There’s no denying that the cost of purchasing an induction cooktop will set you back a fair few dollars, so when you do swap to induction cooking, you’ll want to make sure you take care of your new cooktop.
However, if you are used to cooking with gas rather than induction, it’s all too easy to make this one big mistake, and it’s to do with keeping it clean.
While the surface of a gas cooktop, including the grates, can often withstand a firmer hand, an induction cooktop requires a lighter touch. And that’s because an induction cooktop is made of ceramic glass, which can become scratched and damaged if mishandled.
For this reason, you need to think carefully before cleaning your induction cooktop, as taking the wrong approach and using unsuitable cleaning materials could ruin it.
“If you’re noticing scratches or white marks on your induction cooktop, it could be that you’re using the wrong tools and cleaning supplies,” according to Whirlpool.
Apart from looking unsightly, these marks could interfere with how well the induction heat is transferred to your pots and pans.
What to avoid when cleaning an induction cooktop
There’s one cleaning aid you should never use when cleaning an induction cooktop. And although it might be tempting to grab a scouring pad when wiping up burnt spills from an induction cooktop, before you grab one, take a moment to think about the damage it could cause.
A scouring pad is one of the five things you should never use to clean an induction cooktop, along with ammonia, rust removers, abrasive powder cleaners, and chlorine bleach.
To easy way to clean an induction cooktop
Cleaning isn’t my favorite task, but some chores can’t be forgotten, especially in the kitchen, where hygiene is paramount when handling food. Another issue we face in the kitchen is heat. If hot spills are not cleaned up promptly while cooking, food debris will harden and become more difficult to remove.
Cleaning up burnt-on food spills is a challenge, especially when using scourers or wire wool are off limits. However, there are a few steps that will make your induction cleaning experience just that little bit easier.
Prevention is better than a big cleanup
Instead of waiting to clean up spills after cooking and eating, do it on the go. This will ensure you can wipe away the messes before they become too tough to handle. You can use a soft microfiber cloth for this job.
How to clean an induction cooktop
My colleague, Kaycee Hill, goes into more detail on how to clean an induction cooktop, but for a basic clean, here's what to do.
1. Turn off the induction cooktop and let the residual heat subside.
2. Take a microfiber cloth and remove any loose debris.
3. Spray a non-abrasive cleaning solution over the cooktop.
4. Wipe the surface with a damp microfiber cloth.
5. For stubborn marks, you could use a scraper designed especially to clean induction cooktops, but avoid using any steel products on the glass surface.
The bonus of owning an induction cooktop
Although you will need to be careful when cleaning an induction cooktop, you won’t have the chore of cleaning around gas burners or soaking gas griddles in hot water to remove baked-on grime. So, although your induction cooktop needs a gentle touch, it won’t take long to get it perfectly clean, adding a neat and sleek aesthetic to your kitchen.
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