How to Clean an Induction Hob

How to Clean an Induction Hob: Your Guide to a Damage-Free Cooktop

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

Induction hobs are a popular choice for modern homeowners. These sleek and stylish cooking solutions can work well with a wide variety of kitchen designs. What’s more, the slick surface of your induction hob can often mean that they’re easier to maintain.

However, if you do switch to using an induction hob, you’ll need to ensure you know how to clean an induction hob correctly. Using the wrong strategy to clean an induction surface could lead to scratching or damaging your kitchen equipment. If you scratch the glass, it’s even easier for food to become embedded into the surface of your oven, eventually causing further problems.

So, how do you get an induction hob clean safely?

How to Regularly Clean an Induction Hob: Top Tips

woman cooking in modern kitchenThe easiest way to keep your induction hob looking amazing is to clean it regularly. These ovens are often particularly appealing because they’re so easy to clean after you’re finished cooking. You don’t always need a dedicated hob cleaner or any special accessories. A little soapy water and a damp cloth are all it takes to wipe away food.

When you’re cleaning your hob on a regular basis, wait until the surface cools down completely before you begin wiping it. Use a soft cloth or microfibre cloth that’s unlikely to scratch the surface and warm soapy water to gently wash stains away. If you don’t leave the food to cake on for too long, it should be relatively easy to clean your appliance this way.

Ensure there’s no grit on the microfibre cloth you’re using when you’re washing your hob. Additionally, stay away from products like steel wool or scouring pads. Remember to carefully remove pots and saucepans from the hob before you start cleaning.

Helpful Tools for Regular Cleaning

The key to keeping your induction hob clean and working perfectly is to clean up spills as quickly as possible. However, you can also make your hob easier to maintain by using the right accessories.

For instance, some homeowners like to use hob protector liners to make it easier to wash away food and splashes. Remember to remove and clean the protector between each use to ensure it can continue to work well.

If you’re stocking up on products to help make your cooktop look as good as new, make sure that you check the instructions provided by your oven manufacturer. Though you may be able to use glass cleaner and ceramic cleaner with your cooktop, certain products could harm your oven.

Avoid using any abrasive or caustic cleaners that you might use elsewhere in your kitchen when you clean your induction hob. Don’t tackle oven discolourations with bleach, or cleaners that contain gritty particles. Stay away from steel wool and abrasive pads, even for burnt food. One use of the wrong materials could damage your induction hob and stop it from heating properly. Always avoid:

  • Cleaning substances with chlorine/black
  • Flammable cleaning materials
  • Caustic cleaning solutions
  • Dishwashing agents with abrasive materials
  • Scrubbing sponges or cleaning tools
  • A stain scraper
  • Metal scouring pads.

How to Clean Melted or Burnt-on Stains

As we mentioned above, it’s much easier to clean induction hobs immediately, when a spill or a mark first happens. If your induction hob has time to burn the food onto the ceramic surface or melt certain products, it will be harder to clean.

If you notice something that might be difficult to remove dripping onto your induction hob (like melted sugar), turn the hob off immediately. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe over the stain on your induction hob as quickly as you can. A little white vinegar can also help to remove pesky stains. If you don’t manage to remove all of the substance with your microfibre cloth before it hardens, carefully use your fingernail to try and remove the remaining stain from the cooktop.

If you’re unable to remove burnt-on food or melted sugar completely, then you may need to try using a sharp scraper utensil. Ensure the scraper is sharp as a blunt one may cause more damage. Hold the razor or scraper at an angle of around 45 degrees and carefully push against the burnt food with small movements.

Once you’re done removing melted sugar from your oven, wipe the glass or ceramic surface carefully again with a non-abrasive cloth to remove any remaining residue. This will help to prevent the heat from etching the stain into the surface over time. Dry your cooktop and hobs carefully before you use them again.

If plastic melts onto your oven, turn the hob off immediately, and peel away as much plastic as possible away. Give it enough time to dry before you do. If you struggle to peel back the substance, you can use household materials. You can use baking soda and warm water to lift the plastic away from the surface.

