Can You Use Cast Iron On A Glass Top Stove?

Glass top stoves have become a popular design solution for kitchens in recent years. These smooth cooktops look exceptionally sleek and are easy to clean.

But what makes many people strongly hesitate about getting a glass top stove is the fact that these cooktops are not compatible with all cookware materials. 

Cast iron is a cookware material many professional and amateur cooks love. A meal cooked in a cast iron skillet always turns out more flavorful. 

But can you use cast iron on a glass top stove? You can use a cast iron skillet on a glass cooktop. However, there are a few important rules to follow. Don’t bang the skillet onto the glass surface and don’t slide it around. You should lift and put the skillet back on the cooktop very carefully. Make sure the bottom of the pan is always clean and smooth. 

Read this article if you are planning to get a glass cooktop for your kitchen or already own one to learn how to use cast iron on a glass top stove and what are some tips and tricks you can use!

What Are Glass Top Stoves And Are They Good?

Glass top stoves are flat cooktops. Although the name implies only glass, the tops of such stoves are usually made of a glass-ceramic material rather than glass or ceramic materials alone. 

Thus, these smooth top stoves have qualities of both glass and ceramic. Thanks to the mix of qualities of these two materials, these cooktops are non-porous like glass but take heat well like ceramic. 

When it comes to durability, it should be noted that these cooktops can handle high temperatures. But they can easily break if you drop a hard object on them.

There is a high risk of breaking your glass stovetop if a granular object gets between the cooktop surface and the bottom of the pan. 

So, glass top stoves have their pros and cons! 

Pros

• Glass top stoves are easy to clean.
• They look sleek and modern.
• If you run out of countertop space, you can place food in serving bowls on the glass cooktop when it’s cold. 

Cons

• Glass cooktops are susceptible to scratches and breakage. 
• You are limited in the choice of materials for your cookware.
• When you turn the heat off, the top remains hot for some time. So, you have to be careful to not accidentally touch it. 

With all these in mind, if you pick appropriate cookware for your glass top stove and follow a few simple maintenance and usage rules, having a glass cooktop in your kitchen wouldn’t be a problem.

What Is The Best Cookware For Glass Cooktops?

As a result of all the features noted above, you can’t just use any cookware on your glass top stove. But what is the best cookware material for glass cooktops?

Stainless steel is one of the best materials for glass cooktops. Pans and pots made of stainless steel have a smooth exterior.

They are also very durable and non-reactive. Additionally, stainless steel pans have an antibacterial surface and are dishwasher-safe. 

Though stainless steel pans can be lighter than say cast iron pans, they still have enough weight to them to stay stable on the glass surface. 

In addition to all their benefits, stainless steel cookware is widely available. You can find stainless steel pots and pans of any size within your desired price range. 

Aluminum and copper cookware can be used on glass cooktops too. But these materials may leave residue on the glass surface.

So, it is best to buy aluminum or copper cookware if these materials are used in the core of the pans and pots and have stainless steel as the final layer. 

What Cookware Should Not Be Used On A Glass Top Stove?

The cookware materials that you shouldn’t use on glass cooktops are stoneware and ceramic materials.

These are too rough to be used on the delicate glass surface. If you drag a stoneware pot on the glass surface, you may end up with lots of scratches. 

Can You Use Cast Iron On A Glass Top Stove?

Avid cooks love cast iron skillets for many reasons. First off, cookware made of cast iron is very durable.

This is why many people still own the cast iron skillets of their grandmothers. Secondly, cast iron has excellent heat conductivity. It heats up quickly, evenly, and what’s best, it retains heat well too. 

Lastly, cast iron is naturally non-stick. If you take proper care of your cast iron skillet, it will remain so for a lifetime. And with all these benefits, meals cooked in a cast iron skillet somehow turn out to be more flavorful. 

So, cast iron is one of the best cookware materials. But does getting a glass top stove mean that you have to stop using your favorite cast iron skillet? Luckily, it doesn’t. You can use cast iron on a glass top stove. 

But while you can use cast iron on a glass top stove, you need to follow some rules to protect your smooth cooktop against scratches and more serious damage.

Also, you should note that not every cast iron skillet can be used on a glass top stove. For example, the one you have used over a campfire is not suitable for use on a glass cooktop. 

How To Choose A Cast Iron Skillet For A Glass Cooktop

If you have a glass cooktop in your kitchen and are looking into buying a cast iron skillet, there are three things you should consider. 

