Can You Use A Pressure Cooker On A Glass Top Stove?

Getting to know the appliances in your kitchen can feel impossible sometimes. Do you want to try using your pressure on a glass top stove but don't know whether it's safe or not? Well, we've done plenty of research and have the answer waiting here for you. Let's dive in!

In general, you don't want to use a pressure cooker on a glass stovetop. Considering that the heat produced from your pressure cooking device can cause a glass top stove to crack or even shatter, it's best only to place your device on the countertop.

That said, you can usually get away with using a stainless steel pressure cooker on glass, as it won't get as hot as other materials, so that's a good alternative to consider.

As we begin, we will discuss all things pressure cookers and cover how to use one on a glass top stove. Whether you're new to pressure cooking or need some troubleshooting advice, we're here to offer plenty of help. Let's get right into this topic!

A pot of boiling water in the glass cook top, Can You Use A Pressure Cooker On A Glass Top Stove?

Is It Safe To Use A Pressure Cooker On A Glass Top Stove?

As long as the pressure cooker you use is stainless steel, it should be safe on a glass-top stove. As we mentioned above, stainless steel distributes heat more evenly than other materials, making it the safer choice for glass stovetop cooking.

Woman taking off the cover of the pressure cooker

Considering that pressure cookers will heat up a bit and become highly pressurized during the cooking cycle, using a non-stainless appliance on your glass could result in cracking or shattering.

Furthermore, once a stovetop shatters/cracks, it becomes dangerous to turn on for any cooking, so this can be an expensive mistake.

Where Is The Best Place To Use A Pressure Cooker?

You want to use a pressure cooker somewhere with good ventilation and a surface that can withstand heat. Although a pressure cooker can go many places, this will generally be a countertop or level, heat-tolerant table.

As we covered, besides becoming quite warm, pressure cookers will also pressurize while they cook your food, which is why they aren't usually suited for glass top stoves.

What Is The Best Pressure Cooker For A Glass Stovetop?

Ideally, you want to only use a stainless steel pressure cooking appliance on a glass stovetop. This will be the best and safest option for both you and your stove and shouldn't cause any damage to your stove's glass surface.

On top of that, stainless steel, in general, is better for stovetop cooking because it doesn't react as dramatically as other materials, so this recommendation goes beyond pressure cooking systems.

Presto 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

This pressure cooker is stainless steel, holds up to six quarts, includes an in-depth cooking guide, works on glass stovetops, and comes with an extended 12-year warranty.

Follow this link to see it on Amazon.

How Hot Does A Pressure Cooker Get?

On its highest setting, you can typically expect a pressure cooker to reach temperatures of nearly 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heat will happen once a pressure cooker reaches a psi (pounds per square inch) of 15, which should also reduce your overall cooking time.

That said, the boiling point of water inside a pressure cooker will be closer to 212 degrees F, so you don't usually need such high heat unless you are cooking larger amounts of food or liquid.

On top of that, not every pressure cooker will allow for such high cooking temperatures, so you may only see your appliance reach about 235 degrees F (10-11 psi).

Can A Pressure Cooker Melt A Glass Top Stove?

Although a pressure cooker won't usually melt a glass top stove, it can leave damage behind. Using the wrong pressure cooking system on a glass stovetop will often lead to cracking or complete shattering, although it is possible to see melted cookware on your glass as well.

Like we said, having a glass stove crack can make your appliance unsafe to use, even if it is only a hairline fracture, so this can lead to a hazardous situation.

Furthermore, repairing a glass top stove can set you back anywhere from $50 to over $200, so it's best to stick to using the countertop for your meal prep.

Can You Use A Pressure Canner On A Glass Stovetop?

Yes, you should be fine using a pressure canner on a glass top stove. Most times, it's better to only place a pressure canner on glass that is smooth on the bottom, meaning it doesn't have any uneven or rough surfaces.

You also want to make sure you avoid enamel canner's on glass stovetops, as they tend to be uneven at the bottom, which can damage your glass surface. On top of that, your pressure canner shouldn't exceed the diameter of the actual burner by more than one inch, so that's something else to consider.

Can You Use A Pressure Canner On A Smooth Top Stove?

Following a similar theme, you can also use a pressure canner on a smooth top stove as long as it isn't uneven on the bottom. Considering that a smooth top stove is more prone to damage from uneven heat distribution, it's important to only place pressure canning systems on top of it that are ridge free.

Your pressure canner should tell you if it's glass or smooth top stove friendly in its instructions, so if anything, we recommend referring back to those.

What Is The Best Pressure Canner For Glass Top Stoves?

Moist coming out from the pot due to boiling water

We recommend checking out Presto's collection of products for those on the market for a new pressure canner. As we covered above, having a smooth pressure canner is essential for glass and smooth top cooking, which is where Presto seems to shine.

Of course, many brands also offer smoother base pressure canners, although they aren't usually as durable or feature as extensive warranties as Presto's options do.

Presto 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker

This pressure canner holds up to 23 quarts, is aluminum material recommended by the US Department of Agriculture, works on smooth-top stoves, and has gleaming reviews from customers.

Check out this pressure canner on Amazon.

What Is The Difference Between A Pressure Cooker And Canner?

The difference between pressure cookers and canners is how they prepare your food. Most importantly, a pressure cooker will work best for roasts and other larger cuts of meat, while a pressure canner is better suited for processing low acid foods, like vegetables, meat, and fish.

Size-wise, pressure cookers and canners tend to offer various quart/pint capacities, so in that way, they aren't much different.

The same goes for their design, whether smooth bottom or those with ridges at their base, so your only noticeable difference should be how they operate versus their aesthetics.

Which Is Better For A Glass Stovetop?

A pressure canner will most often work better on a glass stovetop between the two. We say this because pressure canners tend to have smoother exteriors and bases than pressure cookers and won't get as hot on your glass surfaces.

Pressure cookers get warmer than canners simply due to the food they typically cook, so if you try to keep your pot under 250 degrees F, you shouldn't run into any significant problems.

Again, your cookware should come with instructions that state whether you can use them on glass/smooth top ranges, so everyone will be different.

Are Glass Top Stoves Hard To Maintain?

Woman cleaning her glass stove cook top

Although they have a more modern and aesthetically pleasing look than traditional options, glass top stoves can be difficult to maintain. In general, glass stovetops will scratch and crack easier than other stovetop designs, making cooking and cleaning them more challenging.

With that said, as long as you use non-abrasive cleaning products and avoid uneven cookware, your glass stovetop should age gracefully, so the gentler, the better.

To Wrap It All Up

A pot of boiling water in the glass cook top

Whether you want to start using a pressure cooker or recently switched to a glass top stove, it's essential to get your temperatures right. From what we found, you can use a pressure cooker on a glass stovetop, as long as it's smooth on the bottom and stainless steel, so those are important details to watch out for.

You also want to try and keep your electric pressure cooking systems off the glass stove and on the countertop, so that's another thing to remember. Of course, your system should come with heating instructions that explain whether or not it is glass-friendly, so we recommend looking at those before cooking.

Regardless, make sure only to use smooth cookware on glass and avoid abrasive cleaning products.

Before you go, check out these helpful related kitchen posts down below!

How Long Should Pressure Cooker Take To Pressurize?

Can You Use A Pressure Cooker For Canning?

Should A Pressure Cooker Hiss Or Make Noise?

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