Also, you can get silicone / silicone+fibreglass mats for use on induction cooktops while cooking. They’re ~1-3mm thick and don’t noticeably affect heating performance.
Interesting, I had no idea this was a thing. I see Amazon has a range of them and here’s an article that talks about them. In one review someone mentioned it’s hard to see where the actual zones are if they’re covered by a mat.
I’d say the opposite! Our Bosch cooktop has thin cross-hair markings (rather than circles) on a shiny black surface, and it is very hard to see whether a pan is properly centred on the burner. It’s the only gripe I have about this cooktop. Earlier (and later, I think) models have circles.
But one can carefully place a mat on the centre of the burner, then position the pan appropriately on the mat, and that’s what we do.
Do note that these mats are only suitable for induction cooktops. They must not be used on any other type.
I don’t know how anyone can get burnt on food on their induction cooktop. The cooktop does not get hot, the heat is generated in the pan not in the cooktop surface. I have had an induction cooktop for about 15 years and never had to use anything other than Windex clear to clean it.
When mine was still brand new, I placed a tea towel between the pot and surface. But I stopped doing that, as my husband and adult children ( who will cook when everyone is visiting) could not be bothered. 12 years on and the surface is possibly scratched, but the light would need to fall correctly to see it.
It is simply part of my benchtop and gets used as such. Spills are wiped immediately and dishwashing liquid and a microfibre cloth are our go to. I initially bought the expensive cleaner, and then realised I never used it, as my usual cleaning using dishwashing liquid worked very well. Perhaps the only complaint would be that the lines marking the pot area are fading a bit. But we cook a lot, and it is only on the “burner” we use the most. I assume the constant heating, cooling and loading on that area have something to do with this.
