lynn Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 tia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Some pots/pans will NOT work well--read labels if you purchase new pans. Don't cook on 'high' heat--it will warp most pans because the heat does not distribute as quickly. Purchase the 'special' cleaner--Magic Erasers are great too! Sometimes they break--they are made of glass.--Do NOT use them as a cutting board or for extra counter space! I've owned them for the past 14 years!--we don't have natural gas service in our area and I HATE propane. While smooth tops are a pain to keep clean--I really HATED cleaning out the drip pans when I had gas /electric elements... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Make sure your pots are completely flat on the bottom or they won't heat evenly. Wipe up spills immediately because they are a pia to clean--ITA Magic Eraser. Expect the center of the burner to turn black over time if you scrub it with abrasive cleaner--so don't! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avila Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Everything Jann said and: Even spilled water makes a mess if you don't wipe it up asap. Anything left on it for more than a few minutes gets brown and crusty. Don't leave anything anywhere on the stove that isn't fireproof. I have burned too many potholders, bread bags, and cake boxes to count, since for some reason, I think a flat surface calls for something to be set down on it. ETA: I do use a flat razor blade to scrape stuff off mine, even though I don't think they recommend doing that anymore. I just cannot get the rings that form off any other way, since I don't wipe up immediately because the stovetop is too hot and by the time it cools down, whatever is on there is set. Maybe someone can help me with that one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Stodgy-old vinegar-and-water cleans the glass tops very well. (I'm stuck with a Jenn-Air, which came with the house.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Don't store heavy items above it. You crack it, it's useless... I find that Weiman's cleaner is GREAT, kind of even acts as a "conditioner" for some reason...it's easier to clean now than it was when we first moved in. When I use the other brand (Lowe's recommended kind) it "reverts" back to being hard to clean. Weiman's just works better than the stuff they sell at Home Depot and Lowe's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quill Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Keep that sucker clean! Clean it like it's ordained in your religion. Clean it before cooking on it again. Also, if your dh gives you a vase full of lovely flowers, don't knock it over on the stove! Surprisingly, it is not the vase that will crack. It's the stove. Ask how I know... :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 ETA: I do use a flat razor blade to scrape stuff off mine, even though I don't think they recommend doing that anymore. Do you have the "dumb" kind? (blunt) or the standard single-edge that would go in an old-fashioned shaver? I got a dumb razor (that's what they called them at Lowe's) in a cleaning kit at Lowe's and it works great-- has a rounded blade rather than a tapered blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avila Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Do you have the "dumb" kind? (blunt) or the standard single-edge that would go in an old-fashioned shaver? I got a dumb razor (that's what they called them at Lowe's) in a cleaning kit at Lowe's and it works great-- has a rounded blade rather than a tapered blade. I may have to look for that. Also on the Weiman's, where do you get that at? I think I have the other kind of cleaner because mine is not fun to clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 (edited) Keep that sucker clean! Clean it like it's ordained in your religion. Clean it before cooking on it again. Also, if your dh gives you a vase full of lovely flowers, don't knock it over on the stove! Surprisingly, it is not the vase that will crack. It's the stove. Ask how I know... :tongue_smilie: :lol: I wish they had a snorting your coffee emoticon. We keep soft things like paper plates in the cabinet over the stove. I bought some lighter, flat- bottomed pans when I starting teaching the kids to cook. My Analon pans are too heavy for even my dd (16) to set down gently, oh soo gently. I think I had to learn to cook things at a lower temperature. We do most cooking somewhere around 3.5. I wipe it down a couple times a day. It's the cleanest thing in my home. I thought it was a fiend from the nether regions when I first got it, but now I like it just fine.:D Magic Eraser, hey? Now there's a tip I can use. Quill- I'm not laughing at the cracking your stove part. That would cause me to crumple up on the floor and cry. Edited July 7, 2009 by swimmermom3 clarification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Do you have the "dumb" kind? (blunt) or the standard single-edge that would go in an old-fashioned shaver? I got a dumb razor (that's what they called them at Lowe's) in a cleaning kit at Lowe's and it works great-- has a rounded blade rather than a tapered blade. You ladies use razors?:001_huh: I think a cold chill just passed up my spine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I may have to look for that. Also on the Weiman's, where do you get that at? I think I have the other kind of cleaner because mine is not fun to clean. You can find Weiman's at Wal-Mart. It's wonderful. I also use a razor blade on very stubborn stains. My stove top is about a year and a half old and the razor blade was recommended at that time. I love my smooth stove top. It still looks brand new and is so much easier to clean than drip pans. I once learned something about smooth top stoves from Jon and Kate Plus 8. She had taken the lid off her pan and sat it down on the stove top. It created suction as it cooled and broke the stop top. So, don't do that! