Induction cooktop - easy to scratch?

17 years ago

Hello!

We are debating, whether to get a small (12") induction cooktop for our kitchenette or a bigger 24". Counter space is limited and we cook very little Â never have more than two pans at once. On the other hand, it appears, that the induction cooktop is smooth, hard, and cool (when not in use). So, one would think, we could get a bigger one and just use it as part of the counter, when little is cooking...

But is the "ceramic glass" material, that these cooktops claim to have as hard as, say, granite, or will we soon see scratches on the surface and regret using it as a counter?

Thanks!
doofus

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Comments (7)

teppy
17 years ago
i have a viking range with the electric smoothtop. They do scratch, but they are also black and do not show.I can see the small marks when i am cleaning it while its wet, but after i run my dry towel over it to dry the stove, it all dissapears. you can use it as an extension of your contertop, but just be careful. years ago, i came home from the grocery store and was in the habit of setting bags down on top of the stove when they would overflow from the counter top. this was on my old smoothtop stove and the knobs were on the top instead of on the front of the stove. i didn't realize that one of the bags of groceries had pushed down one of the knobs and that was enough to turn it on. i had burning melting plastic and whatever was in the grocery bag making a terrible mess melting and burning all over the stove. some knobs you push down on and turn to start a burner. i think my new viking is like that too. i'm not sure now, i will have to check.
2ajsmama
17 years ago
At least you wouldn't have that problem with an induction, unless there was something magnetic in the bag! Did it clean up OK?
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teppy
17 years ago
i just mentioned what happened to me because an induction is still a glass smooth top right? if so, i've never had a problem with not being able to clean a smooth top stove. a single edge razor blade will and has always been able to get anything off.
tamjo44
17 years ago
I have the 36" Thermador induction. I often use one side of it as prep space. I just lay a melamine cutting board down, then I can slice, dice etc right next to the pan or pot I am using. I have not found it to scratch from utensils, food cans, pyrex measuring cups etc. I would never cut directly on it, or store heavy items above it that could fall, but it certainly works as extra counter top.
elizpiz
17 years ago
For the extra expense of the induction, and the fact that you do not cook often, I would just get the two. Yes, it can be used as a surface, but why not just use the regular counter top for that? The only advantage I would see for four is for longer term resale purposes. A two hob kitchen might be off-putting for some.

BTW, no scratches on our induction to date (5+ months)

Eliz
doofus
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes, it can be used as a surface, but why not just use the regular counter top for that?

This is a good question, and the answer is, there are much fewer choices among 12" cooktops, whereas the field expands greatly once larger size is acceptable.

Also, there are more powerful options available Â Diva's DDP-3 has a 4 kWatt (that's 28740 BTU!) "burner", for example, while their 12" DDP-2's maximum single-burner power is "only" 2.8 kWatt (20118 BTU).
margareta_mi
17 years ago
The DDP-3 could be a good choice for a small kitchen; it has 2 large powerful elements and a small element in a 24" cooktop.