The viral trick that could endanger your entire kitchen, and that you should avoid according to the OCU.
Sometimes we go to social networks to find a series of kitchen tricks that can make our lives easier, for example to make those recipes that we like so much.
The problem with these viral hacks is that most of them are done by ordinary people, and therefore do not have sufficient security knowledge.
And one of those viral tricks of cocina Those that are proliferating on many sites like TikTok are those that recommend placing a piece of paper between the induction hob and the pan to prevent the glass from scratching and also to avoid having to clean the induction hob later.
These people point out that since the hob does not get hot, it is not supposed to be dangerous to place a piece of paper between the induction hob and the frying pan. But they are wrong according to the OCU.
The consumer organization states that putting a piece of paper between the pan and the plate can be dangerous, since the paper can burn and with that also all your kitchen.
The OCU explains that an induction hob emits electromagnetic waves that heat the containers, and therefore, the glass of the hob will not be hot, but the container with the food inside will be.
But of course, not only the food inside is heated, but also any surface that is in contact with the pan, in this case the paper.
In fact, they point out that paper can burn at just over 200 °C without a flame being applied to it, and this temperature can be reached perfectly if, for example, we are heating oil in a pan for longer than it should or if you are doing a stew.
And of course, if these temperatures are reached, and you have put a piece of paper between the pan and the induction hob, it is quite likely that the paper will catch fire and with it your entire kitchen.
In fact, they clarify that the plate manufacturers themselves advise against the method of putting the paper, and, therefore, you should pay attention to the manufacturers over any influencer who only seeks your visits.
On the other hand, if you think that the solution is to use aluminum foil, since it is not flammable, the OCU clarifies that you should not do it either, because the waves from the plates can heat the paper itself because it is metallic.
Cleaning tips for the induction hob
So if you were putting paper between the induction hob and the pan, basically so you don’t have to clean the hob afterwards, the OCU also gives you a series of cleaning tips.
After cooking, and after having waited a while for it to cool down, you can use a damp cloth.
But if it is very dirty, they state that there are specific products that they sell in supermarkets for ceramic hobs and that do not cause scratches.
The only thing they would recommend is to put a baking papersince they are resistant to high temperatures, but you should not neglect them either.