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 This is probably a no-no, but I use windex to keep it shiny. Soap and water will take off the grease, but then you have soap film... I'm wondering if there is an alternative to windex. The cleaner that you are supposed to use with them works, but it leaves white residue everywhere. It is time consuming to clean it with the paste every time you cook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 This is probably a no-no, but I use windex to keep it shiny. Soap and water will take off the grease, but then you have soap film... I'm wondering if there is an alternative to windex. The cleaner that you are supposed to use with them works, but it leaves white residue everywhere. It is time consuming to clean it with the paste every time you cook. My mom has used Windex for years. She swears it puts a protective finish on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 You ladies use razors?:001_huh: I think a cold chill just passed up my spine. Mine isn't really a traditional razor. You couldn't cut yourself if you tried...it's dull. I picked mine up at Lowe's in the appliance dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 YShe had taken the lid off her pan and sat it down on the stove top. It created suction as it cooled and broke the stop top. So, don't do that! :) That was the first thing the delivery guys told me about the stove. Don't set a wet pan lid flat down on the stove. If you crack it that way, it won't be covered in the warranty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I use a magic eraser on mine and then wipe it down really well. Also, don't wipe it while the burner is still too warm; it'll break the glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterbabs Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 It's a real pain to clean because you can't wipe up spills right away. By the time it's cool enough to do so, it's baked on. :glare: Did I mention I HATE mine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I don't have a problem with cooking on high heat with mine, or with any kind of pan--I have cheapies, and I have one or two nicer ones. I also use mine for an extra counter--I roll dough, chop food (on a cutting board), stack extra dishes--even plastic, and I haven't burnt anything. I make sure the stove top is off. :) I'll add--don't step on it! (it wasn't me, and it wasn't my stove, but I know someone who did, while refinishing his wife's kitchen cabinets, and had to replace the stove, as it was just as expensive to buy a new top for it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alte Veste Academy Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 (edited) You can find Weiman's at Wal-Mart. It's wonderful. I also use a razor blade on very stubborn stains. :iagree: It's my favorite. If you have a stubborn stain, saturate it with the Weiman's and let it sit 5-10 minutes. Then go at it. I actually use my pastry blade instead of a razor blade. It works beautifully. I love my smooth stove top. It still looks brand new and is so much easier to clean than drip pans. I ADORE my stove. It is by far the easiest stove I've ever maintained. Yes, messes can get baked on but when they do, I'm actually able to fully clean them up again, something that always seemed impossible with drip pans...maybe I just wasn't getting to the drip pan messes as quickly as I'm inclined to clean the glass top stove. I tend to clean things on the glass top right away and yes, you can grab a rag or paper towel and gingerly clean up a mess even on a raging hot burner. Just use caution and great speed. :tongue_smilie: I've spared myself a lot of elbow grease this way. Edited July 8, 2009 by Alte Veste Academy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMCassandra Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Guard that glass top with your life. The glass is, like, 95% of the cost of the stovetop. When you take a hot pan off a burner, have a hotpad ready to put it on. NEVER put the hot pan on an unused (cold) burner. The glass will crack. I didn't know about not putting a hot lid down, but it's the same principle and makes sense. Yes, use the special white cleaner. It is very good at getting stuff off. And I agree with the razor blades--hold one carefully at a shallow angle and it will take most baked-on things off right away without scratching the glass. Make sure your pans are ABSOLUTELY flat. You can check them by running the edge of a ruler across the bottom and looking for any spots where you see daylight between the pot and your ruler. If you follow these rules, you will enjoy your cooktop for many years. Although I sometimes whine about it showing everything, the top really is much easier overall to keep clean than the conventional burners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 after reading all this, LOL! I am a messy cook....so I better stick to the 'coil' kind, LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quill Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 (edited) Quill- I'm not laughing at the cracking your stove part. That would cause me to crumple up on the floor and cry. I welled