Having family and cooking dinner for them every day, a must-have in every your kitchen is no doubt a stove. These days, there are two main types of top stoves which you can use: gas and electric.

Today, we’ll focus mainly on the electric stoves, which can be divided into traditional, coil, induction, ceramic and glass. Which of them is the best? All have many pros and cons. However, the most modern is the glass top stove. More and more often, you can notice it in most households.

So, what is so special about it? Do you have such a type of cooktop or maybe you consider buying it? Then, you should be aware of some facts connected with possessing this type of top stove. You can’t be governed only by its good look and modernity that suit your kitchen interior. There are many more aspects which should be taken into consideration while purchasing this stove, such as its quality and functionality.

Can you use cast iron on a glass top stove?

The most crucial thing is to figure out what types of cookware you use the most while cooking. Why? Because a glass top stove has a smooth surface and not all of the utensils can be used on it. The biggest fuss on the Internet is always about cast iron. You can see many headlines with questions, like can you use cast iron on a glass top stove? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t straightforward. Most sources advise avoiding cast iron pots and pans on the glass, emphasizing many disadvantages resulting from this habit. On the other hand, if you handle cast iron carefully and reasonably, you can use it.

Why shouldn’t you use cast iron?

The major drawback of cast iron cookware is its weight. It’s said to be very heavy, and with food in it, it’s even heavier, which simply leads to the damage of your glass cooktop. That usually happens when people slide their utensils instead of lifting them. A similar situation concerns ceramic cookware and stoneware when used on the glass cooktop.

What’s more, most cast-iron cookware has a rough bottom, rather than flat, which may cause many scratches on the surface of the top stove. And you probably don’t want to have a cracked range.

Another disadvantage is the size of cast iron pots and pans, which are generally larger than burners. That’s not good because then heat isn’t evenly distributed, and your food isn’t warmed up properly. The finish of such cookware is also a handicap here since it’s as rough as its bottom.

What can you do to protect the glass top stove?

If you’re a big fan of cast-iron products and you can’t imagine cooking without them, but at the same time you have or dream about a new glass top stove, then there’s some solution for you. You can use simple tricks on how to protect this cooktop. Firstly, as was mentioned earlier, you should always lift your pots and pans. Under no circumstances can you slide them. That will only damage your cooktop.

Secondly, washing your utensils not only after cooking but also before usage is highly recommended. Then, you protect the glass top stove from any oil slicks, which may have been left on the sides and the bottom of the cookware.

Also, remember about a quick removal of any sugar and salt, which you’ve just accidentally spilt at the stove during cooking. These substances may cause discoloration, which after some time will be difficult, or even impossible to clean down.

The last, but not the least piece of advice is to avoid putting any overly heated utensils on the glass top stove, either to reach the highest temperature or to cool your dishes down. The glass may not sustain it, and your utensils may break in shatters or burn on the cooktop, making only a huge mess.

What other types of cookware can you use?

In that case, you may wonder what types of cookware you should use instead of cast iron if it’s so harmful. The best utensils to use on the glass top stove are stainless steel products. You can also use aluminum or copper bottom pots and pans, but they may leave minor scratches. They are much easier to clean than those from cast iron, though. If you like porcelain and carbon steel cookware, they are quite okay too as long as they have flat bottoms.

What are the biggest advantages of the glass top stove?

Knowing already what types of utensils you should avoid on the glass top stove, and what kinds of them you can use, you may wonder why you should choose this type of oven.

First of all, it’s extremely easy to clean. Of course, you should always follow the instructions, but generally, it’s enough to have a moist sponge or cloth and clean it gently so as not to scratch the surface. When you use chemicals, don’t spray too much of them, and after that always wipe the cooktop with warm water to remove harmful substances.

Furthermore, the glass top stove is much safer than other types of cooktops since it cools down faster. It also distributes heat better upwards to the utensils, and then respectively to your dishes.

Finally, these stoves produce the best visual effect, especially if you have a modern kitchen and want your cooktop to adjust to the interior.