What Kind of Cookware is Used for Glass Cooktops?

Not all commercially available cookware is suitable for glass cook tops. Ceramic, or glass cook tops need smooth, flat surfaces on the bottoms of skillets, pots, pans or grill pans for peak performance and to make sure the cook top remains free of scratches and damage.

Function

Glass cook tops conduct heat evenly across the bottom surface of a pan. Match smooth bottom pans to the cook top surface so there are no air or space gaps between them.

Types

The best type of cookware to use for glass cook tops is substantial weight aluminum, hard anodized or cast cookware, according to the Cookware Manufacturers Association Website.

Because these types of metals can handle extreme heat without damage and have smooth finished surfaces without rough spots or ridges, they make ideal cookware for glass cook tops.

Features

Suitable cookware for glass or ceramic cook tops tends to be more expensive because of the needs of the cook top. Brands recommended for use on glass cook tops will not damage the stove top and should provide many years of use.

Types Of Cookware To Avoid

Lightweight cookware, such as tin, is likely to warp or bow and should not be used on glass cook tops, nor should cookware with rounded bottoms or cookware with ridges (or indentations) on the bottom surface of the pan.

Don't use glass cookware on glass cooktops as the cookware will be unable to tolerate sudden temperature changes, and avoid copper cookware because it can damage the cook top if the metal used to create the pan reaches a melting point.

Considerations

Because cookware suitable for use on glass cook tops is heavy to start, keep in mind the combined weight of the cookware and food.

To avoid damage to the glass cook top even flat-bottom pots need to be lifted, never slid across the unit.

References

• Cookware Manufacturers Association
• Cookware Manufacturers Association
• OnlineTips.org

Resources

• General Cookware Overview And Information