up, I am sure. Edited July 8, 2009 by Quill Edited to fix quote tag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 When you take a hot pan off a burner, have a hotpad ready to put it on. NEVER put the hot pan on an unused (cold) burner. The glass will crack. I don't have that problem with mine. I do it all the time. The surrounding surfaces get warm, so just moving it back to the next burner doesn't harm it (mine, anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Make sure your pans are ABSOLUTELY flat. You can check them by running the edge of a ruler across the bottom and looking for any spots where you see daylight between the pot and your ruler. Certainly true for the induction cook tops...not quite as much for the standard flat tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I guess I'm in the minority in saying that I think it's easy to keep clean. Perhaps I'm a fairly clean cook, I don't know. We've had ours for over 11 years and it still looks like new. I just use Soft Scrub on it with a scrubbing sponge (one that's safe for non-stick surfaces, so it isn't too scratchy) and it cleans up very easily and looks great. Our last house had a gas stove and it was such a pain to clean it that it seldom was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Does that make the difference on durability? Cleaning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterbabs Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Yes, I think so. It's very easy to scratch while cleaning, and scratches can cause it to break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Does that make the difference on durability? Cleaning? We have an 11 yo GE that is just a cooktop, not a stove. It is black, the burners have a few gray speckles while the rest of it has lots of gray speckles. I don't know how much it would even show scratches, but I can't see any looking at it. I even use my cast iron on it with no problems. I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Mine is a GE Profile. I don't know how old it is, but it's probably pretty old. Our microwave was a 1994, and we had to replace it last year. Our fridge is 1992. The dishwasher and stove don't have years on them, but they look to be of a similar age. We inherited them with the house. All GE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Does that make the difference on durability? Cleaning? That's a great question. I've been thinking that Gardening Momma likes life on the edge and maybe it's the type of cook-top.:D We have a Kenmore range that we bought about 5 years ago. It's all black with some very small speckles and has 5 burners. I have to admit I was paranoid at first, but now it's fairly easy to work with. I have boiled things over. I just use the cleaner and the scritchy fabric that came with it. I haven't boiled anything over with sugar in it. That is supposed to cause damage. My instructions say you can pour cold water onto a cooking zone without causing damage. Oh, what do you know-here's a picture of someone using a razor blade scraper.:001_huh: That must mean I didn't read the directions when I bought the stove since this is news to me. Please no one tell my dh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 That's a great question. I've been thinking that Gardening Momma likes life on the edge and maybe it's the type of cook-top.:D. Well, after reading this thread, I was thinking that I maybe shouldn't push so hard when I knead bread on my cook top. Or stop doing it on the cook top! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassiemc Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I have one that came with our home. I love it. I find it very easy to keep clean. I do everything everyone has said not to do and it's fine. I use it as counter space, move hot pots onto cold stove top, etc. I've had no problems. I guess I'll be sure to replace it with the same brand when the time comes :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bella_gitana Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 ETA: I do use a flat razor blade to scrape stuff off mine, even though I don't think they recommend doing that anymore. I just cannot get the rings that form off any other way, since I don't wipe up immediately because the stovetop is too hot and by the time it cools down, whatever is on there is set. Maybe someone can help me with that one? I also use a flat razor blade. Whatever the Magic Eraser doesn't get, the razor blade does. I spray mine with cleaner then use the blade as flat as possible. BTW, my stove is two years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I guess I'll be sure to replace it with the same brand when the time comes :) Me too, since mine has stood up to a lot of abuse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imprimis Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Guard that glass top with your life. The glass is, like, 95% of the cost of the stovetop. When you take a hot pan off a burner, have a hotpad ready to put it on. NEVER put the hot pan on an unused (cold) burner. The glass will crack. I didn't know about not putting a hot lid down, but it's the same principle and makes sense. . I have never taken this precaution and haven't had any problems with my glass cooktop. I wonder if it's a brand thing? I've had my GE Spectra Performance Profile for almost 9 years now, and while it doesn't always look pretty, it has held up remarkably well considering the treatment it receives here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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