• Smooth bottom. As we have mentioned earlier in this article, it gets very dangerous for cast iron skillets when something gets between the pan and the smooth cooktop. This is why you should always check the bottom of the pan to make sure it is very smooth. 
• Size. When it comes to glass top stoves, the manufacturers always recommend users to not use pans the bottoms of which are larger than the burners. With cast iron skillets, you should follow this rule too. Go with a skillet the diameter of which is only an inch longer than the diameter of the glass top burner. 
• Weight. The third thing to keep in mind when buying a cast iron skillet if you have a glass cooktop is the weight. The less the skillet weighs the better. Buy a skillet that you can easily handle added the weight of the food in it. A slight drop of the heavy cast iron skillet on the glass surface will do permanent damage and you will have to replace it. 

How To Use Cast Iron On A Glass Top Stove

Using cast iron cookware on a glass top stove implies a few more steps compared to using cookware that is made of materials that are fully safe for glass cooktops. Here’s how to use cast iron on a glass top stove:

Clean Your Cast Iron Cookware

You should certainly clean your cast iron skillet after each use. To do this, you need to scrub off the food particles that have got stuck to the cooking surface of the pan.

Then wipe it clean with a paper towel or rinse it with warm water. Then dry the skillet thoroughly. 

However, if you are using a cast iron skillet on a glass top stove, you should make sure to clean the outside of the skillet too, especially the bottom part that comes in contact with the glass surface.

When cleaning the base of the skillet, make sure there are no food particles stuck onto it and no oil residue that makes the exterior uneven. 

But even if you have cleaned your cast iron skillet the last time you have used it, check to make sure the base is completely smooth and clean before you start cooking in it. 

Let It Heat Up Properly

With cooktops that are flat and don’t use gas, the pans and pots don’t heat up as quickly. So, be patient when waiting for your cast iron skillet to warm up.

For consistent heating of the skillet, turn the stove to medium or medium-high heat. 

Don’t Slide It Around

One of the most important rules you should follow when cooking with a cast iron skillet on a glass surface is not sliding it around. The more you slide the skillet around the higher are the chances of scratching the glass surface.

Hold the pan whenever you need to stir the food in it. Or, remove it from the cooktop, give the dish a stir, and then gently set it back on the glass cooktop. 

Can Enameled Cast Iron Be Used On A Glass Cooktop?

So, now you know that using bare cast iron on glass cooktops is okay with a few limitations. But what about enameled cast iron cookware? Can you use it on glass cooktops?

You can safely use enameled cast iron on glass cooktops. Thanks to the enamel coating, this type of cookware has a smooth surface so it won’t scratch the glass surface. 

If you have ever looked into enameled cast iron cookware, you surely know that it is something on the expensive side.

The high price of this type of cast iron cookware has to do with the intricate production process of each piece of enameled cast iron cookware. 

Le Creuset, one of the most popular colorfully-enameled cast iron cookware brands, even gives these pans and pots a lifetime guarantee. So, a good enameled cast iron skillet is certainly worth the money. 

Tips For Cooking With A Cast Iron Skillet On A Glass Top Stove

Cooking in a cast iron skillet on a glass top stove requires a lot of caution and carefulness. So, here are more tips to help you use your heavy-duty skillet on a glass surface without any unpleasant incidents and damage to the cooktop. 

Use A Heat Diffuser 

In case you didn’t know, a heat diffuser is a stovetop utensil that goes between the burner and the skillet. As the name implies, this simple tool helps diffuse the heat evenly.

While with a real cast iron skillet you don’t have any heat distribution issues, the heat diffuser serves as a protective layer between the skillet and the delicate glass cooktop. 

Heat diffusers are cheap and effective. And yet, if your entire cookware collection is not compatible with a glass cooktop, don’t consider heat diffusers to be a permanent solution.

It is best to update your collection with cookware with items that you can safely use on the smooth surface of your glass cooktop.

Modernize Your Cast Iron Skillet 

If your cast iron skillet is very near and dear to you because you have had it for years, you may not want to replace it with a new one.

However, you should also understand that cast iron skillets that have been manufactured years ago have uneven surfaces.

They may have bumps and chips and pieces of metal on the bottom. This makes them unsuitable for use on glass cooktops. 

So, if you have made the decision to have a glass top stove and have invested in it, we do recommend buying a newer cast iron skillet. Modern cast iron skillets have a smoother exterior, unlike their older counterparts. 

Keep The Cooktop Clean 

Another great tip to keep in mind when cooking on a glass cooktop is cleaning it regularly and wiping it before placing a pan on it. This minimizes the risk of any granular objects appearing between the glass top and the pan you place on it. 

Keeping the glass cooktop clean also means cleaning any spills immediately. You can use a damp sponge or cloth to do this. 

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