Safety tips to prevent shattering of toughened glass gas stoves
Choosing a stove top always comes with many considerations. Gas or induction, toughened glass or stainless steel top? Glass gas stove tops (which usually come in black or white) look sleek and minimalist, but do a quick search and you can see most prospective owners have concerns about them.
One of the questions commonly asked about toughened glass (or tempered glass) cooker hobs is whether the glass will last. In January, Electrolux recalled several glass hob models, while just over the weekend in Pasir Ris, a housewife’s glass stove shattered while she was cooking.
According to Spring Singapore, toughened glass is not unbreakable and can shatter for a variety of reasons, despite what most people think. Some of the reasons include overloading of the glass, changes in the surrounding atmosphere, stress from an improper installation and damage to the outer surface.
Buying a stove with the “Safety Mark” logo and engaging licensed contractors for the installation aside, here are some safety tips to prevent shattering of glass stove tops.
Don’t enclose the burner, don’t cover the glass top
Sure, you might want to prevent oil from splashing around and dirtying your glass top, but glass is easy to clean with a cloth. Enclosing the glass top or covering the surface with aluminium or other materials just means heat gets trapped and deflected back to the glass. And that increases the chance of it shattering.
Use the correct pan supports and avoid using oversized pots and pans
A pan support helps to keep your pots and pans stable when they’re on the burner, but using the wrong one or not positioning it properly can result in damage to the hob. Additionally, larger pots and pans (especially cast iron or stainless steel ones) trap more heat between the bottom of the pan and the surface of the glass.
Don’t put your pots and pans directly on the glass surface
Even when they’re not hot, putting pots and pans directly on the glass surface can result in it getting damaged from the weight. Also, be extra careful when using objects with sharper edges (such as a stainless steel spatula), as these can also damage the surface.
Spring Singapore also recommends to clean the stove regularly to avoid clogging of the burners and to read the instruction manual before use. Any irregularities, defects or damages should be immediately reported to the authorised agent or service centre.
In the event that your glass stove does shatter, it’s important to remain calm and clear the glass fragments quickly, especially if you have children or pets around.
After checking whether the product is still under warranty (some brands have a lifetime warranty replacement for shattered glass tops) and contacting the authorised agent for a replacement, remember to report the incident to Spring Singapore at safety@spring.gov.sg.
Glass stove tops are definitely aesthetically pleasing, and with a bit of care, you can reduce the chances of getting a rude shock.
