Grill pans are an essential piece of kitchen equipment. You’re missing out on many barbecue actions without a good quality grill pan!
While we’re not big fans of the grill pan, the one thing we love on steak is the lovely charred marks that we love on steaks. But, there are concerns about using a grill pan on an electric coil stove.
That is because glass cooktops are prone to scratching. This post lets you know how to use grill pan on a glass top stove safely.
Contents
Can you Use a Grill Pan on a Glass Cooktop?
You can use a grill pan on a glass stove. But it will not work as flawlessly as it would on a gas stove. Remember that most grill pans are made of heavy cast iron, and they get very hot. This pan’s ridges and rough finish make it easy to use and clean. The downside of this is that they can leave marks on the pan or get scratches. The pan will always be hot, but you might be able to limit damage to the surface and reduce the amount of time needed by using a pan with a glass top.
Is It Safe to Use a Grill Pan on a Glass Top Stove?
It is generally not safe to use a cast-iron skillet on a glass top stove because glass top stoves are more prone to scratches. Sure, they are lightweight and easy to move, but cast iron makes them heavy and hard to handle.
Cast-iron pans are rigid, which means that you should expect some scratches or marks anytime you land them on the glass top stoves. Grills are primarily available in cast iron to cook meats and seafood evenly.
Cast-iron pans can be used to cook just about anything – they are a tried-and-true, versatile choice for the kitchen. They are the best for high heat and long cooking times.
How to Use a Grill Pan on a Glass Stovetop
When it comes to cooking food on a glass surface, here are a few things to consider.
Grill Pan Weight
In terms of grilling, heavier pans provide a better cooking surface and weigh more. The heavier a pan, the more food it can hold.
And when you do this, a lot of pressure will be exerted on the glass top stove. When you inadvertently drop your grill pan, it can cause the glass top stove to crack or bend.
While it’s true that many grills don’t have handles, some models do offer them. The lack of handles makes grill pans a little more challenging to use.
Grill Pan Size Matters
The next thing you need to think about is the pan’s surface area you’re using. Generally speaking, if you’re cooking with a pan the size of the burner, then the pan should be the same size as the burner. However, you’ll want a slightly larger pan to give yourself enough space to add ingredients and flip food.
That means you will have to go for a bigger grill pan to accommodate all the food items. However, the problem is that many burners are too small while the grill pans are too big. This means that you will have to wait longer for your grill pan before it can heat properly because grill pans require heat evenly distributed.
A glass top stove will complicate issues in this case because foods like steak require frizzling heat to cook well. Glass tops will not provide this kind of heat needed to cook such types of food.
Although glass cooktops are sturdy, they are not indestructible. If the heat gets too high, the surface could crack, and it can get hot speedy. This can be dangerous and make your cooktop break. If you need a safer alternative to your glass cooktop, look at ceramic.
Glass cooktop stoves are expensive and a common cause of house fires. It’s therefore essential to take precautions to prevent accidents.
Check the Bottom Surface of Your Grill Pan
Smooth bottoms are suitable for evenly distributing heat across the pan to ensure even cooking. However, your grill pan may not have a flat and smooth bottom; some will have uneven and ridged areas. If you have a non-smooth base, consider replacing it with a different brand.
Most cast iron pans have uneven surfaces, which can cause the pan to cook unevenly. If this happens, the heat will spread unevenly across the grill, making the cooking process longer and affecting how the food cooks.
This affects the cooking time, and there are chances that your food will not be properly cooked in the long run. The temperature is critical to ensuring that your food cooks properly. There is no point using it if the heat is unevenly distributed on your grill pan.
The Finish on Your Grill Pan
As your grill pan gets older, it can lose its ability to retain heat effectively. If you want to preserve this heating property of the surface of your grill pan, you should always clean it with soap and warm water.
There are several reasons why a glass top stove may not work correctly in your kitchen:
- Glass surfaces can be scratched easily. When they get scratched, the glass will no longer be able to shield your food from the heat.
- Glass can break very quickly, so it’s best never to leave the stove unattended with glass on top.
- Glass tops may melt due to the high heat, causing them to crack and shatter.
This option will ensure that you can easily clean your glass top stove without the worry of scratches and marks.
Steps To Use A Grill Pan On An Electric Stove
A grill pan is an excellent tool for cooking outdoors, but what if you are stuck indoors? No worries, because you can easily create the same effect by using a regular pan that has been properly heated.
The electric grill is a simple way to cook your food, but there are many advantages to cooking on the stove.
First, let’s define what a griddle is. It is a flat, smooth and heated surface used for cooking. It can be used on stovetops or ovens and can be used for frying, roasting, baking, and more.
Below are a few of the actions that will assist you in utilizing a grill pan on an electric stove.
Prepare the grill pan
Maintain the grill pan carefully on your stovetop. It’s essential to keep the heat in control and the pan straight.
If your stove is like mine, then you’ll find that the burners aren’t always in perfect spots. It’s not just me who has to deal with this problem.
