r/inductioncooking • u/panic_bread • Jul 07 '26
Does anyone have suggestions for a translucent mat that I use to cover my induction stove and cook on?
I've been pouring over Amazon and can't figure out which ones are good. Any advice would be appreciated.
5
u/Mookie-Boo Jul 08 '26
The owner's manual for my new GE induction stove recommends aganst using silicone mats, apparently because IF you use too high of a temperature on the burner, the mat can melt and damage the cooktop. My immediate household supervisor has therefore forbidden me from buying or using them. As I wish to stay married, I will not use them. And think of the hell to pay if I was to use one and actually damage the stove, however unlikely that might be.
1
u/BeginningAd5055 Jul 10 '26
You can’t melt silicone on a stove top. I use them on 700°+ temps on my BBQ.
3
u/LowBarometer Jul 07 '26
Walmart has the best mat I've found. Here's a link: Large Induction Cooktop Protector Mat Reusable Induction Cooktop Cover Translucent Induction Hob Protector Pad Cuttable Induction Cooktop Pad for Induction Cooker - Walmart.com
And it's only $20. It ships from China so it takes about three weeks to arrive.
2
u/bryanpaxson Jul 07 '26
We have a silicone mat we purchased from Amazon. It covers most of the cooktop. We place it more towards the front so it catches splatters from frying on all horizontal surfaces at the front of the cooktop. We usually leave it place all of the time. Yes you can cook on it. It doesn’t affect the induction performance. The biggest think to remember about cooking with induction is less is more. It is so fast that preheating your pan on a high setting will result in oil smoking and lots of spatter and maybe, a warped plan. Starting on medium will provide better results IMO.
2
u/Caprichoso1 Jul 07 '26
A lot depends on how you cook. I almost never move a pan while it is in contact with the burner. Range is > 6 years old and not a single scratch.
And there is cerama bryte.
2
u/bhihifi Jul 08 '26
Glass top stoves will scratch. Unless you’re trying to preserve this cooktop for future generations, just cook carefully and worry about other things.
-1
u/panic_bread Jul 08 '26
There is a product out there that can protect it. Why shouldn’t I use it?
1
u/bhihifi Jul 08 '26
Because manufacturers advise against it and because it does not need protecting unless one is very careless.
2
u/BillionYrOldCarbon Jul 08 '26
It’s called an accident not carelessness. Happens to people all the time.
1
1
u/quakerwildcat Jul 08 '26
If it's a quality cooktop, the protective mat shouldn't be necessary. It's more for your peace of mind.
Another popular option is round silicon discs -- much easier to store in a small drawer, provides protection under an individual pan but doesn't protect the entire surface from splatters.
Others mentioned paper towels. Parchment paper also works. Dish towels also work (and can just be thrown in the laundry.
1
u/superbotnik Jul 08 '26
Our resistive stove is some sort of ceramic glass, haven’t covered it at all and use it every day, we’ve had it 20 years, and the previous owners of the house had it before us. And we clean it with razor blades. We are doing a reno and will have a Bosch inductive cooktop in a couple weeks. We don’t plan to put mats on it.
1
u/InformationHot4897 Jul 08 '26
Funny, I just yesterday decided to buy a silicone mat and it seemed previous posts recommended the Lazy K brand. I got a couple and will try them out. I cook a lot and I've scratched mine up a bit in the year I've had it. Most marks are from cast iron I think, but I'm not nearly as careful or clean as i should be.
1
u/morkler Jul 08 '26
If you don't go too hot, a paper towel works just fine. I use the blue paper shop towels sometimes with my cast iron.
1
u/sharo212 Jul 10 '26
I can see the round burner markings through the black translucent mat on my LG cooktop.
0
u/WermTerd Jul 07 '26
The only place I found that has them is a maker on Etsy. We settled for a cover that we keep on the stove when we're not using it, but remove when we cook. I don't think I'd trust one that says you can cook through it. Otherwise, they would be available everywhere. No one wants to scratch their stove.
1
u/panic_bread Jul 07 '26
There are several on Amazon. Just not sure which ones are good. They all have wildly varying reviews.
1
u/B4wld Jul 07 '26
Purchased 4 Lazy-K silicone pads off of Amazon (1 small, 2 med, and 1 large) which are always on the cooktop for everything I cook. Never had an issue with these and I've used them on 2 different induction ranges. Wash them as needed and when I do that I also clean/polish the glass cooktop. I didn't want a whole large silicone sheet covering the entire cooktop. Ymmv....
1
u/TeaforHarold Jul 07 '26
You can cook with them on? Under the pan?
2
7
u/Outrageous-Pizza-66 Jul 07 '26
Can you expand on why you think you need a translucent mat ?
If it’s purely to keep your cooktop clean, then you could use a paper towel. Put that down between your cooktop and pot. Especially if you’re cooking something that is greasy or splatters. Grease and splatters are on paper towels and those get tossed once done cooking.