Although they may be called by different brand names, all flat-top cook stoves are made of a glass-ceramic blend rather than being all-ceramic or all-glass. Each appliance company has a trademarked name for its brand of glass-ceramic.
Function
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Smooth cooktops have some qualities of ceramics and some qualities of glass. The tops are formed first as glass, then treated with a heat application that causes it to partially crystallize. This gives the cooktop the expansion capabilities of a ceramic without the porous nature of a true ceramic.
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Considerations
The glass-ceramic cooktop is an extremely strong material that handles extreme temperature changes without breaking. However, it can break if you drop a hard object on it, and can scratch, especially when a granular object catches under a sliding pan on a stovetop.
Cleaning
Glass-ceramic stovetops are easy to clean since they have a flat surface. However, most respond best to cleaners manufactured specifically for a smooth-top stove. Spills clean up best when you wipe them up immediately after they occur. For dried-on spills, a glass scraper effectively cleans the surface of the stovetop.