The Best Cookware for Glass-Top Stoves, Tested and Reviewed
We've tested hundreds of cookware sets to find the best pots and pans for delicate glass cooktops.
Tested by Nicole PapantoniouKitchen Appliances Lab Director
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Glass-top stoves, whether electric or induction, are sleek and efficient option, thanks to the layer of tempered ceramic glass that sits over the heating element. But to keep them scratch-free and working well, it's important to use the right cookware. Pots and pans with flat, smooth bottoms are best, as ridges or logos can scratch the surface and mess with heat conduction. Even with lightweight cookware, you'll want to avoid dragging it across the glass to prevent damage.
While ceramic glass is durable, it can still crack under extreme conditions. To avoid this, don’t place cold pans straight from the fridge or freezer onto a hot burner — let them warm up to room temperature first. Although glass-top stoves are more delicate than gas ones, they’re easier to clean with no grates or parts to deal with. Just keep in mind that your choice of cookware plays a big role in maintaining that glossy surface.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we've tested nearly 200 cookware sets in recent years. Here, we’ve rounded up the best options for glass-top stoves. Each set has been thoroughly evaluated for performance and ease of use, and many have been in our consumer testers’ homes for years, proving their durability.
Hestan Nanobond 10-Piece Essential Set
Pros
- Top-quality materials prevent sticking
- Fast, even heating
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Expensive
Our Lab testers highly praise Hestan's Nanobond cookware for its even heating and compatibility with all kinds of cooktops, including glass-top stoves.
The stainless steel with titanium particles helps prevent sticking, is easy to clean and won't leave marks on the stovetop. The aluminum core helps distribute heat evenly, preventing warping over time. The pots and pans can go from cooktop to oven and withstand temperatures up to 1050ºF.
In our Lab tests, the cookware heated evenly and browned steak beautifully, thanks to its wide surface area and slightly flared edges — features that make it excellent for induction. The long handles are comfortable, and the pieces sit balanced on the stovetop — another must-have for glass-top stoves.
The entire set may seem steep, but it's comparable to other high-end cookware and a great investment. If you get only one piece from the set, make it the 11-inch skillet, a Good Housekeeping Kitchen Gear Award winner. Or consider starting with the five-piece set.
Cookware material: Stainless steel with an aluminum core | Induction-compatible: Yes | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Tramontina 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Pros
- Heats up fast
- Sturdy handles
- Handles and lid stay cool
Cons
- Riveted handles are trickier to clean
You can get Tramontina's 10-piece set for a fraction of the price of a Hestan set. The pots and pans feature a three-layer construction — stainless steel surrounding an aluminum core — allowing even heating and induction compatibility. The pieces are also oven-safe up to 500°F.
In our Lab tests, the Tramontina stockpot was speedy at boiling water for quick pasta nights. The fry pan was excellent for browning steak but heats a bit unevenly. The Tramontina set is dishwasher-safe, but be prepared to scrub off some stains by hand if you want to keep the cookware spotless.
Cookware material: Stainless steel with aluminum core | Induction-compatible: Yes | Dishwasher safe: Yes
GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick 16-Piece Cookware Set
Pros
- Lightweight, yet sturdy
- Variety of pots and pans
- Stain-resistant interior
Cons
- Pricey
GreenPan's Valencia set features a ceramic nonstick surface and flat, smooth bottoms safe for glass-top stoves. It’s also lightweight — another plus for glass cooktops — and its scratch-resistant base ensures your stove stays pristine.
The sturdy pans are designed with comfort in mind, featuring signature contoured handles that fit naturally in your hand. The light-colored interior is not only easy on the eyes but also resistant to stains, while the darker exterior does a great job of hiding any marks. During our tests, we appreciated how the light interior concealed scratches around the rim — a common issue with coated cookware.
We found the pans performed well in the kitchen: Eggs slid off easily with a little help from a spatula, and during our scorch test, the sauce barely stuck to the bottom and cleaned up effortlessly. The 5-quart casserole pot is roomy enough for soups and pasta but not too bulky to handle. Plus, most pieces stack neatly together and the included pot protectors help prevent scratches between uses.
The set performs exceptionally well, but the price is high, especially for ceramic nonstick cookware, which isn't designed to last forever.
Cookware material: Ceramic with a hard-anodized aluminum base | Induction-compatible: Yes | Dishwasher safe: Yes
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: GreenPan Cookware Set
Staub Cast Iron 5.5-Quart Cocotte
Pros
- Dark interior hides stains well
- Produces a rich and flavorful broth
- Self-basting lid for moist braises
Cons
- Difficult to monitor fond during browning
A quality Dutch oven is a highly versatile piece to add to your cookware collection. It can make sourdough bread, soups and stews or easy one-pot dinners. The top-performing brands in this category are Staub and Le Creuset. They perform similarly, but Staub has a flatter, smoother enamel base that makes it better for glass-top stoves. It works on all stovetops, including gas, electric, glass, ceramic and induction.
In our Lab tests, the self-basting lid with small spikes on the underside reduced broths nicely, helping produce a richer and flavorful soup. However, Staub's black matte interior gave testers trouble monitoring the fond when browning meat for stew.
