Pan of water on top of the stove?

[handsplitter]

I am relatively new to the website and have much to learn. I have several questions and will keep each of them in its own thread.

Is it okay to place a 8 x 11 glass cooking pan full of water on top of my stove? I am after a little humidity, but perhaps that would not be a good idea? Or what have you guys found to add humidity (aside from the obvious/a humidifier)?

Similarly, if I'm going to make my 2 cups of coffee in an hour or so, no harm in putting the 2 cups of water in a glass on top of the stove?

Thank you.

 

[therealdbeau]

I can't see why it wouldn't be OK. I know many people put a cast iron kettle on top of their stove to get some humidity back into the room. Maybe a glass apparatus wouldn't heat up enough as opposed to a cast iron piece.

 

[brazilbl]

The only thing (in terms of materials) I've put on my stovetop is Cast Iron or metal of some sort. I've also used one of those fake "la crucset" enamel-coated cast iron cooking pots and placed that on there to make chili. Just used aluminum pot on there a couple of days ago to cook rice.

I'd be interested from those with more experience!

 

[Woody Stover]

This place isn't dry, no forced air and about 50% right now according to a cheap old plastic weather station I have (I calibrated the humidity gauge a couple years back.) But I've heard that putting a vessel on the stove to evaporate doesn't really do much..

 

[Dataman]

I used Cast Iron Pot, along with Kettle for Tea. It seemed to help a lot. Now with Pellet stove I use couple of Humidifiers. Bought this one last year and another couple months ago. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071ZPFXS1/?tag=hearthamazon-20

 

[Wickets]

i use a cast iron pot too....it definitely makes a difference having water on the stove......if you started your 'wood burning stove' life out without water i am certain you wouldnt miss it one ioata, but once you start with water its hard to give up and very noticeable when the pot is dry!

 

[barnaclebob]

I wouldn't use a glass pan. Too concerned about it breaking. I had one break foolishly heating some liquid on a burner when I was younger. Especially don't pour cold water into a hot glass pan.

 

[maple1]

I would not use glass on a stove top.

 

[handsplitter]

Thank you very much.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Just use a metal cooking pot. Don't let it run dry, and wash it often to get the gunk that your water leaves behind out.

It's not going to do a huge amount, but it will do some. Try air sealing to keep your warm, humid air in the house.

 

[jetsam]

I make tea in stainless steel quart mugs on top of my stove all the time.

All the little spills over the years actually damaged the paint and rusted the top a little, but a quick whack with a wire brush and a shot of Stove Brite has is looking brand new after about 5 minutes' work. (Of course the new paint stinks the first time it gets hot, so touch it up and burn it hot in shoulder season, and you're ready for winter.)

I have tried using stovetop water for humidification, but I usually wind up needing a humidifier too in really cold weather. If you have an outside air kit, you'll need to add less water to the air.

I also use old gallon glass pickle jars for tea... I set them near the stove, so they only get up to 100-150F. It makes nice strong tea. Then I throw the jar out the back door until it's nice and cold, then toss it in the fridge.

Remember that thermal shock breaks glass, so don't heat them up or cool them down too fast.

 

[jetsam]

Just use a metal cooking pot. Don't let it run dry, and wash it often to get the gunk that your water leaves behind out.

It's not going to do a huge amount, but it will do some. Try air sealing to keep your warm, humid air in the house.

Vinegar will remove a lot of the minerals left behind by evaporating water. Where vinegar fails, CLR usually does the trick.

 

[wooduser]

Last summer I got this relative humidity meter. It can be calibrated, but when I tested it, it was spot on:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXOKPT0/?tag=hearthamazon-20

Currently reads 58% in my living room.

Current temperature at the Boeing Field NOAA station is 55 degrees and 67% relative humidity.

(broken link removed)

 

[Manly]

I wouldn't use a glass pan. Too concerned about it breaking. I had one break foolishly heating some liquid on a burner when I was younger. Especially don't pour cold water into a hot glass pan.

I believe using glass on top of a wood stove is #7 on the cardinal rule list of things not to do with a wood stove. Correct me if I have the wrong position on the list.

 

[jetsam]

I believe using glass on top of a wood stove is #7 on the cardinal rule list of things not to do with a wood stove. Correct me if I have the wrong position on the list.

#1 Sexy times on the woodstove
#2 Using drilled-top woodstove as combination space heater / toilet
#3 Sexy times with the woodstove
#4 Carrying burning woodstove outside to get more wood
#5 Venting woodstove through floor into lower level for better efficiency
#6 Cleaning flue by burning a case of WD-40
#7 Improving heat output by connecting multiple woodstoves in series


Sorry, glass of water didn't make my top 7!

 

[Manly]

#1 Sexy times on the woodstove
#2 Using drilled-top woodstove as combination space heater / toilet
#3 Sexy times with the woodstove
#4 Carrying burning woodstove outside to get more wood
#5 Venting woodstove through floor into lower level for better efficiency
#6 Cleaning flue by burning a case of WD-40
#7 Improving heat output by connecting multiple woodstoves in series


Sorry, glass of water didn't make my top 7!

Thank you for the correction. My list is apparently way out of date. Wish I had this new list prior to my violation of rules #1 & 3, today I would probably be more manly in deed and not just in name

 

[Ccsoleil]

Thank you for the correction. My list is apparently way out of date. Wish I had this new list prior to my violation of rules #1 & 3, today I would probably be more manly in deed and not just in name

 

[Ccsoleil]

I love your list of seven
Been using a thick glass butter dish all winter and had no problems what so ever. Not with the dish, nor the lack of enough humidity: it evaporated very well!

 

[30WCF]

I’ve given up on trying to keep water on the stove. All my other stove top nicknacks have migrated away as well. The only difference I can tell is less clutter. Sometimes a steamer with some apples and cinnamon around the holidays, but that’s it these days for me.
I like a little smudge pot for that.

 

[Dajolu]

My wife just tried simmering Sliced Orange, Cinnamon, and a few coffee beans in a pot on our gas range. It produced a pleasant smell. May try it on the stove next season.

 

[Eman85]

All fun and games with the "potpourri" deal, that is until the water boils off while you're busy and then you need something to take the smell of burnt up stuff out of the air.

 

[stoveliker]

Also, it increases the Volatile Organic Compound (voc) concentration by much. The same happens when cooking, but that serves a necessary purpose.
I refrain from any scented stuff in my home for this reason (combined with asthma).