© 2022 All rights reserved Worktop Library
Choosing the best worktop is the most challenging stage of installing or redesigning a kitchen. Whether you are a professional baker or enjoy baking as a hobby, a well-equipped baking station is essential.
While settling on a specific material is easy because of the appearance and prices, bakers often narrow down their options based on heat resistance.
Baking often involves rolling dough, cutting, acidic ingredients, and hot pans/pots that standard worktops cannot handle. Therefore, when looking for a kitchen surface that can withstand hot temperatures without damage, here are the best options.
Importance of Heat-Resistant Worktops
Before exploring the various heat-resistant worktops to install in your baking station, you must understand why they are crucial. Baking involves high temperatures and placing hot pans and baking trays directly on the worktops. Regular worktops can easily get damaged or undergo discolouration from heat exposure. On the other hand, heat-resistant worktops can withstand these high temperatures while maintaining their colour.
Besides, these worktops provide a solid surface for working with hot items. Whether rolling out dough, removing hot dishes from the oven or setting down a hot pot, these heat-resistant worktops ensure the baking station remains secure and efficient.
Best Heat Resistant Kitchen Worktops
Granite
Granite is an excellent heat-resistant worktop that can handle heat up to 200°C. In addition, you do not need to install a cooling rack over the worktop that clutters your kitchen. You can easily place your baking tins and pans on the worktop, and the natural granite cooling abilities will work to your advantage.
This surface is also ideal for rolling dough and patsy baking due to its water-resistant nature. However, you may need genuine granite worktops to retain their heat-resistant capabilities and prevent staining.
Quartz Worktop
Quartz worktops stand out because of their colour consistency, which blends well with most kitchens. They also make the best working surfaces for bakers because they are heat, scratch and stain-resistant. In addition, they do not require sealing like quartz, meaning they are low-maintenance and easy to clean.
Another impressive feature of quartz is that it is acid-resistant, so if you bake with citrus fruits, you can quickly chop them on the surface without ruining your worktop. Consult your worktop supplier to find the correct quartz pattern and colour that fits well with your kitchen style.
New Silestone Victorian Silver
Marble
Marble is now one of the most popular worktops for baking since it provides a level surface for dough preparation. In addition, the naturally cool temperature surface works well for bakers by preventing the dough from softening or absorbing heat. Since marble occurs naturally with unique colour combinations, you can expect it to handle temperatures up to 160°C.
In addition, it is highly resistant to scratching and chipping so you can prepare your ingredients directly on the surface. However, worktop suppliers suggest you use a chopping board because marble will blunt your knives. Proper sealing and maintenance are required to prevent marble from staining and etching from its porosity.
Rosa Portogallo is trending as an exquisite pink marble worktop
Ceramic
Ceramic kitchen worktops are the best marble alternatives because of their style and finish, adding a touch of luxury to the kitchen. They are versatile, hygienic, hard-wearing, and heat-resistant, meaning you can place your baking pans on them directly from the oven for better cooling. The surface is also resistant to water, mildew, and bacteria, ensuring your baking dough remains uncontaminated and soft.
Above: Techlam Top Kaledonia, a sintered ceramic worktop by Levantina, inspired by Breccia Capraia marble
The natural elegance of the Calacatta Viola marble-effect worktop, paired with the practicality of ceramic.
Terrazzo Worktops
Choose terrazzo worktops for an elegant contemporary baking station resembling marble. Terrazzo worktops combine multiple materials, creating a sturdy and indestructible surface; they possess excellent heat-resistant properties when properly manufactured and installed. These worktops can withstand extreme temperatures of up to 400°C without damage or deformation.
Therefore, you can place your hot baking trays, pots, and pans directly on the surface without any worries. However, for durability, exercise caution by using trivets and heat-resistant pads for prolonged periods of direct contact with extreme heat. This prevents the deterioration of the heat-resistant worktop material over time. In addition, be careful when placing heavy materials on the surface as they may cause chipping, which ruins the worktop’s quality.
Above: Agglotech Aggloceppo, a terrazzo surface inspired by the famous Terrazzo Di Ceppo stone
Installing a heat-resistant worktop for your baking station is an intelligent investment that enhances your kitchen’s functionality, beauty, and style. Each worktop has unique features and benefits. It is crucial to consider your baking habits, budget, and aesthetic performance before picking one. Even after installing your ideal worktop, follow maintenance best practices to ensure longevity and performance. Consulting a worktop supplier guarantees you will find a heat-resistant worktop that suits your baking needs, further perfecting your culinary creations.
Meet Alan Nussbaum, our Sales and Marketing Manager, whose expertise in stone worktops is second to none. With almost two decades of experience, Alan’s impressive track record includes creating one of the first online stone companies in 2012 and pioneering the acceptance of cryptocurrencies in construction in 2018 before co-founding The Worktop Library with Maria.
Alan’s outstanding work is featured in numerous Stone and Home Decor magazines. In addition, he collaborates with the industry’s leading stone brands, cementing his reputation as a true innovator.
Before starting a thriving career in the stone industry, Alan honed his skills by overseeing luxury fashion brands such as Burberry, Matches Fashion, and Patrick Cox. With his unique blend of experience and expertise, Alan is a true trailblazer in the stone worktop industry. His passion for delivering exceptional service is evident in every aspect of his work.