Can You Use A Wok On A Glass Top Stove?

Yes, you can but you also need to understand its limitations too.

On a glass burner, a wok with a circular bottom is preferable to one with a flat bottom since it will not scratch the surface
If possible, use iron skittles over flat bottomed woks because of their superior ease of use. Woks with rounded bottoms are also easier to clean.
Make an investment in high-quality wok rings or adapters that are tailored to the dimensions of your wok. First, ensure that you have the correct measurement for your round-bottomed stove, and then begin your search for the appropriate adapters.
When cooking with a wok, using wok rings on the burner may help prevent the wok from sliding about and provide you with more precise control over the cooking process.

Best Materials Suited For A Wok on A Glass Top Stove

If you have a glass top stove, it’s preferable to use a flat bottomed wok rather than a round one. A wok with a flat bottom is preferable for use on a glass top stove because it offers more stability and works efficiently with the heat source. Below is a list of materials that work best on a glass top stove-

Cast Iron: Cast iron is a dense material that does an excellent job of retaining heat. When it comes to low and slow cooking, nothing beats the versatility of a cast iron wok. However, if you have a glass top cooker, there are better options for high-heat cooking since it could damage the surface.
Aluminum: Aluminium is a substance that rapidly gains temperature despite its low weight. On the other hand, it does not have the same level of durability as other materials and may get warped with time. If you have a glass top stove, you should look for an aluminum wok with a flat bottom.
Carbon Steel: The vast majority of woks are made from this material. It is not only long-lasting but also easy to carry and has a rapid heating capacity. Woks made of carbon steel perform very well in high-temperature cooking environments, making them excellent for stir-frying. They are also simple to maintain and come at low cost. On a stove with a glass top, the ideal cooking vessel is a wok made of carbon steel with a flat bottom.
Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is a material that is not reactive, has a long lifespan, and is simple to clean. However, given that it is not the finest conductor of heat, it may take longer to heat up compared to other materials. On a stove with a glass top, the ideal cooking vessel is a wok made of stainless steel with a flat bottom.
Titanium: Titanium is an extremely strong and lightweight material that warms up rapidly and uniformly. Having said that, the cost is somewhat high. On a stove with a glass top, the best option is to use a titanium wok with a flat bottom.
Porcelain Enamel: Enamel made of porcelain is a substance that does not stick and is simple to clean. However, it does not have the same level of durability as other materials and is susceptible to chipping with time. If you have a glass top stove, you should look for a wok that has porcelain enamel and a flat bottom.
Copper: Copper is a very effective heat conductor; yet, it is also a costly material. A flat-bottomed copper wok is ideal for use on a glass cooktop.

Proper Way to Cook with a Wok On a Glass Top Stove

It’s important to know the correct methods so that your wok doesn’t get damaged over the years. These are the 8 important tips you should follow-

