Can You Put Glass On The Stove?
Glass cookware has many benefits. Aside from looking amazing, it is also non-porous, non-toxic, and doesn’t react with acidic foods. But can all glass cookware be used on the stove?
Can you put glass on the stove? You can put glass cookware on the stove if it is made from a stovetop-resistant type of glass. A lot depends on the level of heat the glass material can withstand. Also, The cooktop should be compatible with glass cookware.
This article is for you if you have always wondered if you can use glass on the stove!
Continue reading to learn why glass shatters when you put it on the stove, what glass cookware is safe for stovetop use, and everything else you need to know about using glass cookware safely.
Can You Put Glass On Stove Heat?
Glass cookware has become quite popular in recent years.
One of the main reasons why many people buy glass pots is their appearance.
Transparent cookware looks exceptionally elegant. Even boiling pasta turns into a special cooking experience when you are using a transparent pot!
As many people started to like the look of see-through cookware, brands have started to put out glass cookware collections. However, not every glass pot you see on the internet is truly heat-resistant and stovetop-safe.
Moreover, many people still wonder if it is safe to put glass on the stove. Whether you can put glass on the stove or not depends on several factors:
- Type Of Glass. Not all glass is meant for heat. Before you put a glass pot on the stove, check the information provided by the manufacturer to make sure that the type of glass it is made of is stovetop-safe.
- Type Of Stovetop. The type of stove matters too. Some stovetops are compatible with glass cookware while others aren’t. Before you buy a glass cookware set, check to see if you can use it on the stove you have at the moment.
- Heat Level. Even if the glass is stovetop-safe, you should always check what level of heat it can handle.
- Safety Rules. Stovetop-safe glass can easily break if you don’t follow the safety rules while using it. One of the key principles of using glass cookware safely is to never expose it to drastic temperature changes.
What Type Of Glass Is Safe To Use On The Stove?
If you didn’t know, glass can be made from various natural materials. These raw materials are melted at very high temperatures to create a whole new material.
Depending on what material glass is made from, it can withstand average or high heat. Borosilicate glass is the most popular glass material used to manufacture glass pots for stovetop use.
Borosilicate glass is highly resistant to thermal shock, which makes it suitable for stovetop use. Pots made of borosilicate glass can withstand heat up to 572°F.
Pyroceram is another great material for glass cookware. It has a very high thermal shock resistance and can withstand up to 842°F heat.
How Do You Know If Glass Cookware Is Stovetop-Safe?
Putting glass pots that are not stovetop-safe on the stove is rather dangerous. You should always check the labels on the cookware to see if it is stovetop-safe or not.
Never make guesses. Glass cookware that is safe to use on the stove will have a label that tells you clearly that it is stovetop-safe.
We recommend you always buy glass cookware from trusted brands. If you are buying from a brand that you haven’t heard much about, read reviews by people who have used it to be sure that you are getting stovetop-safe cookware.
You can never tell if glass cookware is stovetop-safe or not just by looking at it. Borosilicate glass, for example, looks pretty much like tempered glass. But tempered glass can never go on the stove as it will shatter.
What Happens If You Put The Wrong Type Of Glass On The Stove?
Stovetop heat is very concentrated. Glass that is not meant to withstand high temperatures will easily shatter or crack once exposed to high heat and the pressure created by it.
In other words, glass shatters or cracks because of thermal shock.
Types Of Stovetops And Whether You Can Put Glass On Them
There are different types of cooktops you can have in your kitchen.
As noted above, not all cooktops are compatible with glass cookware.
Let’s discuss the three main types of stovetops.
Electric
Electric cooktops are probably the most popular type of cooktops. In general, electric cooktops feature a flat ceramic-glass surface and heating elements installed underneath them. Electric cooktops come in a range of sizes.
Electric stoves are not the most suitable type of stove for glass cookware. You should always monitor the temperature of the stove as it may get higher than the glass cookware can withstand.
If you own an electric cooktop and want to get a glass pot very badly, choose one that is made of pyroceram glass.
Gas
Gas stoves offer open flame cooking and are another popular style of cooktops.
Unlike electric cooktops, gas stoves allow you to easily adjust the heat. You can lower the heat instantly if you feel like your glass cookware is getting overly hot.
Gas cooktops work quite well for glass cookware. So long as you are using stovetop-safe cookware, you should be fine with using it on gas stoves.
Induction
Induction cooktops are increasing in popularity in recent years. These cooktops not only look modern and sleek, but they are also eco-friendly. They don’t use gas and as much electricity as the two types of cooktops mentioned above.
Induction cooktops and glass cookware are not designed for each other. The reason why you can’t use glass pots on induction stovetops is that there must be magnetic substances in cookware for an induction cooktop to heat it.
Induction cooktops transfer the heat directly to the pans and pots with the help of the electromagnetic coils installed beneath the glass-ceramic surface. Electric currents are created only if the bottom of a pan contains magnetic material.
5 Tips To Use Glass Cookware Safely
Glass cookware looks very sleek and unusual. But before you buy a glass cookware set for everyday use, learn about the safety rules you should follow with this type of cookware.
Here are five things you should avoid doing whenever you are using glass cookware.
1. Don’t Expose Glass Cookware To Drastic Temperature Changes
Never transfer glass cookware from the fridge to the stove and vice versa.
Exposing glass cookware to such drastic temperature changes may cause it to crack or shatter. The reason for this is that the thermal conductivity of glass is very low.
2. Don’t Pour Cold Liquid Into Hot Glass Cookware
If the glass pot is already hot, don’t pour cold liquid into it.
While a lot depends on the type and thickness of the glass as well as on how cold is the water, there is a chance of shattering.
3. Don’t Put Hot Glass Pots On Wet Surfaces
Whenever you are cooking with glass cookware, have a kitchen towel or a wooden board near you to put the glass pot on whenever you need to remove it from the stove. Never put it on a wet surface, including a wet towel and countertop.
4. Don’t Put Hot Glass Cookware Pots Under Cold Water
Allow glass cookware to cool completely before you wash it.
Washing hot metal pans in water is not something you should do as they may warp. While glass cookware doesn’t warp, you shouldn’t wash it under water either if it is still hot, especially if the water is cool.
5. Avoid Using Scratched Glass Cookware
Using glass bakeware and cookware that has scratches on it is not safe. While glass cookware is typically scratch-resistant, you can get scratches on it if you use abrasive tools.
If the scratched cookware gets very hot, there is a high risk of it fracturing along the scratch.
Related Questions
Now that we’ve covered which types of glass can be used on a stove and which stovetops are the best for using glass cookware, here are some related questions that we thought you might have.
Can You Use Oven-Safe Glass On The Stove?
“Oven-safe” and “stovetop-safe” are two separate terms. Oven-safe bakeware can’t necessarily go on the stovetop. The temperature created by the stove is higher than the temperature created by the oven.
Additionally, the heat created by the stovetop is localized. It can easily cause oven-proof bakeware to shatter when you heat it on the stove.
Never use your oven-safe bakeware on the stove unless they are also labeled as stovetop-safe.
Is Pyrex Safe For Stovetop Use?
Pyrex is a type of tempered glass and also the name of the brand manufacturing heat-resistant glassware.
Pyrex glassware is perfectly safe for the fridge, oven, microwave, and freezer. But can you use it on the stove?
You should never put Pyrex glassware on the stove. Pyrex products were originally made of borosilicate glass. As you already know, borosilicate glass is safe to be used for stovetop cooking.
Now, however, Pyrex glassware is made from tempered glass which you should never put on the stove. So, Pyrex is not safe for stovetop use.
