The best Maytag cooktop cookware has a flat, smooth bottom that sits fully on the surface, is about the size of the burner or zone you are using and, on an induction cooktop, is made of a magnetic material. Our Maytag cooktop guides say induction needs magnetic pans and that a pan that is not suitable, not centered or the wrong size can stop an induction zone from heating. On gas, pans should sit steady on the grates; on a radiant glass top, a flat base spreads heat evenly and avoids scratches.
What cookware works on a Maytag cooktop?
It depends on the type of cooktop. Our gas vs electric vs induction guide describes the three: gas burners, electric radiant elements under glass and induction zones. Our model pages list the MGC7536DS as a gas cooktop with a 15,000 BTU Power Burner, the MEC8836HS as an electric radiant cooktop with a Bridge Element and the MCIT8030SB as an induction cooktop with Temp Cook induction technology and Power Boost. The common rules are a flat base, a sensible match between pan and burner size and attention to what the pan is made of.
Always check the cooktop section of your owner’s manual, because it is the authority on what your model accepts.
Which pans are right for an induction cooktop?
Magnetic ones. Induction heats the pan itself, so the pan must be made of a material a magnet sticks to. Our cooktop care guide lists the induction pan-detection message as meaning there is no suitable ferromagnetic, correctly sized, centered pan. A simple test is to hold a refrigerator magnet to the bottom of the pan: if it clings firmly, the pan will likely work, and if it does not stick or sticks weakly, it probably will not. Cast iron and many stainless pans pass; aluminum, glass and copper pans do not unless they have a magnetic layer on the base.
Center the pan on the zone and keep it about the size of the zone. If the pan is too small or off to one side, the cooktop may not detect it, and a pan too close to the touch panel can trigger a fault. Our cooktop burner will not light or heat guide covers what to do when a zone still will not heat with a suitable pan.
What should you use on an electric radiant glass top?
A pan with a flat, smooth bottom, about the same size as the element. A warped or rough pan touches the glass only in places, which makes heating uneven and slow, and a rough base can scratch the glass. Our guide to cleaning and caring for a Maytag cooktop says to lift cast iron rather than sliding it on glass, and to wipe a glass top only when it is cool. Make sure the bottom of the pan is dry and clean before you set it down, because a wet or dirty base can leave marks or stick.
If your model has a Bridge Element, our model page lists it for large cookware. Follow your manual for how to use it.
What works best on a gas cooktop?
A pan that sits steady on the grates, with a flat base that does not rock. Gas burners deliver heat from a flame around the base, so a pan that is much smaller than the burner lets flame lick up the sides, and one that is much bigger overhangs the burner and the grates in ways the manual may warn against. Keep handles turned in, not over another lit burner and not hanging over the front. The 15,000 BTU Power Burner listed for the MGC7536DS is meant for high heat, which is a reason to use a sturdy pan and to match the pan to the burner. Use the burner the manual suggests for large or heavy pots.
If you smell gas, do not turn anything on or off; go outside and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. For a grease fire in a pan, cover it with a lid, turn off the heat and do not move the pan or use water.
What should you avoid with any cooktop?
Avoid warped, rough or unstable pans, and pans that are much larger than the zone. Avoid sliding heavy pans, especially cast iron, across glass. Do not put anything on the touch panel, and do not let a pan edge rest near it, because our cooktop care guide says a pan on or too close to the touch panel, or a panel that is too hot, can trigger a fault; re-center the pan and power-cycle it. Do not leave the cooktop on with an empty pan, and do not use the cooktop as storage or a heat source for the room.
Keep the surface clean. Wipe spills when the cooktop is cool, so sugar and grease do not bake onto glass or gum up burners.
How does cookware affect how the cooktop performs?
A lot. A flat pan of the right size usually heats more evenly than a poor fit. A pan that does not make good contact can make an electric element or an induction zone seem faulty when it is not. Before you decide a zone is failing, try another pan that you know is flat and, for induction, magnetic. If the zone still does not heat, that is useful information for a technician.
When should you call a technician?
Call if a zone does not heat with a suitable pan, if a burner will not light, if the glass is cracked, if the controls do not respond or if there is a burning smell. A cracked glass top should not be used. Do not take any panel off, and do not work on gas connections. If you see sparks or smell burning, switch off the cooktop’s breaker at the panel while standing on a dry floor. Our Maytag cooktop repair page explains how a visit works.
