Ceramic Cooktop
cc

01/18/06 		Just bought a GE ceramic cooktop. So far so
good. Also Calphalon contemporary stainless.
Calphalon represents all their products are OK
for ceramic cooktops. Need a griddle for bridge burner side advice most welcome!
Sally
sallykramerot@aol.com
01/18/06 		We urgently need to get a new stove, only have access to electric. I was considering a ceramic glass cooktop (flat) but am concerned because I frequently use All-Clad single or Double burner grill pans. Should I get a regular coil top instead of the glass cooktop? I understand the glass can crack and these grill pans get awfully hot on my old coil top stove.
Thanks
ellen

01/19/06 		cc, it has to be absolutely flat ofn the bottom and heavy enough not to warp. Be sure you do have a bridge element- you can crack the top using a 2 burner griddle on a ceramic top without a bridge element.

Sally, I personally find the smoothtops unsatisfactory to cook on, there is a LONG discussion by many readers in the Forum archive (link at the top of the forum index page). You must not use a double burner griddle on a smooth top unless it has a bridge element; yes it can crack the top.

Sally

01/19/06 		Ellen, thanks so much for your input. I LOVE my stovetop grillpans and wont give them up. The meat and vegetables taste like they were done outside on charcoal.I will opt for the coils, which is what I have now and which work well with them.....next house GAS!!
Lynn

01/20/06 		I have a GE glass-top range. I keep seeing all of these warnings on grill/griddle pans, as well as your warnings about cracking of the tops. My range has the bridge burner element. I am wondering if, with this, I will be able to use any heavy grill/griddle pan as long as it is perfectly flat on the bottom.
ellen

01/20/06 		Accoring to the manufacturers, yes.
Cindy
cindylg8@msn.com
01/26/06 		cc-I searched and searched for a griddle to use on my bridge burner. I have a thermador glass top stove. I finally found one with a perfectly smooth bottom. It is a calphalon. However, when it heats up, the bottom "rounds" and doesn't have full contact with the stove! Very annoying after all the time and research to find just the right griddle. I also have a large, smooth bottom calphalon "saucier" and the same thing happens. These pans were recommended as being good for glass top stove and ARE NOT. My main cookware, which I researched and purchased in '02 when we started with the glass top is Scanpan. There is a heavy disk on the bottom of each pan, and I believe it is made specifically for glass tops. It is non-stick and reliable. They don't make a griddle, though! I have yet to see a griddle with that heavy disk-like bottom, and that is what you need on these stoves to keep the pans from warping when they get hot. If anyone finds a griddle like that please let me know!!!