For this section of my website I’m going to give you some information on how to keep glass cooktops clean. This doesn’t necessarily refer to an induction cooktop, but can be a traditional electrically powered cook top.
Before I get going with giving you some tips, PLEASE make sure you have referred to the manual that comes with your cooktop, and what’s suggested in terms of cleaning. There may be differences due to the materials the manufacturer has used and using some of the tips below might cause more harm than good. The last thing I want is for you to set about removing stains, or burnt on food only to find the end result is an unusable cooking surface. I’m not here to make things worse, but make them better.
Razors
If you’re new to glass cooktops, it may surprise you to learn that you can use a razor blade, but this doesn’t mean you can raid the medicine cabinet in your bathroom.
You need to make sure you use the proper tool for the job, and many hardware stores will have something you can use.
Generally, tools like this are only needed if your cooktop has suffered long-term damage from stains or food that has baked on. In normal circumstances, you can just do with the options below.
Cream Cleansers
Notice I use the word “cream” here. With pretty much all cooktops that use induction technology, you won’t need a cleanser like this because it’s generally used for burnt on food, or stains that have built up over time. This can’t happen with induction because the surface away from the pan is cool.
However, for those of you that have a standard glass cook top, a cream cleanser is what you need. In fact, it’s better to look for cleaners that are specific to the brand you have. You should also make sure that you NEVER use any type of cleanser that can be abrasive. This means having a specialist cream that’s formulated for glass should always be part of your household cleaners.
Scrubbing Pads
Most cream cleansers will come with a specialist pad provided. Again, the word abrasive comes up here.
DO NOT use wire wool or anything-else that can scratch the glass. If you do, it will create tiny marks that will not be protected. So, the next time you need to clean your cooktop the job will be an awful lot more difficult and in some cases near impossible!
Finally
I know what a pain it can be using a standard electric cooktop that has a glass surface when it comes to cleaning. However, if you make sure you at least give it a quick wipe each time you’ve finished cooking, this will help keep the heavy duty jobs to a minimum.
Just one more point, and that’s how you use your pans on a surface like this. Try to avoid dragging rather than lifting them (this is also wise when using induction). Pans can scratch the surface just like abrasive cleaners or pads.
If you want to find out more, or just need some quick visual guidance on how to keep your cooktop in tip-top condition, take a look at the short video below.