This Simple Mistake Could Crack Your Glass Top Stove Without Warning

Glass stove tops are really stylish and having one installed can transform an otherwise dated kitchen into a state of the art designer kitchen. Added to that is the extra counter space it provides over an electric coil or gas hob.

Being flat and made from glass, you’d think it would be easy to clean and maintain a glass stove top. However, the glass surface can easily get damaged under the right (or wrong) circumstances.

Which means you need to take special care when using or cleaning your glass stove top to prevent any damage. Sadly there are a few mistakes or bad habits that could cause serious damage to your glass stove top unless you’re careful.

Keep reading to find out all you need to know to keep your glass cooker top clean, intact and functioning as it should.

Why You Need To Be Careful When Using A Glass Top Stove

As we said earlier, the stove top is made from glass which means it could quite easily get damaged. A simple scratch can lead to a crack which could mean your glass top stove is unusable.

Even worse is placing cold items onto the hot glass because even though the glass stove top is made from specially tempered glass that’s designed to withstand high temperatures, it still has a similar nature to any other glass surface. Let’s look at what you should never do if you want to keep your glass stove top looking and working at its best.

Never Use A Cleaner While The Stove Is Still Hot

If you’re one of those people who likes to wash dishes while they’re still warm because they’re easier to clean, refrain from using the same logic on the glass stove top. You must always allow the stove top to completely cool down before using any type of cleaner. Otherwise you might damage the stove top permanently.

Never Use Coarse Sponges Or Steel Wool To Clean Your Glass Stove Top

If you get any burnt food or stubborn stains on your glass stove top you might be tempted to give it a good scrub using a heavy duty scrubber. But this could be a recipe for disaster for the delicate surface of the glass stove top.

Harsh scouring tools or abrasive cleaners can scratch the surface and over time those small scratches develop into full blown cracks. Your best bet is to buy cooktop pads that are especially designed to minimise scratches whilst cleaning the glass stove top.

If your cooker top has baked on stubborn food items that won’t come off using a soft sponge, gently scrape using a silicone spatula. For really stubborn areas, you can soften the stain first using white vinegar or a glass stove top cleaner and then gently scrape using a razor blade scraper. But take care as you don’t want to puncture the surface of the stove top with the corner of the blade.

Never Leave A Mess For Another Day

If you have a boil over or something splatters onto the glass stove top, wipe it up immediately with a damp cloth. Don’t use any cleaning solution while the stove top is hot,  just a damp cloth.

After every use, allow the stove top to cool down thoroughly then spray the surface with a 50/50 white vinegar water solution or your preferred glass stove top cleaner and wipe it using a microfibre cloth. Then buff it up using a dry microfibre cloth.

Never Use Glass Cleaner On Your Glass Stove Top

It might seem like a good idea to use glass cleaner on a glass cooker top but you should never do it. Why? Because the ammonia in window cleaners is much too harsh for a glass cooker top and will leave permanent stains and streaks.

Then there’s the safety aspect. If you were to turn the stove top on while it still had window cleaner on it, it would release ammonia fumes into the room. You should only ever use a cleaner that’s been designed for use on glass stove tops.

If you want to try a natural cleaner, you could use white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. But don’t put too much pressure on the stain as you could break the glass.

Never Slide Heavy Pots Or Pans Across The Surface Of The Glass Stove Top

You might not believe it, but you can still use cast iron cookware if you have a glass stove top. However, you should exercise extreme caution when using heavy pots and pans on a glass stove top. 

Gently place the pots down onto the surface and if you need to move them, never drag, always lift and replace. And it’s not just cast iron cookware, any heavy pots including ceramic pots should all be lifted and gently placed down not dragged or dropped heavily.

Never Rest Hot Pot Lids On A Cool Glass Stove Top

If you’ve recently installed a glass stove top and previously had an electric or gas hob, you might be in the habit of resting a hot pan lid on the stove top. However, it’s not a good idea to rest anything hot on the cool glass stove top, especially a hot pot lid face down.

