While there are several types of glasses dominating the cookware industry, we often come across a common question. That is, can you put glass on the stove? Well, there cannot be a straightforward answer to this as different glasses react differently to heat.
Glass type, cookware capacity, temperature are among the most important factors associated with whether you can put glass on the stove. In this article, we will break down the answer for you. Read ahead to learn more!
Can you put glass on the stove?
There are some glasses that you can put on the stove. These glass cookwares typically come with an instruction on the box. But if you cannot find any instructions, it is best to not put a glass on the stove as all the glass cookware is very fragile, including the ones that are made of pyrex.
Table of Contents
There is a range of glasses that are used to make cookware. Not all of them can be put on the stove. Whether or not you can put a glass on the stove mainly depends on the type of glass, type of stove, and temperature applied on the glass.
If you’re not careful, the glass may blow-up and ruin the dish that it was holding. It may even cause injuries. So here’s our breakdown of how glass reacts to different types of stoves:
Glass on the gas stove:
It is not ideal to put glass on a gas stove. Experts would advise against putting glass on top of a gas stove as they can bring any glass cookware, including the ones made of pyrex, to a cracking point.
It may end up breaking the dish and even cause you injury. So it is considered a bad idea to put a glass on a gas stove.
For gas stoves, you should always look for cookware that is made of stainless steel or aluminum as they are the safest options for its temperature.
Glass on the electric stove:
It is usually not recommended that you put a glass on an electric stove as it can reach up to very high temperatures which glass cookware cannot withstand.
Keep in mind that all glasses are fragile. Even pyrex cookware can reach a breaking point when you put it on an electric stove.
However, some glass cookware comes with a stove-safe label, with particular sets of instructions as to how you can put it on a stove. The instructions also include the temperature that it can withstand.
So if you can find glass cookware with such instructions, make sure to adhere to it.
Glass pots on a glass top stove:
Among all stove types, glass top stoves are the safest for glass pots. You can put glass pots on a glass top stove as long as you can keep a check on the temperature.
However, you should keep in mind that even glass top stoves can cause damage to the glass cookware. So if possible, you should not opt for glass or ceramic cookware on a glass top stove.
What happens when you put glass on the stove?
Glasses are fragile, even when they are tempered properly. So they may sustain cracks or be damaged when put on the stove. Most glasses cannot withstand the high temperature of stoves, which causes them to break. This in turn can cause injury.
In addition, glass cookware is rigid. They cannot offer the flexibility in compression and expansion that a cookware needs while it is being heated. Glasses cannot conduct heat as well as stainless steel, aluminum, or other metals.
So this means, glasses are vulnerable to thermal shock. Glass cookware when faced with fluctuating heat of a stove, may shatter. This happens because the glass cookware cannot keep up with the expansion and contraction that is expected on stovetops.
All these factors make glass a bad idea for a stove. Glass cookware is likely to break, crack, or shatter when placed on a stove.
Can you put Borosilicate or Pyrex glass on the stove?
While most glass types are sensitive to heat, there are some glasses that are crafted to withstand higher levels of temperature. Let’s take a look at whether you can put Borosilicate or pyrex glass on the stove.
Borosilicate glass:
There is a lot of speculation around glass types and whether you can use them to cook or heat dishes. Glasses offer great convenience when it comes to cooking.
Borosilicate glass is designed to tolerate high heat. These glasses are heated during production which makes them great for cooking. In addition, Borosilicate glasses are designed to be cold-proof.
All in all, cookware made of borosilicate glasses offers incredible convenience in the kitchen. You can put them on the stove without having to worry about cracks. Some lab-grade Borosilicate glasses can even withstand higher levels of shocks.
Pyrex glass:
No, you cannot put pyrex on the stove. Cookware made of pyrex glasses is not designed to cook on a stovetop, be it an electric stove or gas stove.
Pyrex glasses are not built to withstand high temperatures. They will break, crack, or even shatter when they are placed on the high heat of a gas stove or an electric stove. It may even cause a major accident in the kitchen.
So it is best to avoid putting pyrex glass on the stovetop.
Can you boil water in Pyrex and borosilicate glass?
You can use borosilicate glass to boil water. You can put it on a gas stove to get the job done. But make sure that it is not kept on the stove for too long.
As for pyrex, you cannot boil water in cookware that is made of pyrex. These glasses cannot withstand high temperatures.
So the boiling point of water will cause the glasses to break or crack. You can only apply a reasonable temperature on a pyrex glass.
Can you put these on the stove?
Let’s see if you can put the following items on the stove or not –
Glass bowl, pot, pan, or jar on the stove:
You cannot put an average glass bowl, pot, pan, or jar on a stove unless the manufacturer instructs otherwise. Placing them on top of the high heat of a stove can shatter the cookware.
Glass teapot, tea kettle, or coffee pot on the stove:
You can put a glass teapot, tea kettle, or coffee pot on the stove. But you will have to be aware that the stove is kept at low to medium heat. Otherwise, the pot may break, crack, or even shatter.
In addition, keep in mind that you should never put an empty glass teapot, tea kettle, or coffee pot on the stove. Fill up the pot before putting it on the stove.
Glass candle on the stove:
You can put a glass candle on the stove. The candles that come in a glass jar are particularly difficult to burn up to the bottom of it. In such a case, you can place it on the stove.
Glass measuring cup on the stove:
There are many measuring cups that are crafted to be stove-safe. You can put such a glass measuring cup on the stove without any worry.
Many glass measuring cups also feature a stay-cool handle which offers great convenience. These measuring cups are particularly helpful in the kitchen as you can lift them up straight from the stove.
Glass casserole dish on the stove:
You cannot put an average glass casserole dish on the stove. But there are some glass casserole dishes that are safe to put on the stove, including the ones made of pyrex or borosilicate.
You will find the manufacturer’s instructions on the dish’s package.
What is the average heat of a stove?
Identifying the temperature level of a stove can be quite challenging as there are no scales attached to these devices. Here is a list of the average heat of a stove at different heat levels.
Low heat:
At low heat, an average stove remains at a temperature between 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures are appropriate for slow cooking, heating up food, and more.
Medium heat:
At medium heat, the average temperature of a stove remains between 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Such temperatures are used for cooking meals, including chicken, fish, vegetables, and more.
High heat:
At high heat, the average temperature of a stove can be identified between 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures are used when you’re cooking meat, steak, and such.
Final thoughts
Cookware made of glasses is particularly fragile and cannot withstand higher levels of temperature. There are some glasses that you can put on the stove such as the ones made of borosilicate. But experts suggest that you should not put an average glass dish on the stove unless instructed otherwise.