Glass top stoves, in particular, should be used only with certain best pots and pans. While the glass’s smooth surface has a modern appearance and is easy to clean, it can be scratched and discolored.
Most inexperienced cooks quickly learn that they never have to look far for assistance in the kitchen.
Do you want to know which pan makes the fluffiest omelet? So there you have it. Do you want to impress your family with a risotto recipe? There are hundreds to choose from. How to use a stovetop, on the other hand, is not a common concern.
A stovetop is primarily an on-and-off device; you turn it on when you want to cook and turn it off when you’re finished. Finding the right cookware for different stovetops, on the other hand, is more difficult.
If you’re working with a glass top stove, take proper care of it, clean it regularly, and use the best cookware for glass top stoves. Our favorite cookware for glass top stoves is our own stainless steel cookware sets, but there are plenty of other options.
What Is Glass Top Stoves?
Glass top stoves are made in the same way that glass is made, but with the addition of a nucleating agent that effectively creates a crystalline structure (the molecules of pure glass are arranged in a random structure, which causes them to easily break).
Glass-ceramic has the appearance of glass but is much stronger, has a low coefficient of thermal expansion (which means it doesn’t react as quickly to temperature changes), and is no longer translucent after several rounds of heat treatment.
Electric or induction glass top stoves are the most common. While they both run on electricity rather than gas, the difference is in how they use it. Electric stoves are the more traditional of the two, and they’re also known as radiant cooktops because of the radiant heating coils beneath the glass-ceramic surface. When you turn on an electric stove, the coils heat up and radiate up to the cooktop, which then heats up the cookware.
Electromagnetic induction, on the other hand, is how induction stove tops work. When the coil beneath the glass-ceramic surface is turned on, it produces an electromagnetic field similar to that of a microwave. While the coil and cooktop do not get hot, any magnetic cookware placed on top of the surface will heat up due to the electric currents.
Each type of glass top stove has its own set of characteristics (electric stoves are less efficient in terms of heat output) and price range (induction is more expensive). However, regardless of which one you use, all glass top stoves should be properly maintained to keep their gleaming finish.
What to Look for When Cooking on Glass Top Stoves
Any type of cookware will not suffice when cooking on a gleaming glass top stove. A single thud or clank from the wrong material can easily scratch the smooth surface. As a result, stainless steel is the best cookware material for a glass top stove. This popular cookware metal is tough, long-lasting, and provides just enough weight to keep things stable without scratching the delicate glass surface.
Aluminum or copper are also suitable, and are well-known for their excellent heat conductivity. They have, however, been known to leave residue on glass cooking surfaces, so they are best used as core layers beneath a stainless steel exterior. This metal combination produces superior cookware that is gentle on all types of cooktops.
Cast iron, stoneware, and other glass or ceramic cookware are not suitable for use on glass top stoves. These are usually rough and can easily scratch the smooth surface, especially when dragged across it while full of food. Cast iron, in particular, takes a long time to heat up and then maintains a high temperature for an extended period of time — this prolonged high temperature can cause the entire cooktop to overheat and shut down.
Magnetic cookware is the only way to use induction top stoves. Cookware made of ferrous metals (metals containing iron), such as cast iron and carbon steel, is magnetic. Certain types of ferritic magnetic stainless steel, such as 18/0 or 420 stainless steel, are also used as the base layer of high-quality induction cookware.
Other materials for cookware, such as aluminum, copper, or glass, will not work well on an induction cooktop. Although some “all-metal” induction models work with a wider range of cookware, they are still uncommon in most home kitchens.
It’s also a good idea to use pots and pans with a wide, stable base. Because glass cooktops must be in direct contact with the cookware to transfer heat, it may be difficult to get all of the food to cook evenly on a small surface area or with warped cookware. A pan that sits flat on the glass stove and has a large enough contact area for the food to spread out and cook properly over the heat is ideal.
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