I recognize that look in your eyes – you just took a moment to enjoy your beautifully renovated kitchen and realized that one part of it will not stay beautiful for long. Or you’ve spent a small fortune on a cooking range that connects to Twitter, only to wonder how long until it starts looking like it a flock of seagulls did a number on it.
Let’s face it, the glass surface on your stove will not stay pristine forever. Glass top stoves always get scratched at some point, even if you don’t do a lot of cooking. Still, there’s a way to minimize the damage.
Choosing a good cookware set will help a lot. Just pay attention to a few details and you’ll find a perfect set in no time.
So, let’s see what’s some of the best cookware for glass top stoves and why it works.
Best Overall – Anolon Advanced Triply Stainless Steel Cookware Pots and Pans Set
Good craftsmanship, reasonable price, and every stainless steel pot and pan most home cooks may ever need. This stainless steel cookware set is a great all-rounder and our choice for the best glass top stove cookware, even if we ignore that it won’t wreak havoc on your glass top stove.
It features a small and a large skillet, a saute pan, two saucepans, and a stockpot. Every single piece is both oven and dishwasher safe, and it also has tempered glass lids.
Pros:
- Aluminum core between two sheets of stainless steel for effective heat distribution and heat transfer.
- Commercial grade construction and hardware for a great cooking surface.
- Deep-seated glass lids that seal the moisture, steam, and flavor in.
Con:
- The ends of the handles are not covered in silicone and may get hot.
Why It Made Our Best Picks
Since the aluminum in this stainless steel cookware set is sandwiched inside the body of the stainless steel pans, there is no need to add a disc to its bottom (which usually makes pans work on induction hobs). No disc means no joints and imperfect seams that can scratch the glass cooktop.
And then, there are the handles. As you can see, the stainless steel handles are ergonomically shaped and covered with silicone that provides both protection from heat and a non-slip grip. There was also no skimping on the hardware – the joint is meant to last and the handle should never wobble, not to mention get detached. Meaning, you can lift the pan straight up and not worry you’ll end up only with the handle in your hands.
Best Value – Cuisinart Advantage Ceramica XT Cookware Set
A company that has a good track record when it comes to quality. Cuisinart’s Ceramica line gives you a lot of bang for your buck, It’s a top class nonstick cookware set for glass cooktops.
This set includes all the essential pieces, plus a steamer basket for the stockpot, and all that for half of the price of the top pick.
Pros:
- Ceramic interior for non-stick effect without toxic chemicals – PTFE, PFOA, and PFOS-free.
- Aluminum core- with a protective metallic outside layer.
- Oven safe, dishwasher safe, freezer safe, and a lifetime warranty.
- Very easy to clean
Con:
- The handle joints are good, but not as good as the ones mentioned above.
Why It Made Our Best Picks
This set is also bot cursed with an attached disc at the bottom of each piece – the aluminum core is doing all of the heavy lifting. And all the edges are smooth and rounded, so you would have to really drag the pan over the glass top stove to leave some serious marks.
Handles are also quite impressive as well. The shape and slope are designed to be ergonomic and easy to lift and maneuver, They are also covered in silicone for heat protection and stable grip.
The one on the stockpot may be slightly difficult to hold on to if you’re wearing oven gloves, but I’m nitpicking now.
Bonus tip: Though they brag about the durability of their ceramic interior, use silicone and wood utensils when cooking. Metal ones will leave marks, and you can’t season this type of pan to repair it.
Best Budget – FGY 10 Pieces Nonstick Pots and Pans Copper Cookware Set
Repeating the format yet again, but with an even lower price. Though there is a bit of a change in the lineup here – there are three frying pans, two saucepans, and one stockpot.
Though this cookware set is in no way a once in a lifetime purchase, the cookware set is more than acceptable for someone who is just setting up their first kitchen making it a perfect starter set.
Pros:
- Very affordable price, yet all basics are included.
- Ceramic interior for non-stick effect.
- Quick and even heat distribution.
Con:
- None of the pieces can be used in the oven.
Why It Made Our Best Picks
The overall concept of this set mimics the previous two entries to a fairly high degree. Though there is an external induction converter disc, it’s not sticking out. The craftsmanship on these is more than decent and there are no sharp edges that can scratch the glass with a slight movement.
The handles are also well positioned and ergonomically shaped. They are also covered in silicone for heat protection and good grip. They may not be commercial kitchen ready, but they will also not fall off out of nowhere while you’re making some stir-fried rice.
Overall, it’s a pretty solid choice for anyone on a very tight budget.
Bonus tip: A set like this is a great starting point if you have no idea what cookware pieces you need for your style of cooking. You can see what you’re using the most, then slowly invest in better pieces as you assemble your ideal collection.
