Contain Splatter when Searing with Induction Cooktop (or any cooktop)

[Midway]

My wife is doing a kitchen remodel and she just replaced our cooktop with an induction range. We are on a learning curve on the very different way induction cooktops work. We have also lost the use of much of our cookware and have been using a variety of stainless, including a few stainless with nonstick coatings.

Cast Iron works well but you have to be very careful not to slide them around as they can scratch the glass top. I love to use cast Iron to sear, especially when using our Sous Vide. We didn't worry about all the splatter much before but it would be nice to find a more contained searing solution. A covered pan helps but still needs to be lifted to turn and we end up with almost as much of a mess. A taller pan that curves in to catch some of the splatter? I can go out in the cold and rain to fire up the barbie but without the speed and convenience.

How to use an induction cooktop is another topic we are still trying to figure out but we love it so far.

Thanks.

[Panhead John]

I have one similar to this and they work good! Just place it over the pan while searing.




U.S. Kitchen Supply 13" Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Splatter Screen with Resting Feet & Black Comfort Grip Handle https://a.co/d/bz3TD23

[Mosca]

I have something very similar, and I use it any time I’m doing steaks or burgers. Chicken and sautéed vegetables don’t splatter so much that I can’t just wipe up with some glass cleaner.

[Darchie03]

I have those & the grease goes right through them, don't help much

[Jim White]

Yes, a deeper pan can help.

As for the issue of moving pans around, I used silicone pads or mats. There are many different providers and they can be found quickly on Amazon or lots of other places. As long as it's a very thin layer of silicone, the induction signal goes right through to the pan.

In our high-brow home, these are commonly referred to as "pan condoms". We've used them from the start and our two year old induction cooktop looks like new.

[RobertC]

I use cast iron and carbon steel woks on our 10-year-old induction stovetop, I don't bang them around and the top is still unscratched.

I also use similar splatter shields to those that Panhead John uses.

[bmillin]

I use a Lodge chicken fryer for searing if the size permits. Usually move outside when necessary. Not sure if you have access to this but here is an article from Americas test kitchen about reducing spatter from searing

https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/articles/2107-the-easiest-cleanest-way-to-sear-steak

[WayneT]

I use my enamel coated CI Dutch oven on my induction burner and I’ve not seen any scratches yet. I like Jim White ‘s idea of using silicone pads. Jim, what’s the highest power or temperature setting you’ve used with them?

[Jim White]

I've never cooked without them. It's what they're designed for. Edit to add: sometimes after a really hot and long cook, there's a faint pattern of the pad on the cooktop, but I'd rather have that than a scratch any day. And those seem to fade over time with multiple cleanings.

[Midway]

Jim White I remember reading you can even just use paper towels. Is that correct? A watched pot never boils is no longer accurate. Thanks.

[Jim White]

Yes, I see no reason the signal wouldn't go through. But with something as heavy as cast iron, those might tear. Edit: and with the paper towel extending beyond the pan, you have a spatter catcher.

[SandPiper]

I also use a screen like the above, however Cooks Illustrated liked this dog collar like shield: Frywall Stovetop Splatter Guard. Supposedly less spatter than the screen shields. Available on Amazon.

[Steve B]

I have the Frywall’s. They do work well but are a little pain to access the food for flipping and such.

[Redwng]

We put paper towels around the pan and that works very well.

[N227GB]

I've been using a Waring portable induction cooktop on the lanai for about five years. It has a Schott Ceran surface and I've never been concerned with scratches. I use a Lodge pan for steaks with a 13-inch mesh screen. Works great! The screen has a folding handle and fits in the dishwasher. It has a two layer mesh.

Here's my setup for smash burgers with a huge CS pan. I have a bath towel on the table to catch any splatter the screen doesn't.

We have also lost the use of much of our cookware and have been using a variety of stainless, including a few stainless with nonstick coatings.

You can buy induction adapters for cookware that would not otherwise work with induction. I've not tried them since most of what I use already works.

[Midway]

There was some cookware that didn't work but we already owned plenty of Stainless Steel cookware that works great in addition to 3 sizes of cast iron. Unfortunately a relatively new 12 quart pot with lid does not work and while an 8 quart pot we had worked, it was slow. We got a new 8 quart stainless steel that works beautifully on induction. The speed it comes up to boil is impressive.

[captainlee]

We cover our cook top with Al foil plus a screen as shown above.

[CaptainMike]

I'll arrange 1/4 sheet pans around the searing/frying pan and lay an old towel on the floor in front of the cooktop.