How To Protect Glass Top Stove From Cast Iron: Tips & Advice
The big problem with glass top stoves is that they become easy to scratch when you use cast iron cooking pans without protection.
Have you ever tried using your cast iron pan in a house where there’s an unprotected glass top? You know what happened – it’ll leave scratches everywhere! That being said, can someone please tell me why I should give up my cast iron pan?
Never fear! This article has some great tips and advice on how to protect your glass top stove from scratches.
In this article I’ll be going into depth on the different methods you can use to provide maximum protection to for your glass stove.
Will a Cast Iron Skillet Damage a Glass Top Stove?
Glass top stoves are not as durable as traditional ranges and can be easily damaged. This type of stove is prone to scratching, cracking or denting if heavy pots and pans are used on top.
Cast iron skillets are very heavy and can easily damage the glass top of a stove. However, there are ways to prevent this from happening if you follow the steps below.
How To Protect Glass Top Stove From Cast Iron
You should always protect your glass top stove from cast iron. The best way to do this is by using a heat diffuser on the surface of the stove before you use your cast iron pan. You can also prevent any scratches by seasoning your cast iron pan to give it a smoother surface.
But let’s take a deeper dive into the best protection methods against scratches on your glass top stove.
1) Heat Diffusers
Heat diffusers are a great way to protect your glass top stove from cast iron, they act as a barrier between your pan and glass top stove. Because cast iron is rough by nature, the heat diffusers has been designed to be flat and smooth which protects your glass top stoves from scratches.
Heat diffusers are your best method of protection, and I recommend buying one to avoid the costs of repairing a damaged glass top stove.
So which is the best heat diffuser to protect your glass top stove from a cast iron pan?
Lazy K Induction Cooktop Mat – The best heat diffuser for your glass top stove
Lazy K Induction Cooktop Mat is the perfect way to get started with protecting your glass top stove from your cast iron pan.
This silicone and fiberglass pad will keep your cooktop from getting scratched or dirty, plus it’s dishwasher safe so cleanup can be a breeze!
The natural heat-resistant material makes for an easy transition into using this magical device in any of four environments: ovens up to 480℉, refrigerators up to 40℃, microwaves and convection ovens.
Plus, this thing is incredibly durable so you can use it for years to come!
2) Season The Entire Pan
This tip is the best way to protect your glass top stoves from cast iron cookware.
When you season cast iron cookware with cooking oil, you create a carbonized layer on the pan, which is basically non-stick. If you season it properly, you get a smooth even layer on the cast iron cookware.
But most people don’t season the entire pan. This is what you will do different.
Season the entire pan in oil, and place it in the oven at a high temperature upside down. This will create a smooth layer of seasoning on the cast iron cookware that will be coming into contact with your glass top stove.
As the layer will be smooth and even, it will massively reduce your chances of scratching your glass top stove and it will provide the best protection possible when you use cast iron on a glass top stove.
3) Lift it Don’t Slide It
This part is key to protecting your glass top stove from cast iron cookware.
Cast iron cookware is heavy and rough, the two combinations that can cause chaos on glass. Whenever you are moving the pots and pans, make sure you lift it carefully, and place it down carefully. Glass cannot take the weight of cast iron nor the roughness.
4) Keep It Clean
This can apply to those who are both using a heat diffuser, and not using one.
Keeping your cast iron cookware or heat diffuser clean prevents any rough food that might be stuck to the equipment from scraping and scratching against the glass surface.
Cast iron on glass is already a problem, but there is no need to add stuck food to the equation. Keep it clean and this will reduce your chances of damaging the glass top stove.
5) Cooktop Protector Mat
Although a cooktop protector mat won’t protect your glass top stove from cast iron whilst cooking on it, it will provide additional protection to your glass top stove whilst it’s not in use.
Especially if you have children or animals who may cause accidental damage to your glass top stove.
Cowbright Heat Resistant Glass Stove Top Cover
All you need to complete your kitchen is this glass cover for your stove top.
The Cowbright Heat Resistant Glass Stove Top Cover prevents scratches and stains on the surface of the cooktop while protecting it from cats.
With a size of 28 1/2 x 20 1/2 inch, this piece will also fit most traditional-sized ranges as well!
This heat resistant cover makes an excellent casserole hot pad or additional work space when cooking – just fold so that half covers the pan and you’re ready to go!
What pans should not be used on a glass top stove?
Do not use cast iron, copper bottomed or stainless steel cookware on a glass top stove without adequate protection.
These types of pans can damage the surface and cause it to become rough. If you are not using a protective surface between the glass and the cookware, you are likely to damage your stove.
Using cast iron on a glass top stove is not recommended. Cast iron can scratch or leave marks on the glass.
Cast iron can also cause a build up of gunk that is difficult to remove from the surface. If you do use cast iron, make sure it is properly seasoned first and adequate protection is in place to reduce the chance of your glass top stove being damaged.
