Can you use griddle on a glass top stove?

Griddles are the true heroes during breakfast. Whether pancakes, eggs, or burgers, a griddle offers convenience, especially when serving a big group. 

But they are often heavy and, if you own a glass stove top, you might not want your griddle near fragile appliances. 

Do you chuck it out, then? Or, can you use a griddle on a glass-top stove? 

Spoiler alert: You can! 

Read on and find out how to incorporate both smoothly into your cooking experience. 

Are griddles safe for glass top stoves?

Griddles have a lot of variation. They are typically large and flat, and their shapes can range from round to, more commonly, rectangular. There are three major types of griddles: outdoor, stovetop, and electric. 

Outdoor griddles are flat, metal plates reminiscent of commercial burger joints. Not only can you cook eggs and pancakes on them, but you can also sear steak!  

Electric griddles are stand-alone appliances meant for indoor settings. 

Lastly, stovetop griddles, which is the main focus of this article, often have side handles and non-stick quality— except for cast iron. They require two stovetop burners to utilize as they have large, rectangular shapes. 

PS. Don’t have two burners to spare? Nowadays, you can use a griddle pan instead and still enjoy your pancakes!

Griddles can be cast iron, ceramic, non-stick aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steel. 

Among these, cast iron is popular for its sturdiness and ability to retain heat, albeit being heavy. If you season it well, cast iron can also be nonstick.

Lightweight materials like aluminum do not retain heat effectively but it has “high thermal conductivity”— in layman’s terms, it heats up and cools down fast.

What’s the catch in using a griddle on a glass-top stove?

Well, it’s glass. And glass is delicate by nature.

Glass stove tops are tough given that they are either tempered glass or a ceramic-glass blend. But they can break and are prone to cracking, especially when you casually place something above it.  So if you don’t take caution, your griddle is not safe for your glass cooktop. 

But there are steps to make it safe, of course!

Weight matters!

When choosing a griddle, it’s tempting to go for cast iron immediately— it’s classic and durable. 

However, cookware that heavy can cause scratches when dragged across the surface of a glass stove top. Worse, it can cause cracks when dropped at any height. 

If you know something about cracks on glass cooktops, they are practically irreparable. A glass cooktop can typically withstand 20-30 lbs (9-14 kg) of physical stress on top of it. This limit already includes cookware and the food itself. 

If you are uncomfortable with a cast iron griddle, choose aluminum or stainless steel. 

Heat-resistant handles

Nothing increases the probability of dropping your griddle onto your glass stove top than rushing to get your hands off hot handles. 

You can scan the market for griddles with handles made of thermoset plastics and polymers like silicone, epoxy, phenolic, and polyurethane. 

Thermoset compounds are the most common material used for cookware handles and are also sold separately as covers. Le Creuset, known for its heavy cast iron Dutch ovens, offers silicone handle grips to ease transport and protect you from burns. 

If you can’t find one with thermoset handles or silicone covers, opt for one with raised metal handles. 

You can protect your hands using kitchen gloves or wrapping the handle with a dish towel before moving the griddle. However, note that this is risky since the towel might move around and expose your hand to the hot handle! 

No to extreme heat

One way to crack a glass stove top is by exposing it to extreme heat and thermal fluctuations. If you have a cast iron griddle, you must be aware that leaving a hot cast iron on a glass stove top, especially one that’s already turned off, can cause hairline cracks.  

Glass stove tops do not go well with high heat. And cast iron takes time to reach cooking temperature but retains it well once it does. 

Here’s the issue:

If you increase the glass stovetop’s temperature to its highest setting to heat the cast iron cookware, the stovetop will take a long time to cool down. 

As it does, the hot cast iron will consequently apply thermal stress to it with the heat it retains, increasing the likelihood it will crack. 

You can prevent this by using aluminum and non-stick griddles or not using a glass stove top for food that requires high temperatures to prepare. 

It’s all about the base.

Some griddles have ridges in the bottom instead of a flat surface. This increases cooking time as the heat does not distribute uniformly over the base. It can also potentially scratch the surface of your glass stove top.

Instead, look for one with a flat base or those with an enameled finish as this extra glossy layer acts as a barrier for the glass. 

Can you use a cast iron griddle on a glass-top stove?

Cast iron might be intimidating to pair with glass stove tops. They are heavy and incredibly hot when cooking. So, can you use a cast iron griddle on glass?

Yes, you can! 

One of the best ways to prevent cracks and scratches is to move the griddle gently. That means you must lift it carefully and never let it slide on the glass surface. 

Glass can also crack due to thermal shock, so if you want to use a cast iron griddle, you can preheat it first on low heat to facilitate a slow thermal expansion on both the glass and the cast iron cookware. 

Additionally, always clean your cast iron well before using it since leftover food and debris can scratch the glass surface. 

Before you cook, have a game plan on how to deal with slightly longer cooking times— cast iron takes time to heat it properly and cool down. While cooking, always lift the griddle with both handles when you need to move it and utilize a cooling rack or a trivet for the cast iron to cool down. 

Never drop, drag, or leave your cast iron to cool down on your glass stove top!

Best griddle for glass top stove

Now that you get the gist of how to handle griddles on a stovetop, here are some factors you need to consider when purchasing one. 

1. Material— cast iron or high-quality aluminum as these two can distribute heat evenly. 
2. Size— griddles can range from 12-20 inches in length. If you plan to use it during large gatherings, choose a larger pan that can accommodate the meat, vegetables, and other ingredients at the same time. An 11-15 inch griddle is also a good option for daily use. 
3. Ergonomics— griddles with smooth bottoms, heat-resistant handles, and a weight you’re comfortable carrying. 
4. Heating Method— glass stove tops include electric, radiant, halogen, and induction. Induction does not work with aluminum and other non-ferromagnetic materials, so research the cookware compatibility first before buying. 

You can use the following as a guide to your next purchase.

1. Cast iron— Lodge Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle
2. Dual burner griddle— Cuisinart Double Burner Griddle 
3. Aluminum— Farberware High-Performance Non-stick Griddle Pan and Nordicware 2-burner Griddle. You can try the Viking Culinary Hard Anodized Double Burner Griddle for hard-anodized aluminum. 
4. For induction cooktop— Chef’s Secret 11-inch Stainless Steel Induction Griddle

FAQs

Can I use a 2 burner griddle on a glass top stove?

Yes, you can. A double burner griddle offers an adequate cooking space.

The drawback, however, is the inconsistency of distributed heat due to the space between two burners. 

This inconsistency may be reduced with glass cooktops since the smooth surface can facilitate heat transfer, albeit slowly.

Moreover, some induction cooktops have “flex zones” that combine two burners to fit large cookware. A great example of this is Bosch’s FlexInduction technology. 

Can you use a griddle as a stovetop?

Yes, griddles can be stovetops too! 

Electric griddles boast great portability and versatility.

Some of their features include non-stick coating, grill combination, grease traps, easy storage, and low electric consumption. They also distribute heat more uniformly than their stovetop counterparts. 

You can even keep your food warm underneath an electric griddle, which can be elevated to make space below. 

An electric griddle can be your next investment! It saves money without sacrificing performance. 

What should you not use on a glass top stove?

Do not use the following on your glass top stove to avoid scratches and cracks, if possible:

1. Heavy cookware like cast iron— you can, but with utmost gentleness when moving it around.
2. Round-bottomed cookware (e.g, wok) since it has less stability and efficiency in distributing heat. 
3. Rough-bottomed cookware
4. Unclean cookware and utensils that still have leftovers and debris
5. Abrasive cleaners