Best Copper – Cuisinart Copper Collection Cookware Set
Copper cookware can get seriously pricey like the Mauviel set, but Cuisinart managed to put together something rather outstanding that’s not going to bankrupt you.
This is just one of their sets from this collection, but it has everything that an average home cook needs – two frying pans, a saute pan, a saucepan, and a large pot.
Pros:
- Outer copper layer for perfect heat distribution and great temperature control.
- Oven safe, dishwasher safe, and even freezer safe.
- Tightfitting lids for sealing in steam, flavor, and nutrition.
Con:
- Not 100% copper. Good news for your wallet, but don’t expect them to last as long as the pure stuff.
Why It Made Our Best Picks
I would not be surprised if I saw a professional kitchen stocked with these pots and pans. The handles are perfectly slanted for easy maneuvering. For you, it means no weird grip, and no weird grip means no to accidentally dragging the pan on the surface of the glass top stove.
Besides that, all edges and joints are very smooth and there’s very little that can damage your glass top stove.
Plus, this is one of those rare sets that will carry on well if you get tired of glass top stoves and switch to gas.
Bonus tip: This set will not have the longevity of pricier competitors, but you can use the same maintenance and cleaning techniques to keep it looking spiffy and bushy-tailed.
Best Designer – Kitchen Academy 11 Piece Nonstick Granite Coating Cookware Set
We started with K-beauty, then got obsessed with K-pop. It’s time to move on to K-cookware.
Inspired by traditional pieces and following (not so) recent trends in Korean cookware, this set is quite a looker. It consists of 11 pieces, including two skillets, two casseroles/dutch ovens, and a saucepan.
Pros:
- Non-stick due to granite – no Teflon or other chemicals.
- Handles higher temperatures than most competition and dishwasher safe.
- Very attractive and can serve both as cookware and serveware.
Cons:
- The novel handles will take some time to get used to.
Why It Made Our Best Picks
Even though I warned you about the handles, don’t write off this set that easily. Yes, it will take time to get used to their shape, but you will start to appreciate it the first time you have to take one of the bigger pots out of the oven. Since they are longer, they will be a lot easier to get a hold of with gloved hands.
But, let’s talk about all those layers of granite as well. The ones that are outside of the pot make it less “sharp” than its stainless steel counterparts, for example. So, if you end up dragging the pot across the glass, the damage will not be as bad.
Bonus tip: Like the features but don’t like the shape? There’s also a 15-piece set that has the same features, minus the Hallyu flare.
Best Space-Saving – Calphalon Premier Space Saving Nonstick 10 Piece Set
Kitchen real estate is at a premium in many homes, so it’s nice when manufacturers decide to figure out how we can stash our cookware.
This 10-piece set has everything that you may need, including two frying pans, a sauté pan with lid, two saucepans, and a dutch oven. It also comes in 3, 8, and 15-piece variations if this combo is not working out for you.
Pros:
- Saves 30% more space and pieces stack in any order.
- Metal utensil safe, courtesy of 3 layers of the non-stick coating.
- Oven and dishwasher safe.
Con:
- Price. The cheapest set from this collection doesn’t come under $200.
Why It Made Our Best Picks
This cookware collection was designed to work with every heat source, including induction and glass top stoves. One way to see that is in the shape of each item. The bottom is curved which helps with energy efficiency on a gas stove. But, on the glass ones, it means that there are no sharp edges that can scratch the surface when you try to move the pan or the pot.
All pieces are made out of thick sheets of metal which makes them perfectly capable of working on an induction cooktop without adding that converter disc to the bottom. No converter disc, no additional piece to scratch the glass on the cooker.
Bonus tip: When using the frying of the saute pan, watch out for that little tip at the base of the handle. It’s designed to keep the column in place when the set is stacked. It’s also perfectly designed to scratch the glass on your stove if you tip the pan the wrong way.
Best pans for glass top stoves
Cookware sets for glass top stoves do solve all your problems at first, but the more you cook, the more you will realize that you need specific things from each piece of your kit.
This little “set” I’ve put together is designed for someone who is setting up their first kitchen with a glass top stove. They demand versatility from each piece ad don’t want to be in the market for a replacement for a while at least. Oh, and their budget doesn’t include taking out a second mortgage just to buy a skillet.
Let’s see what goodies I have here for you.
De Buyer Carbone Plus Round Lyonnaise Frying Pan
Carbon steel has all benefits of cast iron minus most of its downsides – in this case, it’s not as rough and heavy as cast iron, and it will not smash your glass top stove into little pieces. And, personal opinion, De Buyer has the best collection of carbon steel cookware on the market.
