Induction cooktops are gaining popularity due to their speed, energy efficiency and precise temperature control. In addition to their performance, these flat glass ceramic cooktops offer a sleek, contemporary look that is easy to clean.
If you've ever had to clean spills off a gas stove, you'll probably understand the appeal of a flat, easy-to-clean surface. However, the downside is that they can become scratched and scuffed over time, ruining that pristine look.
Cooktop protectors are widely available to help prolong that shiny new look. These fine mesh protectors fit between your cookware and the cooktop to protect the smooth glass surface from scratches, spills and burnt-on food.
They're usually made of silicone, but this varies by manufacturer. And while most brands claim they don't impact performance, we asked the experts to find out what induction cooktop manufacturers actually recommend.
What is an induction cooktop and why would you want to protect it?
Induction cooktops are very well designed appliances that use an electromagnetic field to conduct heat directly into your cookware, avoiding the need to heat the cooktop itself. They are very efficient and can heat up very quickly, while offering very precise temperature control, unmatched by any other type of electric cooker.
The surface of an induction cooktop looks like a flat glass plate. However, it is actually made of a glass ceramic that is much more durable than a standard glass plate.
However, it is possible to scratch, scuff or mark these cooktops if you don't pay attention to some basic rules on how to maintain and protect an induction cooktop – more on that later.
For many people, much of the appeal of induction lies in its sleek, stylish finish, so it's no surprise that some are drawn to hob protectors to ensure the surface stays looking like new.
What the Experts Say About Cooktop Protectors
There are pros and cons to using cooktop protectors, and experts were somewhat divided in the advice they gave me. High-end appliance brand Miele makes many induction cooktops. Tom Akers, a product trainer for the brand, said: “As long as the appliance you’re using is designed to work with an induction cooktop (i.e. it’s heat resistant), then these appliances are safe to use.”
With safety around cooktops being one of the most important considerations, this is great news. If you are serious about using a cooktop protector, knowing that it won't cause any safety issues is a huge plus.
However, this assumes that you purchase your hob protector from a reliable source to ensure it is good quality, fully heat resistant and therefore up to the task.
Miele's Tom Akers, however, does not fully advocate the use of cooktop protectors. He goes on to say that “the only consideration is that placing a sheet between the pan and the cooktop surface can reduce the overall speed and efficiency of the cooktop.”
And he wasn’t the only expert concerned about the impact of these protectors on performance. Sangharsha Karki, product manager for surface cooking at BSH Home Appliances, the company behind brands like Bosch, Neff, and Siemens, told me that “induction cooktops are designed with specific performance standards in mind, and untested accessories like protectors could interfere with those standards.”
So it seems that while a good quality heat resistant hob protector probably doesn’t pose a safety issue, it could still impact the performance and efficiency of the hob. And given that one of the reasons to invest in induction in the first place is exceptional performance, it seems counterintuitive to then use it with a product that could lead to sub-optimal performance.
How to protect your induction cooktop
So, if you decide to prioritise optimum performance over protection of your cooktop, what do experts say is the best way to protect the glass surface and keep it looking its best?
Sangharsha Karki of BSH Home Appliances gave me this tip: “To avoid scratches, wipe the base of the pans to remove any dirt or debris that could cause scratches when the pans are moved,” and went on to recommend “lifting the pans instead of sliding them to avoid direct friction between the pan and the cooktop, which can lead to scratches.”
Additionally, Lucy Dunstan, product manager at Smeg, suggests that “users should ensure that the base of their pan is smooth”. So if you’ve just invested in an induction hob and are planning to use your old cookware on it, it’s worth checking the base of your pans first. If you’ve used them on a gas hob before, or if the cookware is particularly old, the bases may be warped or pitted in a way that can scratch the new glass hob.
Lucy adds that you should always check “that the glass surface of the hob is clean” and agrees with Sangharsha that “users should lift and move the pan rather than sliding it across the glass”. Meaning, if you want to shake the contents of a pan while cooking, lift it first.
Keeping Your Induction Cooktop Clean
Since maintaining cleanliness is an important part of protecting it, Sangharsha Karki of BSH Home Appliances gave us the brand's tips on how to clean induction cooktops.
“Keeping your cooktop surface clean shouldn’t be difficult if you use the right cleaning products.
Before you begin cleaning a spill, make sure the cooktop is turned off and cool.
You don't really need to invest in special cleaning sprays, as Sangharsha explains: “Be careful not to scratch the surface of the cooktop by using only non-abrasive cleaning products. Clean the cooktop first with dishwashing liquid and a soft sponge.”
Many induction hobs come with a tool to remove more stubborn, problematic burnt-on stains. That’s why Sangharsha suggests “to remove burnt-on deposits and stubborn dirt stains, use the glass scraper provided in the care pack.”
However, if your appliance does not come with a cleaning tool, you can find them online from several sources, but I advise you to be careful to buy a good quality tool from a reliable source. Remember that you want this scraper to effectively remove dirt and not add scratches to the surface of the cooktop.
In summary, by taking care of how you use and clean your cooktop, it shouldn’t be difficult to keep your induction cooktop looking pristine. However, if you still want to use induction cooktop protectors, you can do so without any safety concerns. But not without potentially impacting the cooktop’s overall performance.