How Do You Remove Stubborn Marks From an Induction Hob?

An induction hob is often easy to clean when you’re dealing with basic stains. However, it’s much tougher to remove difficult marks and stubborn dirt from its surface. That’s because it’s too easy to accidentally scratch the induction hob. Even the best induction ovens can easily be damaged by pans.

The best induction hob cleaner for difficult stains is usually one made at home. Use a soft cloth and begin to wipe your induction hob with soapy water. If you can’t find a microfibre cloth, use a cleaning tool with incredibly soft bristles.

Remove any stainless-steel or cast iron pots and pans from your glass-ceramic surface before you begin cleaning. Don’t drag the pots and pans as this can make the marks worse.


Assess the kind of dirt you’ll be cleaning from your induction hobs. Burnt-on food often responds best to vinegar and baking soda. Pour a small amount of white vinegar onto the stain and leave it to rest for a few minutes. Add a small sprinkling of baking soda over the top to help lift the stain. Spray a small amount of water on top of the vinegar, then lay a paper towel over your homemade cleaning solution.

Leave your vinegar and water mixture for around half an hour, to an hour, and carefully wipe the mixture away. Be cautious to wipe away all of the mixture with a cloth to avoid scratching the surface. Using baking soda is one of the best tips to make removing stubborn stains easy.

See to it that the cooktop is clean and dry before turning the heat back on. Remove all dirt before you apply heat to the surface again, as you could easily burn any remaining marks.

Tips on How to Protect Your Induction Hob

sparkling clean cooktopCleaning an induction hob doesn’t have to be complicated. Many people find it easy to get rid of dirt and stains instantly, with nothing but a damp cloth. However, if you’re concerned about scratches and damage, then you can take extra steps to protect your oven top.

Protect your kitchen hob by making sure that you lift your pans away– avoid dragging them and scratching the top. You should also avoid using your hob as a prep area, as this increases the chances that you’ll accidentally heat and burn stray food.

Avoid placing hot pan lids on the glass or ceramic of your kitchen hob and keep the area clear when cooking. Other top tips to consider include:

Avoid Strong Cleaners

Unless you really need a strong cleaner to get rid of heat baked-on food, stick to gentle solutions. Even baking soda can be too caustic at times. White vinegar, standard soap, and a damp cloth may be more than enough.

Clean Every Time You Cook

Use a dry and soft cloth to wipe over the top of your oven, even if it doesn’t seem like your hobs need to be cleaned. This will remove any stray debris after cooking. You can also apply a little glass cleaner to sanitise the hob.

Avoid Using Accessories

Try not to use accessories like scrapers and scouring pads, as these can easily damage the surface of your hobs. Instead, focus on cleaning messy stains away from the glass or ceramic immediately, before they have a chance to dry.

Follow the Instructions

Check the tips the manufacturer provides for successful cleaning. They might be able to tell you what substances you shouldn’t be cleaning with.

Use the Right Utensils

white cookware in kitchenWhen you clean your induction hob, clean your utensils too. Avoid exposing your hob to dirty or grimy pans straight after cleaning, as this could cause burned-on stains. Check with your manufacturer which utensils work best with your induction hob

Summary

An induction hob is an incredibly handy kitchen appliance and it makes sense to keep it in the best condition to protect your investment.

There are many quick and easy ways to learn how to clean an induction hob but it’s most important to keep on top of it and not let any substances build up. The quicker you deal with a spill, the better!

Do you use an induction hob at home? How do you keep it clean and well-maintained? Do share your best tips in the comments!

1 thought on “How to Clean an Induction Hob: Your Guide to a Damage-Free Cooktop”

  1. Barbara Jeffrey

    I left a pan on the stovetop and it boiled dry. Now there is a deep circular discolouration where the centre of the pan was. Is there a way to clean this. The surface seems perfectly clean.

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