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Cooking on a glass top stove can be a great experience. Not only do glass top stoves look great in any kitchen, they are also extremely functional. With efficient heating combined with modern looks, it’s no wonder glass stove tops are becoming more popular. If you are cooking with a glass top stove for the first time, you may have some questions. What is the best pan for a glass top stove? When will the rest of my kitchen appliances look this good?
While we can’t make an old refrigerator look like it has come back from the future, we can help make sure you have the best pan for your glass top stove. Finding the ideal pan for your glass top stove will depend quite a bit on your cooking style and preferences. On top of that, there will be a few “glass stove top” cookware requirements as well. Below we will go into how to find the best glass top stove compatible pan as well as in depth reviews of our top 5 picks. If you’re short on time and want to get right to it, here are our picks for the 5 best pans for a glass top stove. If you want to get into the weeds a little bit, continue reading!
The 5 Best Pans for Glass Top Stoves
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless 10-Inch Stainless Steel Skillet – Best Overall Pick
All-Clad D3 Stainless 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid – Pro’s Pick
Utopia Kitchen 11 Inch Nonstick Frying Pan – Budget Pick
Ceramic Nonstick Coated 11 Inch Skillet with Lid – Ceramic Pick
Frigidaire ReadyCook Cookware Stainless Steel 2 Piece Set – Combo Pick
Best Pan for Glass Top Stove Reviews
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless 10-Inch Stainless Steel Skillet – Best Overall Pick
This 10 inch stainless steel pan from Cuisinart is an all-purpose skillet that will work great on your glass top stove. At 10 inches, there is plenty of room to get creative but it’s not too big if you are just cooking for 1 or 2 people. This pan has what is called triple ply construction. The exterior and interior of the pan are both made from stainless steel with the core being made from aluminum. The aluminum core gives this pan great heat conducting ability. This helps to make sure this pan has consistent and even heating across the entire cooking surface.
This Cuisinart skillet is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 500 degrees. Not only can you cook all types of dishes in this pan, you can pop it right into the dishwasher when you’re finished. To give you some peace of mind, Cuisinart also backs this item with their limited lifetime warranty.
What we liked:
- 10 inch size makes this pan very versatile
- Triple ply construction allows pan to heat up very efficiently on electric stove tops
- Oven safe up to 500 degrees
- Compatible with induction cooktops
What we didn’t like:
- No lid is included with this pan
- Stainless steel cookware can be difficult to clean if food gets stuck on the pan
All-Clad D3 Stainless 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid – Pro’s Pick
This 12 inch fry pan from All-Clad would be at home in any home cook’s kitchen. Made from high quality stainless steel in the USA, this pan also has a 3 ply construction that sandwiches. This skillet is made from a layer of aluminum between 2 high quality stainless steel coatings. The 12 inch size makes it ideal for cooking larger meals as you can easily fit 3 to 4 chicken breasts in it at one time.
This pan includes a lid and is oven safe up to 600 degrees. It’s also dishwasher safe and will work on induction stove tops. As far as skillets go, there isn’t anything this pan can’t do.
What we liked:
- High quality 3 ply stainless steel construction
- Included lid makes this a very versatile option
- Oven safe up to 600 degrees and dishwasher safe
- Compatible with induction cooktops
What we didn’t like:
- It’s a bit more on the pricey side
- As it’s stainless steel, cleaning can be difficult if food gets stuck on the cooking surface
Utopia Kitchen 11 Inch Nonstick Frying Pan – Budget Pick
If you are looking for an all-purpose nonstick pan that will work with your glass top stove and not break the bank, this would be a great choice. This pan is constructed from aluminum alloy and coating with several layers of nonstick coating. The nonstick is free of PFOA, lead, and cadmium so there are no concerns of toxic chemicals.
As far as usability of this pan, it’s great for basic stove top cooking but doesn’t go a lot further than that. The 11 inch size is a bit on the larger side but still reasonable if you are cooking for 1 or 2 people. This pan is not designed to be used in the oven and you will need to use wood or plastic utensils to protect the nonstick. That said, you won’t have to worry much about food sticking to the pan during cooking thanks to the nonstick coating.