Setting up two types of burner: When using an electric stove with a glass top, it takes the burners some time to heat up and then cool down again. In this case, if you need to vary the temperature, you may want to consider using two separate burners. You could, for example, place one on a low setting while leaving the other on a high setting. After you have finished stir-frying, move the pan from the high burner to the low burner to keep it warm. If you just use one burner, there is a risk that your meal may burn.
Preheat for around 10 minutes: Electric stoves with glass tops take much longer to heat up than their gas counterparts. Therefore, preheating your wok is necessary to ensure that you cook at the appropriate temperature.
Add oil: Put some oil in the wok and swirl it around so that the whole pan is covered with it. In a few of minutes, you should see that the oil has begun to show signs of ripples. This indicates that you are ready to start frying. In order to determine the temperature, you may also use a thermometer.
Keep stir-frying to avoid burning: When you’re in the kitchen, bear in mind that woks with a circular bottom have a narrower base than those with a flat bottom. Food might easily be scorched due to the base’s high temperature. Because stir-frying calls for close attention and constant monitoring, you should never walk away from your food while it is cooking.
Use high heat when necessary: When using a wok for cooking, you should always keep the heat on a high setting. However, use proper caution before cranking it all the way up. That will be required for a few of the stoves with glass tops. Even deep-frying can be done in a wok if the temperature is high enough. Before you get too carried away with things, check to see if the stove in question is equipped with a range hood of sufficient quality.
Always avoid warping: Turning up the temperature requires caution. Warping may occur in woks made of any material, including stainless steel, carbon steel, ceramic, etc., if the wok is heated too rapidly. Putting a heated pan under cold water might cause it to distort as well. Before washing it or placing it in the dishwasher, let the wok cool on the stovetop. Warping can lead to difficulty in preparing meals. You can put a lot of your tasty stir-fry in a wok since it has a tiny flat bottom and broad, sloping sides. The bottom of the pan gets the most heat, so that’s where you want to do most of your frying. As you ascend the sloping sides, the temperature drops. If your pan is warped, your food will cook more slowly on the edges. This makes it tough to prepare meals with consistent results. Also, if it’s too disfigured, it won’t stay on the burner. Glass cooktops are easily cracked by an unsteady wok.
Don’t add too many ingredients: Woks can accommodate a large quantity of food because of their size. With their rounded, sloping sides, woks are easy to overfill. You can do a lot more than you could with a frying pan. Food won’t cook evenly if there are too many ingredients in one pan. There won’t be much of a temperature increase, and the components will just steam. If you let your meal sit there, the bottom components will burn while the remainder gets mushy. You don’t want that while you’re trying to cook anything.
Don’t heat your wok after you are done frying: It is critical to keep a careful eye on the food you are stir-frying in order to avoid burning it. Inadequate attention to the task might result in the food being scorched, particularly on the bottom of the pan, which becomes quite hot. As soon as you have achieved the desired level of char, remove your wok from the heat, and it will swiftly cool down.

Key Differences Between Flat Bottom Wok and Rounded Bottom Wok?

The differences flat bottom vs round bottom wok are given below-

Flat Bottom Wok

Because it has a flat base, a wok with a flat bottom may be used on a glass top stove or any other flat surface. The flat base ensures that the whole cooking surface of the wok is in direct contact with the stovetop, ensuring equal heating.

Woks with a flat bottom are more adaptable than woks with a round bottom because they can be used on a wider range of cooking surfaces, such as induction cooktops, electric stovetops, and gas stovetops. Woks with a round bottom are limited to using just one kind of cooking surface.

Round Bottom Wok

Traditional cooking techniques, like as stir-frying, call for a pot with a curved bottom, which is why a wok with a rounded bottom is an ideal choice. When stir-frying, it is essential to have easy movement of the contents, which is made possible by the rounded form of the bottom of the wok.

This helps to get the necessary texture as well as taste. The rounded shape of certain woks allows for greater heat concentration, making them the tool of choice for a number of cooks. This makes them particularly well-suited for stir-frying.

A wok with a spherical bottom offers better heat dispersion since it can tolerate greater temperatures for longer. The heat is distributed uniformly across the wok, preventing the food from being either undercooked or overdone.

When you are stir-frying, the spherical shape of the bottom of the wok makes it simple to move the contents around. On the other hand, woks with flat bottoms are more adaptable to a variety of cooking styles.

Proper Methods To Clean a Wok After Using on a Glass Top Stove

Cleaning your wok thoroughly after using it on a glass top burner is essential if you want to keep it in good condition and use it for as long as possible. Let’s look at the proper method-

