I'd look at your owner's manual to see what they recommend. I ruined a glass top range using an aluminum steamer canner, but I'm not sure if it was the aluminum as much as it was oversized for the burner. When I got a new stove, I bought a good countertop burner I could use for my canning. Hope you find your answer.

I think you're fine with a normal 4, 6, or 8 quart pressure cooker. AFAIK, you're not supposed to use the big pressure canners on a glass top.

But, you really should consult the owner's manual for your range to make doubly sure. If you don't have a manual, you can probably locate one on-line.

Carol, what size is your cooker. The manual with my Jennair glasstop says I may use my pressure canner (!) on it as long as it doesn't exceed 1" larger diameter than the burner marking. It would just about fit those guidelines (22qt), but the book doesn't address the way the heat cycles up and down with my glass top - so I wouldn't be comfortable canning on it, and don't. (It doesn't address the weight of a fully loaded canner either, and that concerns me)

I'd use my 8 qt aluminum pressure cooker on the glass top without reservation, except I turn to my electric pressure cooker these days for meals that size. Are you thinking of doing your corned beef stove top? There shouldn't be a problem....

Thanks everyone! It's a 6 qt. and I've had it for 44 years. So I hesitate to replace it. I replace air vent and sealing ring at the same time. I never even thought about checking my stove manual. I do have it as I also have book for pressure cooker. Appreciate you all taking time to answer. Thanks so much.

I was trying to use my very old (probably 40+ years) pressure cooker on my glass smooth top. However, I kept burning stuff on the bottom. Turns out that the bottom of the cooker was not good for smooth-top ranges -- that was in my range manual. I ended up with a brand new T-Fal pressure cooker that will work on both smooth top range tops, *and* induction burners.

Donna

The reason for the warning against cast iron has to do with the rough surface of bare cast iron pans (particularly casting rings) which may scratch the ceran surface of smoothtop ranges when such pans are dragged or shifted around.

The reason for warnings about "aluminum" on smoothtops is basically a concern about a cosmetic issue. With new, bare (non-anodized) aluminum pans -- think cheap pans from a restaurant supply store --- the bare metal surface on those new pans is relatively soft. That means it can leave smear marks when dragged or shaken on a ceran top. (BTW, copper can do the same.) When the pans age more than a few years, they develop a natural anodizing and will not smear. That is, they won't do it unless you regularly take SOS, steel wool, scouring powders, or other abrasives to keep the
exterior base very well polished and shiny. (Polishing takes off all
that dulling but protective anodizaing).

So, your 44 y.o. pressure cooker's exterior likely will be pretty well annodized by now. Shouldn't be a problem on your glasstop range. But, if you do get some smears/stains, they are (IME) easily polished off with "glass cooktop cleaners." That has been true for me with two cleaners I've used, Ceramabryte and Weiman's. Lots of other brands out there.

Of course, if you would prefer to get one of the new, stainless=steel, spring-valved pressure cookers, there are plenty of brands out there and you can just forget what I've just said! :>)