These guys are seasoned just like cast iron pans, with the process being the same. But here’s where the fun begins – you can season the bottom of the pan as well. That will create a smooth coat (almost like an enamel) that will be very gentle on the glass top stove surface. Neat, eh?
On top of that, you can pick a size that works for your needs.
De Buyer Mineral B Round Country Chef Carbon Steel Fry Pan
Sticking with De Buyer for the number one choice of the saute pan as well. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
This one is a must-have for me because it has slightly higher walls than most of the competition – a design feature that can allow this pan to replace a wok and a saucepan as well. In theory, if you don’t cook at home a lot, or you have a micro-kitchen, or you’re a devout minimalist, or whatever, you can get away with just owning this pan and a large pot, and you would be good to go.
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 4-Quart Saucepan With Lid
Nerds from the America’s Test Kitchen like this saucepan, so who are we to disagree?
All joking aside, this is an excellent saucepan no matter what cooktop you use it on but it’s fantastic for glass top stoves so it’s a win win. It’s great for making soups, sauces, risotto, hot chocolate, etc. Stick to the 4-quart size and you’ll be able to do all of that and more.
Other than that, this saucepan shares all the features we love in previously mentioned Cuisinart offerings.
What to look for when buying glass top stove cookware
When you own a glass top stove, it’s essential to get familiar with which features you need to be looking out for when buying the best glass top stove cookware, simply because you need all the cookware options that are available to you to make the best decision.
Getting familiar with it will save you both time and money.
Below we have compiled a list of everything you need to look out for to get the perfect cookware set which will minimize damage to glass to stoves by a lot.
Look for smooth flat bottom on your cookware sets
This one may seem rather obvious, but you would be surprised how often a cookware set has unnecessary textures at the bottom or the edges. Avoid texture as much as possible, texture is not good for glass top stoves. A smooth flat bottom is what you need.
This includes patterns at the base that are supposed to make the pan more energy-efficient (but again, those are usually made for gas hobs anyway). The more swirls and grooves you can find down there, the more things that can scratch the glass on your stove
Ideally, the edges should be slightly rounded as well. Not a lot, mind you – you’re not shopping for a cauldron. A quarter of an inch or less will do just fine.
But even if there’s no curve, the edge must be very smooth. To perform a quick test, take a piece of plastic wrap, and try to “cut” it with the pan. If it starts to tear (even a little), that set is not what you were looking for.
A good grip on your cookware set is essential
It doesn’t matter how smooth the bottom is when you can’t keep hold of the whole pan. You need handles that provide a perfect grip and hold so it’s easy to lift the pan in one go from the glass top stove. Otherwise, you may often drag it all over the stove, which in turn will end up scratching the glass.
What exactly constitutes perfect handles depends on your hands, their dexterity, length of your nails, even your height, etc. It’s a lot easier to figure out what to avoid.
Stay away from anything that sits too close to the pot and handles that are too ornate. And avoid all sharp edges and ridges that can cut into your palm.
Don’t worry too much about heat isolation. As long as the handle doesn’t feel awkward in your hands, you can always pick up a heat-resistant sleeve later.
Look at what’s in the cookware set
Okay, chances are you’re shopping for a cookware set since it’s a lot more convenient to get everything you need in one go. Well, just the list of included items can tell you if the set is worthy of your time or not.
Are you tired of the phrase “quality over quantity”? Well, tough cookies. Cookware sets are literally the embodiment of that phrase.
It’s not too rare for the manufacturer to throw in cooking utensils, measuring cups, specialty pots and pans, etc into their sets. They often do it to create the illusion of “value for money”.
Even if it’s a manufacturer that you bought things from before, and even if that individual item and the cookware set come from the same collection. Stuff that’s chucked into these sets may be of lesser quality than the ones that you can buy as a stand-alone piece.
Cookware sets are often a lot more affordable than if you were to try and piece one together, and manufacturers still need to make money. So, pay that little bit more attention so you don’t end up with a lemon.
My last advice on buying glass stovetop cookware sets
Look, glass top stoves have been around for a while and manufacturers had a moment or two to learn about their disadvantages. This means that not they usually have special coatings and treatments that are supposed to make the glass scratch-proof. How effective are they? Time and regular use will tell.
But, this also means that you need to pick up your user’s manual and look at the page with the warning. It’s very rare, but your glass top stove may be “allergic” to some types of cookware. The heat, chemicals in the glass coating, and the pan’s material may react together to create a stain.
Again, this is very rare, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The company may also offer their line of cookware that is “tailor-made” for the stove. That’s nice, but you don’t have to buy that stuff (it’s often not really that special anyway unless it’s the Electrolux Induction Wok, and that stuff is special because it’s really pretty). You can always check out what’s so special about it and look for the same features somewhere else.