Cookware material: Enameled cast iron | Induction-compatible: Yes | Dishwasher safe: Yes, but hand-wash recommended
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Le Creuset Dutch Oven
Merten & Storck Carbon Steel 12-Inch Frying Pan
Pros
- Lightweight with a roomy cooking area
- Safe for grill and open-flame cooking
- Comes preseasoned
Cons
- Needs a little oil to cook eggs
Carbon steel is a fast-heating, ultra-responsive, naturally nonstick material that works on all stove types — including glass ones. Merten & Storck’s carbon steel frying pan performed well in our tests and is oven-safe up to 600˚F. Our experts like that it's preseasoned — just rinse off the protective glaze before you first cook — so it's ready to use right out of the gate.
The pan is lightweight, making it comfortable for most people and safe for glass tops. Its gently sloped sides provide a nice cooking area, browning mushrooms well in our tests and creating a flavorful pan sauce. It struggled a little with eggs at first but improved over the course of the test. We don’t use oil when testing, but if you add a little fat to the pan, your eggs should glide right off. This pan’s versatility doesn’t end at the stove, either. It’s also suitable for grill and open-flame cooking.
Cookware material: Carbon steel | Induction-compatible: Yes | Dishwasher safe: No
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How we test cookware sets
When we test cookware in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances Lab, we conduct a heat distribution test to see how evenly the pan heats. Some materials, like carbon steel, are highly responsive to heat but can develop hot spots, while others heat more evenly. Pans with better heat distribution generally score higher.
Next, we sear a steak over high heat to evaluate how evenly the pan cooks and how well it browns the food. This also gives us an idea of how easy the pan is to clean afterward. We then simmer sauce in a saucepan to see how well it maintains a simmer and how easy it is to clean. This test also allows us to check if the handles stay cool during cooking.
For stockpots, we boil pasta to track how quickly the water comes to a boil and how easy the pot is to handle and strain. When testing nonstick cookware, we specifically assess how nonstick the surface is by cooking eggs without any grease —both over-easy and scrambled.
For ease of use, we look at factors like how easy the cookware is to clean and whether it’s dishwasher safe. Once our tests are complete, we often send cookware sets home with consumer testers to gather long-term feedback or continue using them in our Lab.
What to look for when shopping for glass-top stove cookware
Choosing the right cookware for a glass-top stove involves more than just style. Here are key factors to consider:
✔ Flat and smooth bottoms: Cookware with flat bottoms ensures even heat distribution, which is crucial for cooking on a glass-top stove. Uneven or ridged bottoms can scratch or damage the stove's surface.
✔ Weight: While glass-top stoves can handle heavy cookware, choosing something balanced is best. Too heavy and you risk damaging the surface, while too light may lead to uneven cooking.
✔ Material: Stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum, ceramic and carbon steel cookware are known for compatibility with glass-top stoves. Avoid uncoated cast iron or stoneware, as they can scratch the surface.
✔ Heat conductivity: Good heat conductivity ensures even cooking. Aluminum and copper cores provide superior heat distribution, preventing hot spots that can warp your glass stovetop.
What type of cookware set should I get?
First, narrow down the cookware material that works best for you. Cookware materials range from stainless steel to nonstick, ceramic nonstick, cast iron, enameled cast iron, carbon steel, copper and more. They each perform differently and not all cookware works on induction.
- Stainless steel, carbon steel and cast iron can be pricier and may also involve a maintenance learning curve, so they may be better suited to those who feel more comfortable in the kitchen.
- Nonstick cookware — whether made with traditional Teflon or ceramic — is good for novice cooks, those on a budget or those who prefer less cleanup.
Then, consider the type of pots and pans included in the set. If you're starting from scratch and want to ensure you have all the bases covered, consider investing in an eight- or 10-piece set. (Keep in mind: Lids are included in the total number of pieces.) If you just want the basics, get a 10-inch fry pan, a small saucepan and a larger saucepan. Stockpots and braisers are nice-to-haves (if you cook those foods), not must-haves.
Can I use cast iron on a glass-top stove?
Yes, but with caution. Cast iron is heavy and textured, which can scratch the glass surface if dragged or crack it if dropped. It’s safest to use one with a smooth enamel coating, like the Staub.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Perry Santanachote is a contributing writer for Good Housekeeping. She has been testing and writing about the best kitchen appliances and cookware — from toaster ovens and air fryers to handheld mixers and nonstick pans — for over 10 years. She has even more experience in the food industry, working as a recipe developer, food stylist and cook.
Nicole Papantoniou has run the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab since 2019; she oversees all the content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear. She's a trained cook and published recipe developer and cooks all the time. She conducted the last side-by-side cookware test and continues to test all types, including stainless steel, nonstick, ceramic and cast iron. There are few things she hates more than scrubbing dishes, so the pans that stand out the most to her are the ones that require the least amount of cleaning.
Perry Santanachote (she/her) has more than 15 years of experience in service journalism, specializing in food and consumer goods. She tests and reports on kitchen appliances and cooking tools. She also evaluates food products and cleaning supplies. She’s an experienced writer, product tester and recipe developer who has worked in labs, test kitchens and media organizations, including Thrillist and Consumer Reports.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
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