Letting it cool to room temperature: Wait until the wok has totally cooled down before beginning the cleaning process. This will not only prevent any damage to the glass top of the stove, but it will also protect you from being burned.
Removing food residue and excess oil: Using a paper towel, wipe the wok clean of any leftover food or oil that may have been left behind. Because of this, cleaning it won’t be as difficult.
Clean with a soft sponge using hot water: Scrub the inside of the wok with a gentle sponge using hot water that has been filled in the pan. It is important to refrain from using any strong cleansers or metal scrubbers since this might cause the surface of the wok to become ruined. You might try using a very small quantity of mild dish soap if that turns out to be required.
Rinse properly and dry: After cleaning, thoroughly rinse the wok with hot water to eliminate any trace of soap that may have been left behind. After that, wipe out the whole inside of the wok with a fresh cloth. It is important to ensure that it is dried completely so that rust does not develop.
Store them properly: After the wok has been used and well dried, put it away in a dry and cold location. If you have a carbon steel or stainless steel wok, you may prevent rust from developing on the surface of the wok by applying a very thin coating of oil to the surface. If you have a wok coated with enamel, you should steer clear of any abrasive cleaning products since they have a tendency to scratch the coating.

Tips for Preventing Scratches on Glass Stoves

If you want to prevent scratches on glass stoves then you should definitely follow the tips given below-

You shouldn’t drag the wok over the glass counter. Instead, you should lift it.
To cook using an electric coil or element, you’ll need a wok with a flat base. Uneven heating or scratching of the glass might result from using a wok that is too small or too big.
Glass top stoves need frequent wiping down with a gentle sponge or cloth and a glass cleaner.
Scratches may easily be made on a flat surface using abrasive cleaners or rough materials, such as metal scouring pads.

Safety Precautions While Using a Wok On A Glass Top Stove

You need to follow some safety precautions so that you don’t get hurt while cooking. These safety precautions are as follows-

Choose the correct wok: You should look for a wok that can be used on glass top stoves. Woks with flat bottoms are ideal for use on electric stoves because they can be positioned directly on top of the coils that provide the heat. Use a wok that has a circular bottom that can fit comfortably over the burner while cooking with a gas stove.
Using a large-size top stove is recommendable: Make sure to make use of the largest burner on the glass top stove while you are putting a wok on it. Cooking will become less difficult and will cause less harm as a result.
Try to use an oven mitt: During the cooking process, the surface of the metal wok may get quite hot. When using the wok, be sure to protect your hands by using an oven mitt or a potholder.
Don’t use high heat: Stoves with glass tops aren’t supposed to be used for high-heat cooking. It is important to keep in mind that utilizing the stove’s higher heat settings may lead to the surface of the wok melting and the glass top of the burner being damaged.

FAQ

Can I use my wok on a glass top stove?

A wok may be used on a glass top burner, however, care must be taken to prevent breaking the glass. For this, you’ll need a wok with a level, smooth bottom that isn’t too heavy. Also, always raise the wok up and move it rather than dragging it around the stovetop.

How to season a wok to use on a glass top stove?

Cleaning the wok with hot water and dish soap is the first step in preparing it for use on a glass top burner. After it has been well dried, cook it over moderately high heat until it is quite hot.

Put some oil in the wok and spread it around so it covers the bottom. After a few minutes in the oven, remove the excess oil by wiping with a paper towel. To completely season the wok, you will need to repeat this step many times.

Should I use metal utensils while cooking with a wok on a glass top stove?

If you have a glass top stove, you shouldn’t use metal tools with your wok since you risk scratching the surface. Instead, try using wooden or silicone utensils, which are much gentler on the stove’s surface.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a wok may be used on a glass top stove if precautions are taken. The solidity of the flat bottomed wok makes it more adaptable, but it still requires careful handling. Materials that disperse heat well should be used to protect the glass surface.

Keep the heat at a steady medium level and avoid adjusting the temperature rapidly. Overall, stir-frying may be done successfully on a glass top burner with careful use and the right wok.

Sommer Hennessy

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I live in New York, United States. I did my graduation the City University of New York. Now I am a housewife. I am passionate about cooking and I also specialize in cookware and kitchen appliances. I have 6 years more of experience with cookware and kitchen appliances product review. If you have any queries about cookware and kitchen appliances you can easily contact us.

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Can You Use A Wok On A Glass Top Stove?