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Your Glass Top Stove Can Shatter If You Make This Mistake

Glass top stoves are sleek, modern, and easy to clean, making them a popular choice in kitchens today. However, their elegant surface comes with a hidden risk: if not handled properly, the glass can shatter, leading to costly repairs and potential injury. In this article, we’ll explain the common mistake that causes this damage and give you step-by-step guidance on how to protect your stove while cooking.

The Hidden Danger: Thermal Shock

The main reason a glass top stove shatters is thermal shock. This occurs when the temperature of the glass changes too quickly. For example, pouring cold water onto a hot surface, or placing a frozen pan directly on the stove, can cause the glass to crack or break. Glass tops are made from tempered glass, which is stronger than regular glass, but even tempered glass can’t withstand sudden, extreme temperature changes.

Other causes include:

Dropping heavy cookware onto the stove.
Using cookware with warped or rough bottoms that concentrate heat unevenly.
Scratching or weakening the glass with abrasive cleaning tools.

Step-by-Step Method to Avoid Shattering

Preventing damage is mostly about awareness and careful handling. Here’s a step-by-step method to ensure your stove remains safe:

Step 1: Preheat Safely

Always turn on your stove gradually if it has adjustable heat settings.
Avoid cranking the heat to maximum immediately. Rapid heating increases the risk of thermal shock.

Step 2: Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes

Never place cold or frozen pans directly onto a hot glass surface.
Don’t pour cold liquids onto a hot stove.
If a pan is extremely hot, allow it to cool slightly before washing or moving it to a colder surface.