Do Ceramic Glass Cooktops Require Special Pans?

Special Pan

• You don’t have to purchase special pans for your ceramic glass cooktop, yet some of the pans you already have may not work on the stovetop, or will work poorly. With the early ceramic glass cooktops, consumers often used glass cookware, which won’t work on some of today’s flat stovetops.

Rough Surfaces

• Just because a pan works with the flat-top stove doesn’t mean you should use it. Run your hand over the bottom of your cooking pan. If it has a rough surface or jagged edges, you risk scratching your ceramic glass cooktop if you opt to use it. Even if your pan has a smooth surface, avoid sliding it around on the stovetop. Instead, lift the pan and set it down where you want it.

Flat

• Pans with flat bottoms work better on ceramic glass cooktops. You can use up to 30 percent more energy to heat a pan with a nonflat bottom on your stovetop.

Size

• Extra large pans do not work well on the cooktop. The pan should not extent over one inch beyond the cooking element. When the pan is too large, heat is wasted and not distributed evenly. It can also trap heat between the pan and surface, shortening the life of your stovetop. In addition, it can cause the cooktop to crack. If the pan is too small, you increase the chance of food boiling over and spilling onto the heated area of the cooktop.

Material

• Don’t use glass cookware with halogen or induction cooktops. The induction stove needs magnetic cookware, such as magnetic steel, magnetic stainless steel and cast iron. One way to see if your pan will work with your induction stove is to try sticking a household magnet to the bottom of the pan. If it sticks, you can use the pan.