Is it safe to use a cast iron skillet to cook on your glass stove? Will it damage the stove? Are there ways to minimize the damage? And what are the proper methods of using the skillet when cooking?

You will find out the answer to these questions and more in this guide

In addition, we will discuss whether it’s safe to use your cast iron skillet while cooking on induction cooktops.

Continue reading to know more about the crucial safety instructions and how else you can benefit from both your cast iron skillet and glass stove.

Can You Cook With Cast Iron on an Electric Glass Top? The Short Answer

The straightforward answer to this question is yes. However, there’s a caveat that you should know if - there are prescribed ways of doing it. The only reason why people are hesitant to use a cast iron skillet with an electric glass top is the fact that when they’re not careful, they could damage the glass.

This confusion may have stemmed from the mixed messages sent by companies that make cast iron skillets. Though they say that it’s okay to use their skillet with an electric glass stop, they also caution people to be extra careful. The same thing is true among glass cooktop manufacturers - they either say ‘no, you shouldn’t’ or ‘yes, you can, but you have to be extra careful.’ All these created confusion among consumers.

After reviewing different sources to get a short, direct answer to this question, I found out that yes, you can use a cast iron skillet with various heat sources, including a glass-top stove. Still, you should avoid sliding the skillet while cooking. And once you’re done cooking, always remove the skillet from the stovetop. It will also help if you pre-heat your cast iron skillet for five minutes under low to medium heat before using it.

GE Appliances, however, mentioned not to use cast iron skillets with their radiant glass cooktops as these skillets are not covered with porcelain enamel. The rough spot can scratch the glass cooktops. Miele also raised the same concern as GE Appliances and even added that cast iron skillets are not advisable to be used with their ceramic cooktops because it’s poor in transferring heat.

How To Cook With Cast Iron on an Electric Glass Top Stove

Yes, you finally switched from a gas stove or electric burner to a fragile but sophisticated-looking cooktop. However, you’re not ready to let go of your cast iron skillets.

You don’t have to choose which of the two items to drop because, in this section, I will introduce ways wherein you can safely cook with a cast iron on your electric glass top stove. With a bit of ounce of care, you can cook with ease.

Don’t drop it.

Compared to other cookware, cast iron is easy to use, versatile, durable, and retains heat longer. However, despite their positive features, they have one major flaw --- they are heavier than other cookware. On average, a 12-inch cast iron skillet can weigh eight pounds. A 10-inch one can still weigh five pounds.

Aluminum and stainless steel skillets weigh half of these skillets. Because of their sheer weight, cast iron skillets are extremely durable. Glass stovetops, on the other hand, look fragile. Just imagine dropping your eight-pound skillet on a stovetop that’s made of glass. The weight of the skillet will indeed crash the stove. So, when you cook and move the skillet on and off your stove, make sure to keep a strong and tight grip on the cookware. When you need to lift the skillet, use both hands and potholders.

Don’t drag it.

When you move or lift your skillet from the stove, never let it slide or drag on the stove surface. Instead, pick the skillet up entirely with both hands. Dragging or sliding the iron-made cookware on glass can scratch or chip the latter.

Find cookware with a smooth bottom.

Since your stove has a glass surface, it’s logical to use cookware with a flat bottom. There are cast iron skillets with protruding designs, engraved company logos, and ridges at the bottom. Be careful with this cookware as it can scratch the glass surface of your stove.

Aside from that, the bottom of the skillet would also have a hard time coming in contact with the stove’s heating element, making it hard to transfer heat from the stove to the cookware. For example, Lodge’s 12-inch cast iron pan may be great for grilling and searing meat, but they’re not ideal for a glass stovetop because the ridges on the pan slow down heat transfer from the stove to the pan’s surface. Instead of this pan, go for Lodge’s ergonomic cast iron skillet with a smooth and flat bottom. You hasten heat transfer while also protecting the stove’s glass surface.

Remove leftover residue before use.

A cast iron skillet that’s not completely clean can cause carbon build-up. This carbon build-up can leave unpleasant marks on your stove. To prevent this from happening, clean your skillet thoroughly and remove leftover oil or food from the stove and pan surfaces.

Choose the right size.

The size of the skillet also matters when cooking with a glass stovetop. When your skillet is bigger than your stove, there would be an uneven distribution of heat. And since cast iron skillets take time to heat up and are more susceptible to hot spots, you’ll only be adding insult to injury. To know the suitable skillet to use, keep your cookware diameter similar to your stove’s size. An inch wider than the burner’s side is enough reason for uneven heat distribution.

Preheat your cast iron cookware.

As mentioned above, cast iron skillets take time to heat up when used with a glass stovetop. To keep the pan from hot spots, make sure to preheat your cast iron skillet for five minutes under low to medium heat before using it.

Opt for enameled cast iron.

GE Appliances and Miele both mentioned not to use cast iron skillets with their radiant glass cooktops as these skillets are not covered with porcelain enamel. The rough spot can scratch the glass cooktops. So, to fully protect your glass stovetop, opt for skillets with ceramic enameled finishes.

Inspect your cast iron for damage before use.

It’s logical to also check the surfaces of your cast iron skillet before using it with your glass stovetop. Any damage or chipping on the surface of the cast iron cookware can scratch your stove.

Use a heat diffuser.

A heat diffuser can help in making your cast iron skillet heat up faster and more evenly. Aside from that, the heat can also add an extra protection layer between the glass top and cast iron skillet bottom surface. Take note that the diffuser could get very hot, so never touch it with your bare hands. Wait for it to cool completely before moving or touching it.

Take caution when cooling.

If you decide to use your cast iron for cooking in the oven, allow it to cool down inside the stove before pulling out. Otherwise, you’ll leave burn marks on the stove. Allow the trivet or cooling rack of the oven to protect your stove.

Do Cast Iron Skillets Work on Induction Cooktops?

Induction cooktops use electricity to heat pans and pots directly by magnetic induction. Instead of an electric element or gas transferring heat to a pan from a burner, induction cookers heat the pan by themselves instantly. And since the induction cooker doesn’t use a traditional heat source, the heat it generates will only be transferred to the cooking vessel.

Cast iron skillets are still compatible with induction cooktops, provided that it has a smooth and flat bottom surface. Based on the explanation above, the induction stove only transfers heat to the cooking vessel. If the said vessel is not in direct contact with the stove, the latter won’t transfer heat seamlessly. As a consequence, you won’t be able to heat up your pan enough to cook.

To keep your stove from getting damaged, observe the same precautions set for cooking with a glass stovetop when cooking with induction cooktops.

Final Thoughts

Now, the answer to the question ‘can you use a cast iron skillet on an electric glass top stove?’ is clear --- yes, you can, but with a few precautions. Use skillets that have a smooth bottom when cooking with a glass stovetop. This can prevent the rough skillet from scratching and chipping the fragile glass surface of the stovetop.

Take note to use a skillet with the same diameter as your stove to allow the heat to distribute evenly. If you can, preheat your stove for five minutes under low to medium heat to hasten heat transfer from the stove to the pan. Also, make it a habit to clean your skillets and stove of leftover food and oil. All these can help protect the skillet and stove.

As long as you take the proper precautions with handling and cleaning, you should have no problem using your favorite cast iron on your glass stovetop.

Do you want to up your game with reducing and saving in the kitchen? Read ”6 Tips to Reduce Food Waste and Save Money” to learn more.