Granite is naturally heat resistant, and heat damage would occur only if the granite was heated unevenly. So briefly putting a hot pan down on your granite countertop isn't going to cause long-term damage. That said, we don't recommend putting hot pans on granite countertops — not for the granite's sake but for yours.
How to Protect Your Countertop. You can put hot pans on granite with no worries if you place something underneath them. A trivet, pad or potholder will absorb the heat from the pan before it reaches the surface, preventing damage to your countertop and preserving its beauty.
The heat from the pan could cause a chemical reaction with the granite, thus causing discoloration of the countertop. High heat on granite also can cause the seal on the countertop to wear down and weaken, which makes the countertop more susceptible to absorbing spills and any residue left on the surface.
Clorox and Lysol sprays and wipes are convenient, but they are not safe for granite countertops. They rarely contain bleach, but they do generally contain citric acid to help remove soap scum. Avoid using bleach as well.
Granite is so heat resistant that you can place a hot dish directly on it without leaving marks or stains. When it comes to heat-resistant materials, quartz is your second-best bet. You can't easily scorch quartz, but you will want to use a hot pad before placing a dish directly on it, or you could damage the quartz.
Granite is resistant to heat but it is still recommended to use hot pads or trivets instead of putting your hot dishes from the oven on your countertop. It's best to avoid anything that could damage the surface of the countertop.
Note: Some experts will recommend sealing granite countertops every “6-12 months” or “3-5 years”, but there is no hard and fast rule.
DO NOT put hot pots, pans or appliances such as toaster ovens and slow cookers directly on your counter top's. Such items can cause serious damage to your stone or quartz counter tops.
Granite is a stone that's strong enough to support the weight of small appliances and cutting boards. However, it's prone to damage from sharp objects like knives. Avoid using your granite surface as a cutting board. This can cause chips, scratches, dings, and other damage.
Your granite countertops are a beautiful and integral part of your home—they facilitate meal preparation, homework projects and more. Keeping your countertops functional and crack-free should be at the top of your list of things to do, so it's important that you don't stand or sit on them.
Frequent use of vinegar, Windex or bleach will dull the granite and weaken the sealant. Instead, a little soap and water should do the trick. Add dish soap and warm water to a sponge, get a good lather and begin cleaning. Avoid using abrasive pads, as granite can be scratched.
Granite is one of the most durable countertop materials you can buy, and it can certainly withstand cuts from a knife blade. However, if your granite has a sealer on it, cutting can eventually wear down the sealant.
If the granite surface immediately takes in most of the water and develops a dark mark or ring, you need to seal it once every few months. If it takes a few minutes for your stone countertop to soak up all the water, you only need to seal it once every year or two.
For regular granite cleaning, the best cleaner is nothing more sophisticated than mild dish soap diluted with water. (You can also make a homemade granite cleaner made with a base of rubbing alcohol.) Wet a sponge with water from the tap and squirt dish soap into its center. Bear in mind that granite scratches easily.
Do use a mild detergent soap. Regular Dawn or other dish soaps work well. Do use a soft cloth. No special tools needed here: a soft cloth will help remove all grime and dirt without damaging countertops.
It has a natural water resistance that helps protect it. However, it isn't water-proof. Because granite is a stone, it is also naturally porous. And while it won't absorb in the same way as, say, sandstone or limestone, it will still absorb bits of moisture that can eventually damage your counters.
Heat Resistant: Granite countertops will not melt, blister, nor change color when exposed to heat. Unlike Quartz, Granite is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. If you take a hot pan out of the oven, you can place it directly on your countertop surface without any harm!
Both materials are very durable and enhance interior designs and functionality, but which one costs less? Generally, quartz is less expensive than granite, but many factors influence the total price of a project.
Insufficient support at stress areas such as overhangs and around cutouts, sitting on the edge, or a massive blow can cause granite to chip, crack, or break. The good news is you will not have to replace damaged granite countertops. You can repair minor damage in granite yourself without much trouble.
Quartz countertops are the easiest natural stone to take care of. They are engineered using ground stone and resin, so they don't require regular sealing they way most granite and marble countertops do. This stone is non-porous, so it does not easily stain or etch.
Use Trivets or Hot Pads for Hot Items
This is why it is so important to keep heat from coming in direct contact through the use of trivets, hot pads, or other types of pads creating a layer of protection between hot pans and countertops.
Granite will resist damage from heat. A hot pan up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit will not damage granite, even if you place the pan directly onto the granite counter. An extreme heat source over an extended period could damage granite surface.