There have actually been cases of glass stove tops shattering immediately after resting a hot pot lid face down on the cold surface. Apparently it’s caused when heat gets trapped under the lid and creates a vacuum seal which increases pressure and causes the stove top to shatter.

When removing lids from your pans when using a glass stove top, place the lid on a pot holder or tea towel just to be safe.

Never Place Dirty Pans Or Utensils On The Stove While Cooking

It can be all too easy to lay your spatula or stirrer on top of an unused section of the stove top. It might seem like a convenient place to leave it for a few seconds, but it will cause you a whole lot of cleaning later on.

Get into the habit of using a spoon rest, small plate or kitchen towel next to the stove. This prevents staining the stove top and the subsequent cleaning marathon later on.

Also, make sure your pots and pans are clean underneath before placing them on the glass stove top. A greasy frying pan is going to create a large mess that will need dealing with once the cooker top has cooled.

Never Apply Too Much Weight To The Cooker Top

Most glass stove tops have a weight limit of around 22.5 kg (50 lb) which usually isn’t a problem at all. But it does mean that you should never apply too much pressure to the stove top when cleaning.

It also means that you should never lean on the stove top to reach something from a high shelf or worse still attempt to stand on it. When you come back from shopping, never stack all of your groceries on top of the glass stove top as the accumulated weight of tins, cans and packets can exceed 22.5 kg and crack your stove top.

Never Use Aluminium Foil On Your Glass Stove Top

It might be tempting to line your glass stove top with aluminium foil to catch drips or spills, but this is a big mistake. Not only can foil melt onto the glass surface if it gets too hot, but it can also cause permanent staining or pitting on the cooker top. 

The reflective surface of the foil can even bounce heat back into the cooktop and damage the internal elements. If you want to keep your stove top tidy, opt for a stove top cover or silicone mats that are specifically made for glass tops (just make sure you remove them before turning the stove on).

Always Use Flat Bottomed Cookware

Cookware with warped or uneven bases can cause hotspots and uneven cooking on a glass stove top, but more importantly, they can also lead to thermal shock and eventual cracking. Always check that the base of your pots and pans are perfectly flat before using them on a glass top. 

This will help with heat distribution and prevent pressure points from forming on the glass surface.

Check For Cracks Regularly

Even with the best care, wear and tear can take a toll on a glass stove top over time. Make it a habit to inspect the surface every now and then for any fine cracks or chips. 

If you spot anything suspicious, avoid using that area and call a professional to assess whether the glass needs replacing. Continuing to use a cracked stove top could lead to more serious damage or even a full breakage.

Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes

Thermal shock is one of the leading causes of cracked glass stove tops. Aside from not placing cold items on a hot surface, you should also avoid pouring cold water directly onto a hot glass stove top. 

For instance, don’t place a hot pan under the tap and then rest it back on the stove while it’s still wet underneath. Allow cookware to cool before rinsing and ensure it’s completely dry before placing it back on the stove.

Keep Children & Pets Away While Cooking

It might sound like common sense, but a glass stove top can appear cool even when it’s still dangerously hot. Since it doesn’t always change colour or emit much heat radiation, children and pets might not realise the surface is still warm. 

Try to keep them away from the kitchen while the stove is in use and shortly after. Some newer models have heat indicators. make sure to rely on those before cleaning or touching the surface.

Handle Your Glass Stove Top With Care

A glass stove top can be the centrepiece of your kitchen, sleek, modern, and highly functional. But to keep it that way, you need to treat it with the care it deserves. 

From avoiding abrasive cleaners and heavy pots to being mindful of sudden temperature changes and everyday habits, a little caution goes a long way. By following these simple tips and being aware of what not to do, you’ll extend the life of your cooker top, avoid costly repairs, and keep your kitchen looking its absolute best. Remember, prevention is far easier (and cheaper) than replacement.

SEE ALSO: 15 Brilliant Uses For Soda Crystals In Your Home (#8 will amaze you!)

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