Induction and Black Glass Cooktop - Stovetop Care and Repair

Smooth Glass Black Top Ceramic Cooktop Care

Care Note: Light glass tops are different.
See instructions for them.

Since heat is created only in the cooking utensil and food, this glass ceramic surface remains fairly cool. Spills can be wiped up with a wet sponge or paper towel, and will not cook on quickly as in the "smooth top" type. Abrasives should not be used, as they can scratch the surface.

Clean the black glasstop frequently. Their dramatic effect requires a little more maintenance. Wait until the glasstop is cool before cleaning. The only exception to this is to remove sugary spills while they are still warm. Wipe up any spills with a clean, wet cloth when the cooktop is cool. The longer you cook with a spill over on the cooktop, the harder it will be to remove. Make sure bottoms of pans are clean and dry before using them. To avoid spill overs, use pans with tall sides. Leave enough head room in the pan for stirring and boiling. Don't allow moisture to drip onto the cooktop when removing covers. Do not rest cooking spoon or pan cover on the cooktop. Do not store heavy items above cooktop. They may fall onto and damage the cooktop. Do not use steel wool or powdered cleansers. These will leave scratches on the glasstop. Do not use cleaning products designed for white cooktops. They will damage black glass.

Scratches can not be removed. To avoid scratching, use pans with smooth bottoms. Rough pan bottoms and foil pans will scratch the glass. Never use the glasstop as a cutting board or countertop. Any sharp or rough edges can cause scratches. If a surface element is left on with an empty pan, the glass may melt under the pan. NEVER LEAVE AN EMPTY PAN OR FOIL ON THE COOKING SURFACE.

Cleaning Black Glasstop Cooktops

Light Soils: Wash cool cooktop surface with solution of liquid dish-washing detergent and water. RINSE THOROUGHLY. Dry surface with a clean paper towel.

If Stain Remains: Soak a paper towel with vinegar. Rub soiled area of glass. Do not use on metal parts. RINSE THOROUGHLY. Repeat if necessary.

Moderate/Heavy Soils: Carefully scrape off thick or difficult to remove soil using a single-edged razor blade in a holder. Place vinegar soaked paper towel on the soil for 10 to 15 minutes. Rub off soil. Do not use vinegar on metal parts. RINSE THOROUGHLY and dry. Repeat if necessary. DO NOT USE STEELWOOL OR ABRASIVE CLEANING POWDERS.

Do not use cleaners for white cooktops. They will scratch black glasstops.

To polish clean, dry cooktop: Shake well and apply polish sold by manufacturer of black glass top specifically for that cooktop. Do not use other polishes. Rub vigorously with a paper towel. Use a clean paper towel to remove excess and to polish. Pitting can not be removed.

To help avoid pitting: Clean up sugary spills as soon as possible. Clean glass while it is still slightly warm. Carefully scrape off sugary spill using a single-edged razor blade in a holder. Be sure the bottoms of pans are clean before replacing on cooktop.

Solid Element Cooktops - Care and Cleaning

These are solid cast iron disks, sealed to the cooktop so no spills can get under them. Follow manual instructions for care and cleaning. Some have a coating which protects them, and which needs to be heated and hardened before cooking anything, to prevent the coating from sticking to utensils.

Wipe the element when completely cool with a damp cloth. For more soil, use mild cleaners as recommended by manual. Always rinse thoroughly and dry completely by heating so it won't rust (it is cast iron!).

This article has been contributed in part by Michigan State University Extension.