Many home cooks opt to have a glass cooktop installed for its beautiful sleek appearance, the fact that it is easy to clean, and that in relation to a standard electrical coil stovetop, this type of stovetop heats up faster and more evenly.
But these stovetops are not without their faults. Due to their fragile nature, they can easily crack and break.
The question remains: can I use my oven if the glass cooktop is cracked?
You can use an oven even if the glass stovetop is cracked. The reason for this is the fact that the oven is connected to a different electrical circuit which allows it to operate as a separate device.
Are oven and cooktop connected or independend
This will depend on the make and model of the oven. Some ovens are connected to the stovetop and run off the same electrical circuit, control, and temperature controls.
However, most new appliances run their ovens and stovetops on different electrical circuits, which means that the stove operates independently from the oven.
When the stovetop is cracked, it may still be possible to use the oven, as these two elements operate on different electrical circuits. However, it is important to note that if the cracked stovetop is subjected to operating thermal stress it will not be possible to use the oven.
The reason for this is that the operating thermal stress may force the crack in the stovetop to extend further into the internal wiring of the oven. Additionally, the thermal stress may cause the top of the stove to shatter, which may be very dangerous for you, the cook.
While it may be possible to still use the stovetop, it may not be recommended to do this over an extended period of time. You may need to replace the stovetop as quickly as possible to enjoy further use of your oven.
A technique that you may be able to use is to place a piece of plywood/heavy cutting board over the surface of the stove to help and prevent the crack from getting bigger.
Does the size of the crack matter
Yes.
The size of the crack is very important. It is a clear indicator as to how long you will be able to use the stove before the surface shatters. Smaller cracks are not necessarily as serious as larger cracks but will still need to be attended to.
In addition, a larger crack may require an entire new stovetop.
Can I use the oven without replacing the cooktop
You should still be able to make use of the oven even though the stovetop is cracked.
However, extreme caution should be used when doing this. What you must keep in mind is that this is actually very dangerous and is something that you may need to attend to as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, even though these two elements run on different electrical circuits, heat from the oven may still affect the stovetop and may cause it to shatter or crack even more.
This is a problem that should preferably be attended to as quickly as possible.
Can I put hot pan from the oven on a cracked glass top
In a normal situation, when the stovetop is not cracked, it is perfectly fine to place a hot pan on the glass stovetop.
This is because these stovetops are vitroceramic. However, when it comes to a cracked stovetop, placing a very hot pan onto of it may not be the best decision. The heat from the pan may aggravate the crack in the stovetop and cause the crack to get larger or, even worse, may cause the remaining part of the stovetop to shatter.
Most new stovetops are made this way to help conduct heat when cooking. In addition, it is also much safer.
How much does it cost to replace or repair cracked cooktop
Sadly, these stovetops can easily get damaged when not taken care of properly.
If and when the surface of a glass stovetop is damaged, it needs to be repaired as quickly as possible.
The average price for repairing a glass stovetop is between $50 and $200. The price for installing and wiring a conventional electric cooktop can run you a bill of approximately $550.
Furthermore, on average, you can expect to pay between $500 and $1,000 to have a new glass stovetop installed that requires electrical changes. Realistically, the price is much closer to $650 for a new installation with wire changes.
Keep in mind, though, that these prices will vary from one state to the next and from one metropolitan city to the next.
How to prevent cracks on my glass stovetop
There are several precautionary steps that you can take to help and extend the life of your glass stovetop.
You could start by using the right cookware. This means that you should be investing in light cookware with flat bottoms. Stainless steel or heavy-duty aluminum pots are your best bet.
In addition, you should make sure to clean your glass stovetop properly after each use.
Also, avoid having heavy items around your induction cooktop, such as knife stands, flour and sugar containers, and flower or herb pots. You could accidentally hit the item and shatter the induction cooktop.
Another thing that can potentially crack your glass cooktop is filling the plates and portion preparations directly on the cooktop surface. Avoid doing this on a glass cooktop because you can quickly drop a ceramic plate on the cooktop surface, and it will crack.
And lastly, there are certain types of cookware that should be avoided completely when using a glass stovetop, such as copper and enameled pots, porcelain, and ceramic cookware, as well as copper pots.
You can also check my post on how to protect your induction cooktop, where you will get more ideas on how to keep your glass cooktop safe.