Can You Repair Scratches On A Glass Top Stove?
Accidents happen and sometimes scratches do occur! This can be especially for those who might be planning using cast iron skillet on a glass top stove for cooking without realizing the potential for damage.
Scratches that are made by using a rough pan on glass not only make their appearance less appealing, but they also can prevent proper heating needed for cooking. These scratches could potentially disrupt the heat distribution to cast iron pots or other cookware. With this in mind, are scratches in glass top stoves able to be repaired? The simple answer is yes.
If The Scratches Are Light
Luckily, if you have light scratches on your new glass top stove, then it’s a very easy fix.
To repair small scratches, make sure the glass top stove is clean, then use a mixture of baking soda and water
This sounds too easy, however, this paste acts as a buffer to remove the blemished scratch. Only two teaspoons of baking soda are needed along with one teaspoon of water. Apply to a damp cloth and gently scrub the scratch to buffer out. This will remove any light scratches and keep any glass top looking its best.
If The Scratches Are To Deep
While it is possible to repair scratches in a glass top stove surface, it is important to realize if the scratch is too deep, the answer changes to “no”. Deep scratches from cast iron skillets aren’t an easy fix and may require the need to replace the entire surface. Which is why you should avoid using a cast iron skillet.
Finish Off By Cleaning The Cooking Surface
Along those same lines, the best way to clean a glass top is with baking soda and a small amount of white vinegar. This is also one of my recommended tips for how to clean burnt sugar off glass top stove. This mixture lightly bubbles up to eradicate any debris or grease. While it seems logical to use a glass cleaner on your cooktop, this is a huge mistake! The harsh chemicals in the cleaner meant for traditional windows can cause damage to a top stove surface. There are products on the market that are targeted to glass stove tops for cleaning, but honestly white vinegar and baking soda will do the trick. Cleaning the top after every use will also keep it looking its best.
Haven’t Bought A Cast Iron Frying Pan Yet?
If you do not own a cast iron frying pan yet, then you are in for some luck. There is an alternative way of using cast iron on glass top stoves without all worries of scratching or damaging it.
A glass surface is fragile as you already know, standard cast iron cookware is heavy and rough. It’s not a good combination for a glass top stove.
Below I will talk about the best alternative so you can still own cast iron cookware whilst still using cast iron on the glass top stoves.
Why You Should Avoid Cast Iron For A Glass Stovetop
Cast iron cookware is made of molten iron and steel, they are not ideal to cook on a glass cooktop surface. If you use cast iron on glass top, you can scratch the glass on the stove. This is due to the sliding rough material against the glass. While a glass top stove is an attractive electric stove option, it is extremely important to maintain their surfaces not only for appearance but also for functionality. If you scratch the surface, this can affect the stove’s ability to cook evenly.
While new glass top stoves are a little sensitive to what materials are used on them, there are some ways to still enjoy using cast iron skillet on glass without a scratch the surface.
Use Ceramic Coated Cast Iron Instead
There are cast iron skillets on the market that can be used on a glass cooktop! These pans have a special ceramic coating on the bottom that keeps surfaces safe. They are still heavy-bottomed though and should be placed on any surface with care.
Why Is Ceramic-Coated Cast Iron Cookware Ideal?
Obviously, the biggest reason to use a ceramic-coated cast iron on glass stove tops is to prevent scratching. Ceramic coating does not have a rough cooking surface, so it does not scratch.
While scratches are the main concern, there are other benefits to using ceramic-coated over the traditional cast iron frying pans. One of those benefits includes the actual heating process. Traditional cast iron skillets retain heat extremely well and the ceramic coating reduces this, but this is a good thing.
– Prevents The Safety Feature Activating
Glass top stoves, along with other newer models of stovetops have safety measures installed to shut off if the heat becomes too high. Ceramic-coated cast iron pans do not retain as much heat, which will prevent the safety mechanism from kicking in.
If you find that the safety mechanism is still being activated, then heat diffusers are the answer. A heat diffuser goes in-between the stovetop and the pan to distribute the heat more effectively and to prevent direct heat to your ceramic-coated pan as direct heat is the enemy to your ceramic coated cookware.
– No Seasoning Required
Another big perk to ceramic-bottom cast iron pans is that they do not require seasoning. Regular cast iron pans do require seasoning or the maintenance of its non-stick surface. This is typically done by thoroughly washing the pan first, drying, and using a high heat with cooking oil to create a carbonized layer.
This process is not necessary for ceramic-bottom pans as the ceramic does the same job. However because of this, it is not recommended to use metal utensils in them as they will scratch the surface away.
– Easy To Clean & Maintain
Because the ceramic-coated pans do not require seasoning, they can be easier to maintain and clean. Some people prefer the work that is put into seasoning a regular cast iron skillet, however, for those with glass cooktops, having an alternative way to cook with cast iron is wonderful!
