If you’ve ever wondered how to get burnt sugar off a glass stovetop then you’re in the right place – we’ve got you covered with a couple of super-easy methods that can get the sugar off in no time.
The easiest method involves using hot water to heat up the sugar, making it easier to remove. This can be repeated several times and then the burnt sugar can be removed using a dishcloth or non-abrasive scrubber.
There are a few other methods you can try as well, but in this article, we will explain exactly why some methods are much worse than others and which you should use to protect your glass stovetop.
The Best Methods For Getting Burnt Sugar Off A Glass Stovetop
The best method you can use to get the burnt sugar removed quickly is to either heat it up or cool it down.
Heating sugar makes it softer, it is only when you take this too far that it becomes burnt and solid as it cools down. So, heating it back up gently can soften the burnt sugar and make it easier to remove.
Cooling, on the other hand, makes the sugar harder and more brittle. If you cool it enough using ice cubes, it will become brittle and easy to remove.
Heating
When it comes to handling hot water make sure you take the necessary safety precautions and keep the water below boiling point when handling it.
Water
Hot water by itself can get rid of the majority of burnt sugar quickly.
Start by heating some water up, ideally below boiling point so it is easier to handle. Place a handful of cloths or paper towels over the burnt sugar and gently pour a small amount of the water over them.
The secret is to pour slowly until the cloths or towels are saturated in water – don’t keep going after this or you will spill water all over the stove. Allow the water to heat up the sugar for a few minutes at most, and then remove the towels or cloths carefully.
Now that the sugar has been heated up it should come off easily. Take a fresh cloth or non-abrasive scrubber and wipe the sugar until it comes off.
Baking Soda And Water
Baking soda is a great option to mix with hot water to create a paste that can not only remove the burnt sugar but also clean the area at the same time.
Start by mixing equal parts hot water and baking soda in a container until a thick paste is formed. Quickly apply the paste to the burnt sugar until it is completely covered – using a spatula or spoon helps here as the paste will still be very hot.
Leave the paste for a few minutes to heat up the sugar and then, as before, wipe it away using a cloth or non-abrasive scrubber.
Use The Stovetop’s Heating Function
Another easy way to heat up the sugar is to turn the stovetop on a low setting until the sugar is heated slightly.
For this method to work, you will need to watch the sugar carefully and use the lowest possible setting to avoid burning the sugar even more. Use your stovetop’s lowest setting to gently heat the sugar and then switch it off before it gets too hot.
This requires a bit of confidence and can backfire if it becomes too hot though, which is why using hot water is an easier option.
Cooling
Most people think about heating sugar up to remove it, but cooling it down can also work wonders.
The theory behind this is simple – use ice cubes to cool the sugar down, making it more brittle. Once cooled the sugar will become much easier to remove, and in most cases will simply break away from the surface under the low temperature.
This is similar in practice to our guide on using ice cubes to get marshmallows out of carpet.
But how do you go about this in practice?
It’s pretty simple. You can either place one or two ice cubes directly onto the sugar, or an even better option is to place a bag filled with ice cubes directly onto the sugar.
Leave them for a few minutes until the sugar beneath becomes cold and brittle – this is much easier to check than the hot water method as you can touch the sugar with your hands safely.
Afterwards, take a non-abrasive scraper and gently push the side of the sugar and it should pop right off.
Method To Avoid – Using Razors
There is a lot of advice out there regarding removing burnt sugar from stovetops, and some of it is potentially dangerous to the stovetop itself.
The prime example of this is using a razor to scrape away the sugar.
If you take a razor there is a high chance that you will scratch the stovetop itself, which is incredibly easy to do especially on glass stovetops. Scratches not only look bad, but they can also cause structural damage beneath the surface which can lead to cracks in the long term that need to be repaired.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to get burnt sugar off a glass stovetop is easy once you know-how.
Use cooling or heating to quickly remove the burnt sugar and you should have no problems. Avoid using razor tools as these can easily scratch the glass, leading to long term problems that can result in the stovetop needing to be replaced.