As the burners in an electric stove usually have irregular sizes, you may choose to set the grill pan onto a smaller, single burner.
Heat the grill pan
In order to avoid burning your food, it’s important to keep the surface temperature at about 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 Celsius) before adding any food to the pan. This process of heating is called pre-heating.
There are multiple ways to measure heat, but some are more reliable than others. The most common way to measure the temperature of a pan is by using a thermometer.
If the water bubbles sizzle, then the grill is ready to use.
Get ready to cook
It is essential to apply a thin oil coating to the grill to prevent the food from sticking. Another function of the oil is to level out the heat supply on the pan. It is one of the best ways to cook with high heat without burning or drying out the food.
You might also lightly scatter some butter on it. Spray cooking oil to cover the whole surface. Never mix oil with water or vinegar.
Cooking on the grill pan
The final step is to grill or broil the meat until done. When cooking several batches, ensure to use enough oil to prevent the food from sticking. If the cooking process produces a lot of smoke, you will need to lower the heat or decrease the heat to moderate.
Best Cookware to Use on a Glass Top Stove
Cast-iron grills are great for searing meat and grilling!. However, you can cook using any of the below cookware on glass top stoves:
Stainless Steel Grill Pans
Stainless steel cookware is one of the best options for high-end cooks who prefer the look of steel over glass or ceramic. The heat transfer isn’t as good as other cookware, but stainless steel will still get the job done!
When choosing a glass top stove, you have to consider a couple of factors. First, you have to make sure that your burner size is the right size for your kitchen, so it can do the job you need it to do.
There’s a problem, though. Stainless steel pans aren’t good at heat conduction. They’re downright awful at heat conduction. This is a significant drawback in the grilling of food.
In other words, if you want a really hot and even seared steak, it helps to have the heat get to the grill pan’s ridges for a perfect sear. The bottom of your pan should be made of a material that will conduct heat quickly and evenly.
Aluminium and copper are commonly used for electrical wiring in home construction due to their strength, conductivity and resistance to corrosion. However, they can be a heating problem because they conduct heat much better than the surrounding insulation.
Titanium Grill Pans
There are quite a few options out there, but there is a reason why they exist – they’re lightweight, nonstick, and durable. There are a few reasons why I would recommend Titanium. It keeps your food from sticking to the pan, which means evenly cooking food without lifting the pan or flipping your food.
The best of all is that Titanium cookware is scratch-resistant and works great for cooking. It also keeps the heat from building up in the pan.
On top of the other features that come with this cookware are a flat bottom and a smooth finish. These features make it easy to clean, and its stylish appearance makes it an eye-catching addition to any kitchen.
Stainless steel cookware can be too expensive, and that’s because they get the job done. If you love grilling your favourites, you will see the value in this cookware. And if you want to use titanium cookware, it would help season your cookware for easy release of food.
Titanium cookware is an excellent alternative to copper and stainless steel cookware since it is safe and non-reactive. Titanium cookware comes in different sizes and is a little bigger than your standard skillet to help retain heat.
Cuisinart Cookware
Cuisinart is one of the most recognized brand names in kitchenware because its products offer outstanding performance and are incredibly affordable. They’re so good that we highly recommend you pick up a set of their quality cookware!
Let’s take a look at how this cookware is built. The aluminium core makes this cookware durable. Some users are pleased with the long life, which has lasted up to 14 months without problems.
However, verified buyers who used this cookware did note that it is prone to warping, especially when you directly put it in water immediately after cooking. The handles have a round bottom to help balance and ensure an even heat distribution.
Cuisinart has created cookware that heats up quickly and evenly and is not nonstick. This cookware is great for making your favourite dishes, from breakfast to dinner, with minimal cleanup and fuss.
Cleaning is a bit of a hassle with those high-end pans with those shiny sides. But, they come with cleaning instructions that are easy to follow and implement. If you’re not careful, you’ll easily scratch your shiny surface!
Calphalon Classic Cookware
The last cookware on this list is the Calphalon Classic Cookware, a reputable brand in the cookware industry. This product has been around since the early 1900s and is still an excellent choice for those interested in giving it a try.
This cookware is an ideal choice for everyday cooking. It’s made from aluminium with an exterior of stainless steel and a base made from aluminium. It’s thick at the bottom but not so heavy and is suitable for a glass top stove.
The Calphalon Classic Cookware is known to be highly durable. However, this high durability does not come at the cost of being very difficult to maintain.
Nonstick cookware is a new kind of cookware coated on its surface with a particular material so that you won’t have to worry about food sticking to the pan.
Usually, it’s good to regulate heat to medium when cooking. However, it’s always wise to be cautious because there is a chance that the pan can retain heat very quickly, and this can cause some issues.
Bottom Line
Glass cooktops are definitely delicate, and you can’t just treat them generally as you would any other cooktop; they need the care to ensure that they continue serving you longer.
You’re not the only person who wants to cook on a stovetop. That’s why many people now choose to go with an induction stovetop over a conventional one.
We hope you now have a better idea of using a grill pan on a glass-top stove.