What we liked:
- Great value
- Nonstick coating makes oil free cooking possible and cleaning up super easy
- This pan works with induction cooktops and can be put in the dishwasher
- Ergonomic handle made from plastic will be comfortable to hold and won’t get hot while cooking
What we didn’t like:
- Not oven safe and cannot be used with metal utensils
- The nonstick coating can fade with time, especially if not taken care of properly
Ceramic Nonstick Coated 11 Inch Skillet with Lid – Ceramic Pick
If you are a fan of ceramic cookware and were hoping to see one on the list, here it is! Ceramic cookware is a great alternative to traditional nonstick cookware because it’s made from natural materials. This pan has an aluminum base with a ceramic nonstick coating on the interior to make sure your pan conducts heat well but also is nonstick.
Measuring at 11 inches, this pan is super versatile and has a glass lid included. With a stainless-steel handle and oven safety rating of 450 degrees, this pan can also be used for baking but not at high temperatures. Once you’re ready to clean up, you can toss this pan in the dishwasher, but hand washing is recommended by the manufacturer.
What we liked:
- Nonstick ceramic coating made without toxins
- Included lid allows for more cooking versatility
- Great copper coloring provides a unique look
- 11 inch size makes this a versatile sized option
- Compatible with induction cooktops
What we didn’t like:
- Only oven safe up to 450 degrees
- Some users mentioned the ceramic coating wore off, but this could be avoided with proper care
Frigidaire ReadyCook Cookware Stainless Steel 2 Piece Set – Combo Pick
Can’t decide on the best size pan for your glass top stove? The combo pick is for you. With 2 pans included, you won’t have to agonize over picking the right size for you. This set includes an 8 inch frying pan as well as a 10 inch frying pan. Made from stainless steel, these pans will ensure you always have the right pan for the job.
These pans are made from brushed stainless steel and have an aluminum core so they will heat up evenly. With oven safety ratings of 450 degrees, they can be used in the oven as long as the temperature isn’t too high.
What we like:
- 2 pans included (8 inch and 10 inch)
- Stainless steel construction with an aluminum core provides efficient heating
- Oven safe up to 450 degrees
- Compatible with induction cooktops
What we didn’t like:
- No lids included
- Can be a bit difficult to clean like other stainless steel options
How to Pick the Best Pan for Your Glass Cooktop
Picking the perfect pan for a glass top stove will be a combination of your stove tops’ needs and your needs. A glass top stove needs a few things from a pan: a flat bottom, no sharp edges, not being too heavy, and made from materials that will conduct heat well.
Your needs as a home cook will require some thought on your part. Here are a few questions to keep in mind as you decide on the perfect pan for you:
What size pan suits your needs? Pans typically come sized between 8 and 12 inches. If you typically cook for 1 or 2 people, an 8- or 10-inch pan should suit your just fine. Cooking for a family? A 12-inch pan will make sure you have plenty of room for your culinary creations.
What cookware material is best for you? There are many different types of cookware available on the market today and it can be a bit overwhelming. When it comes to glass cooktops, there are a few types that are more suited for glass top stoves. According to GE, stainless steel and heavy aluminum cookware will give you the best performance on your glasstop stove. While cast iron and stone cookware are great, they are not the best for glass top stoves as they can scratch the surface. If you would like to learn more about the different types of cookware available, check out our guide. Don’t worry too much though because we only included stainless steel and aluminum options on our top 5 list.
Do you plan to use your pan in the oven? Having a pan that can be used in the oven without any trouble can give you a lot of flexibility in the dishes you cook. With an oven safe pan, you can finish dishes off in the oven after cooking on the stove. Even if you don’t plan to use both cooking methods on the same dish, having an oven safe pan can allow you to have 1 piece of cookware that serves multiple purposes. If you are short on kitchen space, this can be a lifesaver.
Is your glass top stove really an induction stove? Electric glass top stoves and induction cooktops can look very similar but operate differently. If you have an induction stove top, you will need to make sure you get cookware that is compatible with induction stoves. To be safe, all of our recommendations will work with both electric glass top stoves and induction stoves.
Wrapping Up
Transitioning from a traditional gas stove top or an electric coil stove to a glass top stove can seem like a big change at first. Going from being able to “see” the heat on your stove top to just glass can leave you wondering, “is it hot yet?” While it may be tempting to touch it at first to check, please don’t. We can’t help treat burns.
Once the “newness” factor of your glass top stove wears off, we are confident you will be able to adjust to some of the nuances with glass stove top cooking. By making sure you have versatile and compatible cookware, you will have everything you need. If you aren’t sure exactly which pan to get but know you need something, our best overall pick will be a great start in your glass top stove cooking journey.
