Are you looking to remodel your kitchen by installing an induction cooktop? Or, you recently did it? Congratulations! That’s the first step to a safer, sustainable, and efficient life. The next step is knowing how to maintain your kitchenware. By maintaining, we mean knowing how to clean induction stove surface and components effectively. In this article, we will provide incredible induction cooktop cleaning tricks.
Therefore, if you recently or are looking to replace your old hob with an induction cooktop, I suggest you read through this article to the end.
Before discussing the induction cooktop cleaning tips, let’s look at what induction cooktop is and how it works.
What is Induction Cooktop?
An induction cooktop is a smooth cooking surface that uses high-frequency electromagnets located under the glass-ceramic cover to generate heat. The cooktops rely on electromagnetism to generate heat. Therefore, induction cooktops work with magnetic cookware only.
How does Induction Cooktop Works?
Under the smooth ceramic surface, there is a coil, usually of copper wire. On switching on the cooktop, the coil generates fluctuating electromagnetic fields. Here, no heat is generated.
When you place magnetic cookware directly above the coil, the fluctuating magnetic fields induce electric currents, eddy current, into the cookware. In simple terms, the magnetic fields penetrate the cookware, making the electric currents flow within the cookware metal.
Here, the cookware’s current flowing is not the same as the electric current flowing in the induction coil – through the copper wire. The current in the pan is whirling – a constantly changing electric current. The currents have high levels of energy. As the current flows within the cookware, it dissipates the energy as heat, therefore heating the cookware.
Usually, induction cooktops produce uniform heat, ideal for cooking and boiling. During cooking, you are sure of spills. Therefore, cleaning is a must.
Are Induction Cooktops Easy to Clean?
Induction cooktop cleaning is one of the easiest DIY tricks. It is easier than cleaning almost all other typical cooktops. It is because very little to no baking happens to spills on the cooktop as the top does not heat up while cooking.
However, it is best to have the right tools and ingredients and the right skills for effective cleaning and avoiding damages as cooktops are usually made of sensitive materials, the glass-ceramic material.
Let’s now look at how to clean induction cooktops….
How to Clean Induction Cooktop
This article will discuss regular and heavy cleaning – daily cleaning and deep cleaning for tough stains such as hard-water stains.
Caution:
- It is advisable to undress all magnetic wearables such as rings and bracelets while working with induction cookers.
- Ensure to switch off the power source of your induction cooker before starting to clean.
- Wait for the cooktop and spills to cool before you begin cleaning to avoid burns.
Let’s now get started with cleaning…..
Regular Induction Cooktop Cleaning
What You Need
- Sponge or a rag
- Dish wash detergent or your ideal ceramic-cleaner solution
- Paper towel
- Clean kitchen towel
How to Care for Induction Cooktop
Step 1: Using a sponge or a rag, wipe off all spills, food crumbs, grease, and other spills from your cooktop.
Step 2: Damp a sponge or paper towel with detergent and rub the top gently. Ensure to rub the entire surface. If you are using a glass-ceramic cleaner, dap a rag or spray it on the stove surface and spread it to the whole cooktop using a paper towel as you rub off the stuck spills.
Step 3: Use a clean kitchen towel to wipe off the detergent or the glass ceramic-cleaner solution.
Regular cleaning is highly recommendable. It helps to keep your cooktop’s beauty and eases heavy cleaning that should be done after at least a week of use.
Heavy Cleaning Induction Cooktops
Heavy cleaning refers to thorough cleaning aiming to remove all severe stains to regain the cooktop’s original look.
What You Need
- Sponge or a rag
- Clean kitchen towel
- Cooktop-cleaner Pad
- Ceramic-cleaner solution
- White vinegar
Note that there are other solutions and substances suitable for cleaning induction cooktops. Therefore, different types of stains and the toughness of particular stains determine the ideal ingredients to use.
How to Heavy Clean Induction Cooktops
Step1: Wipe off spills from the cooktop using a rag or a sponge.
Step 2: Apply a generous amount of your favourite grass ceramic-cleaner solution onto your cooktop.
Step 3: Use a cooktop cleaner pad to spread the ceramic cleaner solution on the entire surface and scrub off stains.
Step 4: Use a sponge or paper towel to wipe the solution. Wiping will help you identify grimy areas. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the unclean spots.
Step 5: Soak your rag in white vinegar, then use it to rub off hard-water stains from your cooktop.
Step 6: Use a sponge to buff off excess cleaner and vinegar from your top, then dry it using a clean kitchen towel.
Step 7: Use a glass-ceramic cooktop scraper to remove stuck-on chunks such as sugar spills and melted plastic from the top surface. A putty knife or a single-edged blade can also serve the purpose. However, be extra keen not to scratch your cooktop.
Now use a dry sponge to wipe off the loose particles.
Let’s now look at how to clean induction cooktop using other substances such as toothpaste and baking soda.
How to Clean Induction Cooktop Using Toothpaste
- Using your fingers, spread the toothpaste on the stove surface.
- Add some water and use a cleaning pad to rub the paste all over the surface.
- Next, use a clean, dry kitchen towel to wipe the paste off the cooktop.
Toothpaste is ideal for typical stains.
How to Clean Induction Cooktop Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
- In the ratio of 1:1, mix warm water with vinegar.
- Using a sponge, apply a generous amount of the solution onto the cooktop surface and leave it to settle for a while. Ensure to spread it to the entire surface.
- Spread the baking soda over the solution, over the entire surface, and leave it to settle for about 20 minutes.
- Next, using a damp sponge or rag, wipe the mixture off the cooktop.
- Lastly, dry the top surface using a clean, dry kitchen cloth.
The technique is suitable for cleaning almost all types of stains, including stuck-on, baked spills.
That’s it. Your induction cooktop is clean and ready for later use.
Conclusion
Induction cooktops are ideal for both domestic and commercial use. They are highly efficient. However, you need to conduct regular induction cooktop maintenance procedures, including consistent cleaning, to leverage them. Use the discussed steps and tips for induction cooktop cleaning to keep your cooktop’s beauty.
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