Also known as ceramic cooktops or smooth tops, glass top stoves are the latest way of searing veggies and stirring your soups in the kitchen.
They are not really a new type of technology but they get more efficient and convenient every other day.
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What Are Glass Top Stoves?
Glass top stoves are made of tempered ceramic glass and the cooktops vary considering their mode of heating;
- Radiant, which uses heated coils of metal under the sheet of glass,
- Halogen, which uses halogen bulbs to generate heat,
- Semi-halogen which uses a combination of metal coils and the halogen bulbs,
- Induction which uses magnets that interact with metal on the cooking pans to get the heat.
In the four above, they all cook the same though the halogen types light up faster to indicate the cooker is on and it tends to cool faster than the rest.
Something fascinating about the induction one is how fast it takes to heat stuff compared to traditional cooktops.
It does not rely on the heat source to get the pan hot but the interaction of the magnets and metal that heat the pan directly turning the pan into a burner.
In short, the cooker wont heat up unless there is a pan on it.
One of glass top stoves known advantages over gas cooktops is that it heats faster.
It has more power than electric coils too.
In this article, we will look into how the dos and donts of maintaining the glass top stoves to increase their longevity and efficiency.
What Not To Do On A Glass Top Stove
We can all agree that the smooth top electric cooktop is more stylish compared to your traditional glass stove though it needs more TLC to prevent scratches and discolors.
Below are some things to avoid if you opt for the ceramic cooktop.
- Pans that sit flat on the cooktop are most recommended because they perform better when it comes to distributing heat evenly compared to the round edged ones.
- Avoid using cast iron cookware on the glass top stove because they are rough on the bottom and the constant movement of the pan would get it scratches. Ceramic and stoneware can also scratch the glass perhaps if the ceramic and stoneware have a rough base.
- When choosing the type of cleaners, go for the non-abrasive ones or metal pads which will scratch. Use a soft cloth or sponge and cream cleaning ingredients made solely for glass top stoves. Many people feel baking soda can scratch the surface of the glass stove top if used to clean but it is a natural abrasive that has been proven not to scratch the lass stovetop surface. If you are still skeptical, you can result in using it only when the cooktop has stubborn spots to clean. Vinegar is used hand in hand with baking soda because they will react to create a fizzy cleaner that loosens up any grime and grease. These two ingredients do not scratch the surface of the glass tops, so you can still use them as usual.
- Make sure to keep the bottom of the pots and pans as clean as possible. Grease build-up on the bottoms of the pans can leave rings on the cooktop which can be hard to clean.
- Boiling sugary substances should be done carefully to avoid spills which can discolor the cooktop leaving this ugly yellowish marks that are noticeable on especially light gray cooktops. If the spills happen because accidents, wipe them immediately.
- Place stirring tools away from the cooktop which can get burnt and mark the cooktop.
Also Read: Can Normal Pans Work On An Induction Hob?
Clearly glass top stoves require a lot of cleaning but they are totally worth it.
How To Clean A Glass Top Stove
Requirements
- Soft scrub brush
- White vinegar
- Towel
- Baking soda
- Spray bottle
- Dish soap (dawn)
- Put the white vinegar in the spray bottle and spray evenly onto the cooktop.
- Sprinkle baking soda equally even where the vinegar and baking soda will react creating this fizzy cleaning paste loosening up any grease.
- Put a few drops of the dish soap in a kitchen dish and fill with hot water. Dunk the towel in the mixture, lightly wring it and spread it on the stove covering the baking soda and vinegar.
- Give it 15 minutes where the steam from the towel will steam clean it cutting through the grease and grime.
- Remove the towel after the 15 minutes and scrub if the stove had much gunk. A stiff-bristled brush is best for the job.
- Wipe away the baking soda stuff and finish off by giving it another spray with the vinegar in the spray bottle. Use a microfiber cloth to buff it to a shine.
This method can also be used to clean a burnt-on glass stove top or the glass top stove looking cloudy.
The baking soda and vinegar do most of the magic.
Other combinations you could use to clean the glass top stove are:
- The Arm and Hammer toothpaste and baking soda to remove burned foods. Just allow the paste sit for 15 minutes before wiping with a damp cloth.
- Use the Magic Eraser. Pretty inexpensive and all you need is to wet it with your baking soda mixture then rinse.
- Others use car wax on the stovetop then wipe with paper towels and future spills from then will come out easily.
There are so many ways you could clean the glass top stove.
All you have to keep in mind is to not use harsh abrasives or a scouring pad that could leave scratches.
Caring For A Glass Top Stove
Most people brush them off because they feel that glass is too fragile and can break easily.
Like glass used in other cooking materials, the glass top stove is also prone to breaking especially if you place a hot pan while its cold.
As much as ceramic glass is strong and sturdy, it needs extra care.
Unlike the gas stoves that have a lot of nooks and crannies where food could spill and using all your time to clean them; glass top stoves are relatively easy to clean because of the flat smooth surface.
In conclusion, caring for the glass top stove is not difficult but it requires a careful way of handling them.
With proper maintaining, your glass top stove is going to serve you well.
Another option you could opt for is the gas on glass make which combines both gas and glass.
The care is the same but fewer cons than the all-glass top stove.
