How to clean an induction and ceramic hob: burnt food, scratches and stains

Clean an induction or ceramic hob after every use, as soon as it has cooled: wipe it with a damp soft cloth, apply a few drops of glass-ceramic hob cleaner to more stubborn dirt, then wipe the hob with clean water and dry it. Remove burnt-on residue with a metal glass-ceramic scraper at an angle of 45–60°. Wire wool, abrasive powders and harsh sprays will scratch or damage the glass.

Induction and ceramic hobs: how the cleaning differs

In terms of cleaning, the difference is smaller than it seems. Both hobs have a glass-ceramic surface and manufacturers give the same rules for them: a scraper, a liquid cleaner, water and a dry cloth. They differ mainly in how the surface is heated.

• An induction hob generates heat with a magnetic field directly in the base of the pan, as described in the MORA induction hob instructions. The glass is therefore heated mainly by the hot pan. The zone beneath it is nevertheless hot, so always wait until the hob has cooled before cleaning.
• A ceramic hob (radiant) heats the zone itself. Anything that spills onto the red-hot area burns on quickly, and the zone stays hot for a long time after switching off.
• With induction, the touch controls are also sensitive to water. According to the same instructions, water spilt on the sensors or an object placed on them can cause continuous beeping. Wipe the control panel only with a lightly dampened cloth, followed immediately by a dry one.

What you will need

• a metal glass-ceramic scraper with a replaceable blade,
• soft microfibre cloths or paper towels,
• a liquid cleaner designed for glass-ceramic hobs,
• washing-up liquid for grease,
• a weak vinegar solution for water stains,
• gloves, if you will be working with the cleaner for longer.

According to the care instructions from the glass manufacturer SCHOTT CERAN, the scraper should be metal (it cannot melt or catch fire), easy to lock, with a firmly fixed blade that is intact, clean and free of rust. A scraper is not supplied with every hob, so check the instructions for your own hob.

Routine cleaning after cooking

1. Switch off the hob and wait until the zones have cooled and the residual heat indicator goes out.
2. Wipe off coarse dirt and food residue with a damp cloth. Remove anything that will not come off with the scraper (see the method below).
3. Put a few drops of glass-ceramic hob cleaner on the cooled hob and spread it with a paper towel or a clean cloth.
4. Wipe the hob with a cloth soaked in clean water so that no cleaner residue is left on it.
5. Dry it with a clean cloth.

Do not skip step 4. The hob manufacturer's instructions warn that cleaner residue can damage the glass ceramic when the zones heat up again. The same applies to dirt: if you do not clean the hob after cooking, it will burn into the surface the next time you switch it on.

Grease from oil can simply be washed off with water and a little washing-up liquid. Wipe the base of the pan too before you put it down. Grit or crumbs between the base and the glass will scratch the hob if you slide the pan. It is therefore better to lift pans rather than slide them.

Burnt-on food: how to use the scraper correctly

Pick up the scraper only when a damp cloth or glass-ceramic hob cleaner is not enough. Follow these steps, based on the MORA induction hob instructions:

1. Fold out or slide out the blade and check that it is not blunt or rusty.
2. Place the scraper on the glass at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees.
3. Press lightly and move it slowly until the burnt-on residue comes off. Pass over the hob's printed markings carefully.
4. Do not hold the scraper perpendicular to the glass, and do not scratch the surface with the corner of the blade.
5. Wipe off the loosened residue, clean the hob with glass-ceramic hob cleaner, wipe it with water and dry it.
6. After use, lock the blade away again, as it is very sharp.

For very stubborn dirt there are special glass-ceramic hob cleaners. Use them according to the instructions on the packaging and always wipe the hob thoroughly with water after cleaning.

Burnt sugar, plastic and aluminium foil: act immediately

The rule of waiting until the hob has cooled does not apply to sugar. Both the glass manufacturer and the hob manufacturer (see also the MORA guide to cleaning a glass-ceramic hob) state that sugar, sugary food, plastic or aluminium foil must be removed from the hot zone as soon as possible, because once melted they can permanently damage the surface.

1. Switch off the zone.
2. Use a metal scraper to push the melted mass from the hot spot onto a cool part of the hob. Make sure that any plastic handle of the scraper does not touch the hot zone, and protect your hand from the heat.
3. Do not put any cleaner on the hot hob. According to the manufacturer's instructions, it could damage the surface.
4. Once the hob has cooled, finish cleaning the residue in the usual way.

Prevention is easier than cleaning. Do not heat food in aluminium foil or plastic containers on the hob, and do not use it as a storage surface. Plastic chopping boards, packaging and cloths easily end up on a zone that is still warm.

Water stains and limescale

White marks left by boiled-over water are mineral deposits. The MORA induction hob instructions recommend removing them with a mild vinegar solution, but not on the metal frame of the hob (if it has one), as it could lose its shine. They also warn against harsh sprays and limescale removers. For how to deal with limescale elsewhere in the kitchen and bathroom, see the article How to remove limescale from taps, showers, toilets and kettles.

Vinegar is an acid. Never mix it with products containing chlorine, as this produces a dangerous gas. Read more in the article Which cleaning products should never be mixed. Ventilate while cleaning, read the label of every product first, and test any new product on a small, less visible part of the hob.

What not to clean the hob with

According to the glass manufacturer's guidelines and the hob manufacturer's instructions, the following do not belong on a glass-ceramic hob:

• wire wool, coarse sponges and the abrasive side of washing-up sponges,
• abrasive (scouring) powders and creams,
• oven spray and stain removers,
• bathroom and other harsh cleaning products,
• limescale removers,
• steam and high-pressure cleaners, which according to the instructions can cause an electric shock.

Harsh and abrasive products, and pans with a rough or damaged base, will over time also wear away the printing on the hob (the zone markings).

How to recognise damage to the hob

Not every stain that will not wash off is damage. A simple distinction will help:

• A deposit or burnt-on residue stands proud of the surface, the scraper catches on it, and it disappears with glass-ceramic hob cleaner or vinegar.
• Scratches are thin grooves that you can feel when you run a fingernail over them and that cleaning will not remove. They are caused mainly by grit and crumbs under sliding cookware. You cannot repair them by cleaning, you can only prevent further ones.
• A spot left by melted sugar or plastic may have a roughened or matt surface that can no longer be smoothed out. That is why it is important to remove it immediately.
• A crack is a hairline or a chip in the glass. According to the manufacturer's instructions, the hob can crack after a sharp object is dropped on it, and the consequences may show immediately or only later.

If you find a crack in the hob, do not use it any further and do not clean it with water. The manufacturer's instructions recommend switching off all zones and also the hob's circuit breaker (or the main circuit breaker), to avoid the risk of electric shock. Leave the repair to an authorised service centre.

Regular care and cleaning the whole kitchen

The hob will stay in good condition if you clean it after every use rather than only once a week. The hob manufacturer's instructions also mention products that form a protective film on the glass so that dirt does not stick as much. If you cook often, you will appreciate having a scraper and a cloth next to the hob.

When cleaning the kitchen more thoroughly, it is worth cleaning the appliances around the hob too: see how to clean an oven and how to clean a cooker hood filter, because grease from the hood often drips back onto the hob. If you do not want to clean your kitchen and the rest of your home yourself, you can find the scope of regular home cleaning and indicative prices on the page how much does flat cleaning in Prague cost.