I'm in a new house, and the cook is getting frustrated with our new cooktop. Water takes a long time to boil and when it finally does, there is no way to simmer as it is now too hot. Is this normal behavior? How can I test the stove for normal operation?
Ceramic glass cooktop testing
stove-top
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This apparently is for a smooth glass top on a stove. GE sells them, perhaps others now. Traditionally, the word is that these are generally replaced when cracked. A small chip on the edge may not be worth replacing the top (which is EXPENSIVE from what I've heard) until that crack chooses to propagate. The problem is, heat stresses in glass tend to turn small cracks into big ones.
You might ask the manufacturer, but I'll bet a large sum of money they have no interest in repair anyway. They want to sell you a new top.
The first solution I would think of is a high temperature silicon caulk. You can buy it in a tube, and it does come in black. I don't know how much it hardens though.
If not that, I would look for a high temperature epoxy. You can get colorants for epoxy.
Tempered glass is almost impossible to cut without shattering it after it's tempered, so you'd have to find a piece exactly the right size. And even then I don't know if it would withstand high temperatures -- in fact it may get hot enough to un-temper it, in which case it would be a lot weaker and likely to break in normal use.
I have no idea if you can cook straight on the burners, but my guess is that since they're normally covered by ceramic glass, they're not constructed to support much weight. Also I suspect they get a lot hotter than the glass surface does on a non-broken cooktop, so you'd be looking at an increased risk of fire if something spilled over.
I did a quick search and found a few online used appliance part suppliers, but I didn't check to see if any had that part available and at what price. You might also call a few local appliance shops to see if they have any ideas on used parts.
A nationwide Craigslist search turns up many instances of that model stove for sale, all at prices lower than your price for a new part. Sadly your most cost-effective option may be to toss this one and buy a used one.
Best Answer
I had the exact same experience after my wife bought a glass top stove for our kitchen. I had many pots boil over and burn the first year and I hated the beast. It took some experience and practice to get a feel for how the glass stove performs. I eventually learned how to anticipate something coming to a boil and turning down the heat early enough to avoid a problem, though it still happens at times. Simmering a covered pot takes a far lower setting than you would naturally think if you have are used to a gas stove.
It is not like a gas stove where you can turn down the heat and immediately see a change. The glass stove tops take a little longer to get up to temperature and then retains heat for some time after you turn down the setting. I think this is normal behavior.
I agree with woodchips' advice about checking the bottom of your cookware for flatness. The more surface area in direct contact with the glass the better it will work.