Do Smooth-Top Ranges Require Special Cookware?

Considerations

• Before you use the pots and pans you already own on your smooth-top range, it's important to see if they're compatible with the type of stove you have. The smooth surface of a glass-ceramic stove is especially susceptible to scratching and scoring from any rough edges on pots, pans and utensils. Choose cookware that conducts heat evenly, rather than cookware that may concentrate heat in one or more areas.

Cookware to Avoid

• Avoid using pots, pans, skillets and utensils with any roughness on the bottom or edges. Protrusions and uneven textures can scar your smooth-top surface easily. Avoid using excessively heavy cookware such as cast iron, which can easily break the surface of your range if dropped or banged on the cooktop. Avoid enamel or painted cookware, whose coatings may melt and adhere to the surface of the smooth-top stove. Always ensure that the bottom of pots and pans is clean, and never use those that have debris on them, like that which may be left behind from a cycle in the dishwasher.

Preferred Cookware

• When choosing cookware for a smooth-top stove, look for pots and pans with smooth, even bottoms. Stainless steel cookware is often recommended for use with a glass-ceramic stove because of its ability to heat food evenly and thoroughly. Aluminum cookware is another option often suggested by stove manufacturers. Consider the size of your pots and pans in relation to the size of the stove's burners. The best results are achieved by using cookware that is about the size of the burners.

Cooking on Smooth-Top Range

• Exercising caution when cooking on a smooth-top stove will ensure its long life. Always keep plastic wrap and aluminum foil away from the hot surface of a glass-ceramic stove, as both can cause irreparable damage. Rather than sliding pots and pans on the stove's surface, lift them and move them to the desired location. Rest hot or soiled utensils on a spoon holder, rather than placing them on the surface of the range.