Glass stovetops can add a sleek, minimalist look to any kitchen, and they’ll save you from the hassle of cleaning burner grates and drip pans. But they present a different challenge: cleaning the surface without leaving scratch behind, especially when there’s leftover, burnt-on food.
Let your glass stovetop cool down, then use a plastic razor scraper to remove thick, stubborn stains and burnt-on food. Apply a paste of baking soda and water and let it sit for 10 minutes. Finally, scrub the surface with a non-abrasive sponge and wipe it clean with a damp microfiber cloth.
Spillover onto your glass stovetop can be frustrating because it seems to burn almost instantly and stick to the surface. Luckily, the stuck-on food will eventually come off, but it can take some elbow grease. Let’s get started so you know how to clean your glass stovetop without causing any damage.
How to Clean a Glass Stovetop With Burnt-On Food
When it comes to removing burnt-on food from a glass stovetop, a lot of people believe it’s relatively complicated — worrying about scraping tools, multiple cleaners, and whatnot.
But cleaning your stovetop doesn’t have to be an extensive project these days, thanks to rapidly evolving cleaning technology. Nowadays, you can easily remove tough stains from your glass stovetop without worrying about unsightly smudges, ugly scratches, and dents.
You only need powerful but gentle chemicals and non-abrasive scrubbing pads for the task.
How to Remove Burnt-on Food from a Glass Stovetop
Follow these steps to safely remove burnt-on food from your glass stovetop:
- Let the burner cool off completely before spraying anything cold on the stovetop as you could damage it or injure yourself.
- For thick stains, pour a few drops of olive oil on the affected spot to loosen and lubricate the mess.
- Use a plastic razor scraper to dislodge the burnt-on food. Carefully push its sharp edge against the stain, keeping it as flat as possible to scrape off the stain easily.
- Once the glass surface no longer has edges to catch with the plastic razor, it’s time for a deeper clean with baking soda.
- Mix baking soda with water in a small bowl to create a consistently thick paste.
- Spread the paste over the glass stovetop and let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
- Gently scrub the surface with a non-abrasive sponge and wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth.
- Repeat the steps until you’ve removed all the tough stains, then give the stovetop a final touch with a microfiber cloth moistened with distilled white vinegar.
More Options for Cleaning Tough Burnt-on Food
Here are additional options for cleaning tough burnt-on food from your glass stovetop without scratching or damaging it:
Distilled Vinegar and Hot Water
Once you’ve scraped off thick stains from the stovetop, fetch a small bowl of hot water (not boiling) and make a homemade glass cleaner by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar.
Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spritz it on a clean microfiber cloth. Gently wipe the glass surface until it feels smooth when you pass the cloth.
The Pink Stuff
Many home cleaning pros agree The Pink Stuff (on Amazon) is a miracle cleaning paste in the kitchen. It works like magic on pots and pans, and you can try it on your glass stovetop too.
Scrape off thick stains from your glass stovetop first, then rub a dab of The Pink stuff on the affected spot. Let it sit for at least ten minutes, then wipe off the residue with a damp microfiber cloth and dry appropriately.
Bar Keepers Friend
Many home cleaning experts have sworn by the magic power of Bar Keepers Friend products. Before using their cleaning solution, it’s worth scraping off the stubborn gunk with a plastic tool.
You can even use the Bar Keepers multipurpose cooktop scraper that comes with this cleaning kit (on Amazon). Simply insert a nylon blade into the handle and apply gentle pressure as you dislodge the stains.
Next, apply Bar Keepers Friend Cooktop cleaner onto a wet microfiber cloth and use it to wipe the glass surface. Work in repeated, circular motions to remove all the stains.
Rinse the microfiber cloth thoroughly, then run it in warm water and use it to wipe off the excess cleaner and grime residue. Don’t let the solution sit on the stovetop for more than five minutes.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
A mixture of distilled white vinegar and baking soda is efficient at removing tough food stains from cooktops. Wet the stovetop moderately and sprinkle baking soda over it. Spray it with vinegar and let the fizzing stop before spreading the mixture over stubborn stains.
Use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub the surface gently, then rinse thoroughly with a wet microfiber cloth.
You can also use a medium or hard-bristled toothbrush to scrub the stained areas in repeated, gentle circular motions before rinsing.
What’s the Best Cleaning Product for Glass Stovetops?
The best cleaning product for glass stovetops is Bar Keepers Friend Multipurpose Cooktop Cleaner (on Amazon). It’s specially formulated for glossy surfaces and can remove cooking oils and hardened food debris without scratching or dulling your glass stovetop.
For best results, use it together with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (on Amazon) to easily wipe away the grime.
If you prefer to make a high-performance DIY cleaner, your best option is a mixture of water, distilled white vinegar (on Amazon), and rubbing alcohol. It gives a deep clean for a glass stovetop that has acquired a cloudy or filmy look.
You can make it at home with one cup of water, one cup of rubbing alcohol, and 1 ½ tablespoon of white vinegar.
Which Materials Shouldn’t Be Used on a Glass Stovetop?
Glass stovetops can be as finicky as cast iron cooktops, meaning you should avoid harsh chemicals that can scratch or leave residue on the glass surface. Avoid glass cleaners like Windex as they can release ammonia.
You should also avoid using steel wool, wire brushes, and abrasive scouring pads that can scratch and dull the glass surfaces. Stick to non-abrasive sponges, soft microfiber cloth, and brushes with polyester, nylon, or polyethylene bristles.
While paper towels may seem like a suitable option for drying the glass stovetop, you should avoid them. You don’t want traces of paper towel on your shiny stovetop.
How to Maintain Your Clean Glass Stovetop
While glass stovetops are attractive in a lot of ways, you can only take pride in them if you take proper care of them. Follow these tips to maintain your glass stovetop:
- Wipe your glass stovetop everyday once you’ve finished cooking and it’s cooled down. Avoid using the burner again until you’ve removed all the stuck-on food residue. Otherwise, heat from the second use could make it even harder to remove stubborn stains.
- Be careful when cooking or boiling sugary substances as sugary spills are particularly hard to clean up.
- Scrub off tough stains with a plastic scraper at least once a week to prevent the gunk from getting out of hand.
- Choose cookware that’s unlikely to damage the smooth glass surface. Avoid stoneware, ceramic, and cast iron cookware with unfinished, rough bases.
- Avoid using skillets or pans with rounded bottoms on glass stovetops. They can cause the heat to be distributed unevenly, ultimately stressing and cracking the glass.
- When handling heavy pans and pots, don’t drag them across the glass stovetop to reduce the risk of scratching it.
- Before cooking, ensure the bottoms of your pans and skillets are clean. Any grease at the bottom of the cookware can get cooked onto the glass and prove difficult to scrub out.