help clean off any stubborn grease and spillages. This should be done every day to keep grime at bay. Once a week you should use specific products and give it a deep clean to help maintain the strength of your glass top stove.
It is important to only clean your glass top stove when it is completely cool. Try not to use too much product and be gentle with the cloth.
If you do not have any product for your glass top stove, you can use a spray bottle with white wine vinegar and water. Wipe this solution away and then use a dry cloth to buffer any streaks.
For a deeper clean you can dust some baking soda across your glass top stove and then lay a warm, wet towel over the top for ten minutes. Then wipe away the mixture, spray with vinegar and then buff again.
Not only should you keep your glass top stove clean, but you should also make sure your cast iron cookware s kept just as clean. Similarly, you should use warm water, dish soap, and a good sponge to clean off any grease and bits of food that may have hardened to the pot, particularly around the outside of the pot.
Removing these marks will prevent the grime for burning and causing marks on your glass cooktop, but will also help to keep your cast iron cookware smooth and in good condition which also prevent scratches.
If you do end up with small scratches, you can attempt to remove these yourself by creating a paste with baking soda and water and lightly buffering your stovetop. It is important to remember that this will not work for larger scratches and cannot be relied on if you decide not to be careful with your stove.
Protecting Glass Top Stove from Scratches
So, throughout this article we have seen many ways in which to protect our glass top stoves from cast iron cookware. Some of the takeaways are:
1. Use smaller and lighter pans where possible.
2. Season your pan to create a protective layer.
3. Use alternative pots and pans made from other materials, such as stainless steel.
4. Gently handle your cast iron by lifting it and placing it gently instead of sliding it across the glass top.
5. Use a heat diffuser between your pans and the glass stove top.
6. Use a protector to prevent scratches but also prevent spillages and stains.
7. Thoroughly clean your pots to ensure they don’t burn or mark your glass top stove.
8. Wipe down your stove after every use and give it a deep clean once a week.
Final Thoughts
Watching your glass top stove crack or finding scratches of any size on your new hob is not something any of us enjoy. Neither is replacing all our iron cast pots and pans. If you have invested in both a glass top stove and cast iron cookware, then hopefully from this article you have realised that this is not anything worth fearing!
Following the eight simple steps will not only help prevent your glass top stove from scratching, but it will help preserve it for a long time. Protect your stove and your pans, keep them all shiny and clean and consider investing in some form of protector or diffuser.
Enjoy your new stove, enjoy your cast iron cookware, and most of all, enjoy your cooking!
FAQs
Will a cast iron skillet damage a glass-top stove?
A cast iron skillet will not damage a glass-top stove. Well, to be more accurate, a cast iron skillet will not damage it anymore than any other pan would. The metal is not the issue, it is how it is used. While cast iron does tend to be moire abrasive and rough, it will not damage your stove unless you are unnecessarily rough with it and quite heavy-handed. Simply placing the skillet on the cooktop will not damage it.
How do I protect my glass cooktop?
There is little you can do to protect your glass cooktop while using it. The best thing to do is just be gentle with your cookware and ensure you do not scrape, scratch, or scar the glass. As for when it is not in use, you can buy leather, fabric, or faux leather coverings to go over your cooktop. This is an extra layer of protection that prevents any scratches that may occur when you are not there to keep an eye on it.
What pans should not be used on a glass-top stove?
All pans can be used on a glass-top stove although some are more likely to damage it than others. A cast iron pan is quite heavy and rough so it is naturally going to be more damaging than a stainless steel pan. It is important to use all pans with care on a glass-top stove to avoid damaging it.
Is cast iron too heavy for glass-top stove?
Cast iron is not too heavy for a glass cooktop. They are built to have lots of pans on them at once. On top of this, they are built with the idea of heavy loads in mind. If you can safely put a large pot filled with liters of soup on one, a cast iron skillet is not going to break it. As long as you are not slamming the cast iron pot down every time you use it, there should be no risk at all.
