A good Dutch oven will serve as your most versatile cookware for your kitchen. Like all cast-iron cookware, the Dutch oven works well both on the stovetop and oven. This cooking utensil ideal for various cooking methods that require many liquid-like simmering soups, sauces, and stews.
Traditionally, most Dutch ovens are seasoned to improve the cookware’s natural patina. This gives your equipment the right flexibility to be used on several heat sources. On the other hand, modern-day technology arises from other variants of a Dutch oven or those covered with ceramic and enamel.
You can identify if your Dutch Oven can be safely used on an electric stove with these factors considered. Enamel-coated types may provide better stick-proof properties, but it is not suitable for high-temperature cooking (such as ovens). Ceramic, porcelain, and other stoneware are prone to cracking when it reaches high temperatures.
Can I Use a Dutch Oven on a Glass Top Stove?
Cast-iron cookware can make your cooking task convenient, simple, and reliable. A single piece of equipment made of cast iron can already provide multitudes of the cooking vessel. Save a lot of time transferring your cookware to bakeware since these utensils can work on high-temperature cooking, too.
It might be a piece of reliable cooking equipment, but it also has its limitations. Traditional Dutch ovens are made with pure cast iron, which can be abrasive with certain materials. Glass top stove is made with fragile material that can shatter once it is rubbed with rough materials like cast iron.
This is why enamel-coated types come in handy. Since the coating provides a smooth exterior, this will prevent unwanted friction to your glass top stove. Cast iron pots coated with ceramic reduces burrs and other imperfections that can damage your glass cooking equipment permanently.
Enameled cast-iron Dutch oven provides a better alternative for your glass top stove. The smooth surface will prevent scratches on your glass. However, the Dutch oven itself is made with heavy materials that can potentially wreck the glass surface.
If you want to use your cast-iron cookware for your glass top stove, you may consider the following recommendations:
- Use the proper Dutch oven suitable for your glass top stove. Cast-iron cookware coated with ceramic and enamel can produce an even finish to your Dutch oven. Friction caused by rough texture can potentially scratch your stove’s precious surface—and could leave imperfections.
- Dutch oven must contain lighter materials. A glass top stove is sensitive cooking equipment because it can handle minimal load compared to a regular gas stove. Under extreme force and pressure, the glass will slowly crack until it cracks. A Dutch oven is already a heavy material to work with.
To prevent further damages, consider using your Dutch oven for lighter cooking. If you want to simmer, boil, and slow cook your food, consider using lighter cookware that can be placed at the top of the glass top stove.
Can You Use Le Creuset On Electric Stove Top?
Le Creuset is a premium French manufacturer known for its enameled cast-iron cookware, called cocotte or coquilles, as a top-leading brand. After having an international presence, they’ve renamed their cookware as saucepans and casseroles. Aside from this helpful cast-iron cookware, Le Creuset also create bakeware and electrically operated machinery like fondue and tagines.
To create their best cookware, the Le Creuset foundry uses sand casting methods. As material and can withstand the high boiling temperature of a cast iron. However, due to their grainy texture, cast irons tend to have natural roughness to them. This is why Le Creuset submerges their beautifully casted pans into thick layers of coating.
Enameled cast iron is a robust material that competently performs modern methods for food preparation and cooking. This material performs well on either high-temperature searing or slow cooking.
According to Le Creuset’s official website, the said cookware can be a reliable tool on any heat source, including oven, grill, and induction. It can also be used on an electric stovetop operated on a solid plate or radiant ring. When using this cookware, lift the pan when moving instead of sliding it to prevent your cookware from damaging the pan.
Ceramic coating found on this brand prevents your hands from getting electrocuted. Cast-iron conducts electricity and heat faster. Insulators like silicon and ceramic prevent electricity from passing through. You can still use silicone-based holders or pot holders to provide enough cushion against heat and electricity.
Before using your Le Creuset, wash your pot on hot water mixed with mild dish soap to remove dust from the packaging. Dry it completely before use. Unlike the traditional Dutch oven, enameled cast-iron doesn’t require seasoning your cookware. This saves you time, effort, and budget in the long run.
Will the Dutch Oven Damages the Glass Top?
The Dutch oven has expanded their industry for a long time in providing competent cookware for professional chefs and aspiring home cooks. A Dutch oven can come from two variants; the first one is called the traditional type while the other is enameled. The two have their pros and cons, depending on the variant of heat source you have.
The glass top stove is made with fragile materials that are prone to cracking or breaking. A tiny inch fall gap will instantly turn your precious glass equipment into shards. This is why enameled cast-iron cookware comes through to provide the amazing properties of a cast iron; while still making it safe to use on a fragile heat source like induction cooker and glass top stove.
Dutch oven and other cookware will cause damage to your glass top if used improperly. As mentioned, you can freely use your Dutch oven as long as its exterior is coated with enamel or ceramics.
- To prevent incidents from coming through, make sure to inspect your cookware before placing it. Make sure that your cookware has no hairline cracks.
- Touch the pan’s surface with your hand. If it has a velvety texture, there is a high chance that you can use this cookware on your glass top stove. Rough texture found on traditional cast-iron cookware can scratch your glass cookware.
- If you need to slow cook your meals, consider using a slow cooker instead of the pot method. Pots are made with heavy elements that can push pressure to your glass. This will cause immense cracking to your cookware indefinitely.
