Do you want to know how to easily clean your induction cooktop?
It happens too often that people spend hours researching the perfect induction cooktop and spending hundreds of dollars buying one just to neglect maintaining it. They end up with a scratched and burnt cooking surface which is most likely not covered by any warranty.
To ensure your induction cooktop looks FABULOUS, just follow these easy steps
Towards the kitchen!
In this article I will discuss:
Induction cooktops
Induction cooktops work on the principle of magnetic induction. In short, the magnetic field around an electrical current is used to induce currents in the base of compatible cookware, which, in turn, creates heat. For an in-depth look into induction cooking and exactly how it works, check out our article here.
Because of how induction cooktops work and the absence of any burners or heating elements, they have smooth and elegant surfaces. These cooktop surfaces are most of the time manufactured from ceramic glass. Some induction cooktop models have the optional stainless steel trim.
Both stainless steel and ceramic glass have certain requirements when it comes to cleaning. We will discuss how to clean both.
How to easily clean induction cooktops
There are several different “classes” of cleaning depending on how dirty the induction cooktop is.
Everyday cleaning of ceramic glass cooktop surfaces
It is very important to note that you should not use any abrasive materials like steel wool when you clean ceramic glass surfaces or stainless steel surfaces because this can cause permanent damage!
The key to keeping your induction cooktop looking new is to clean it regularly. And by regularly, we mean everytime after you’ve used it. It may sound like a lot of work and you may end up asking yourself if it was worth it to buy an induction cooktop given this requirements. The fact is that if you maintain your induction cooktop well, the cleaning part takes mere MINUTES! Remember, the cooktop surface does not get hot except for heat transferred from cookware. Therefore spills tend to get burnt less compared to gas or electrical direct heat cooktops.
Easy steps for regular cleaning
- The first step is to immediately clean certain types of spills. These are generally spills that contain some form of sugar like syrup, sweet chilli sauce or jam. Sugar has the nasty tendency to permanently stain ceramic cooktops when burnt. When something sugary is spilled, especially on the heating zone, immediately take the pot or pan off, switch off the cooktop and wipe the spill with a lint-free damp cloth. It is preferable to wait just long enough for the spill to cool down enough for cleaning but not long enough for it to solidify.
- The second step is right after you’ve used the cooktop. After you have switched it off, just wipe it with a damp lint-free cloth to clean up the general spills.
- The final step can be done when you clean the rest of the kitchen. There is no rush because you have already cleaned the “time-sensitive” spills. Use quality ceramic glass cleaner or cream and a lint-free soft dish cloth for the final cleaning. Put some cleaner on the cloth and clean the surface by making circular movements while gently pushing down on the cloth. When you are satisfied that all general stains are removed, clean the surface of excess cleaner with a clean soft lint-free cloth.
Image by Amazon
Image by Amazon
Cleaning stubborn and burnt spills
Unfortunately there are those spills that do get burnt and regular cleaning won’t help.
For these spills just follow these easy steps:
- Use a scraper blade or knife to scrape away those hard burnt spills. You can find these in any general hardware store or as part of a cooktop cleaning kit. You could also use a razor blade, just take care not to cut yourself. Always scrape away from yourself, at an angle steep enough to get under the burnt spill but not so steep as to dig into the cooktop surface. Also be careful not to dig the edges of the blade into the cooktop surface, you will damage it permanently. Clean the scraper after every scrape by wiping with a cloth. Be careful not to cut yourself. With experience you will learn how to angle the blade or scraper perfectly to get under those stubborn burnt spills.
- After all the spills are scraped, wipe the surface with a clean damp lint-free cloth.
- It is recommended to clean the surface again with induction cooktop cleaner after this step to make sure all the stains are removed.
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Getting rid of hard water stains
Hard water basically means water with higher amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium.
When hard water evaporates, it leaves behind a crystalized mineral residue that is difficult to remove. Luckily in the case of ceramic glass cooktops, these stains can be easily taken care of.
Just use distilled vinegar on a cloth and rub away at the stains. After they have been removed, wipe with a lint-free damp cloth (preferably using distilled or at least bottled water).
Cleaning stainless steel parts and trimmings
You can use the same cleaner as mentioned above or dishwashing liquid and a sponge or cloth to clean the stainless steel parts of your induction cooktop.
- Firstly wipe with a damp lint-free cloth
- Then use a damp sponge or cloth with dishwashing liquid or cooktop cleaner to clean the stainless steel. Take care in which direction the grain of the stainless steel runs. You will see the direction of the grain by looking closely at the surface from an angle. Clean the stainless steel by moving in the same direction as the grain.
- Wipe the cleaned parts with a damp lint-free cloth.
Conclusion
Maintaining an induction cooktop is not as difficult and time consuming as it may sound. It will ensure you get the most out of you cooktop over its lifespan while adding a pleasing aesthetic look to your kitchen.