Electric Range - Cookware Used on a Radiant Smooth Glass Cooktop

The type of cookware you use on a radiant smooth glass cooktop can affect how it performs. We recommend using medium or heavy-weight cookware to get the best cooking performance from the cooktop.

Flat bottom pans are essential for good cooking performance since the bottom of the pan needs to touch the glass for the best heat transfer. Most cookware brands sold nowadays have flat bottoms. Much older, used cookware and/or thinner cookware will often show signs of no longer being completely flat across the bottom of the pan. Non-flat pans may crack the glass. You may want to check out our Range - Steps to Check Cookware for Best Performance article.

Suggestions for Proper Type of Cookware to Use on Radiant Smooth Glass Cooktops

Stainless Steel is highly recommended. A sandwich-clad bottom is especially good because it combines the durability and stability of stainless steel with the heat conduction and distribution of aluminum or copper.
Heavy-Weight Aluminum cookware is also recommended. It conducts heat faster than other metals and cooks evenly. Aluminum residue sometimes appears as scratches on the cooktop but these can be removed if cleaned immediately.
Copper Bottom pans are also good, but they can leave a residue on the cooktop that appear as scratches. These can be removed if cleaned immediately. Never let a copper-bottom pan boil dry. An overheated copper pot will leave a residue that will permanently stain the cooktop.
Titanium cookware has tested well on ceramic cooktops. Ceramic titanium is a non-stick finish applied to a base metal. We tested one with aluminum as a base metal.
Carbon Steel cookware is okay as long as the cookware has a flat bottom and is smooth to prevent against scratching.
Porcelain/Enamel pans give good performance only if they have a thick, flat bottom. Avoid boiling these pans dry as the porcelain/enamel can melt and fuse to the cooktop surface.

Not Recommended

Glass or Ceramic cookware is not recommended. These pans may scratch the cooktop surface. Glass is a poor conductor of heat so cooking times will be longer and they may require constant attention during cooking.
Stoneware is not recommended. It may scratch the surface and will give poor cooking performance.
Cast Iron cookware is not recommended. If the cookware has a burr or rough spot, it will scratch the glass surface. Additionally, it is slow to absorb heat. Once this type of cookware heats up, especially on high heat, it holds an intense amount of heat which is transferred to the cooktop. This can cause the element to shut down as a response to the temperature limiters which indicate the surface temperature is too high for the cooktop components to handle.
Porcelain Enamel Coated Cast Iron cookware is okay to use as long as the cookware is covered completely with porcelain enamel. Caution is recommended when using cast iron cookware that is not completely covered with smooth porcelain enamel as it may scratch the glass ceramic cooktop. Additionally, if used at a high heat setting for a long period, it will hold heat as described for plain cast iron and the heating element could shut down in response to the temperature limiters which indicate the surface temperature is too high for the cooktop components to handle.

Additional Appliance Support

The following articles provide additional information regarding radiant smooth glass cooktop cookware.

Whether you need to repair an appliance or replace an appliance, we are available to help. Please reach out to us any time you need us.