When I think back to my parents’ home; we had a lot of items that never got used or even looked at again. To me that same feeling now applies to most people, which makes me wonder if everyone has an item in their home that they will forever stare at and say to themselves, “I don’t even know what I was thinking when I bought this?” Perhaps a granite countertop heat pad fits that category for some.

For one Redditor, the item was a sliver of straight-edged granite that he didn’t realize existed in his home until he decided to start cleaning and moving out of his home approximately three years after he moved into it. The Redditor stated that none of the household members remembered why they placed a large slab of granite in their home, or if it was glued into the wall, improperly installed, hid a panel, or something else entirely.

It was much simpler than anyone of them had imagined.

Old Designing for Practicality

With the exception of synthetic materials (such as quartz), prior to natural stone such as granite and marble becoming the “forever” material for the kitchen countertop industry, real stone countertops were essentially worth as much as gold. Are they durable? Yes, they are. However, will they last forever? No, they won’t. In the era before granite countertop heat pads, homeowners needed solutions.

Prior to granite and marble becoming popular in the countertop industry, companies would often provide a complimentary “leftover” slab of granite to homeowners. They would polish all four sides and use the remaining portions as heat pads (mat) underneath hot pots and pans to prevent scorching the countertop from extreme temperatures. From simply applying common sense and researching online, the main reasons for placing hot pots and pans on a heat pad rather than the countertop were:

Extreme temperature changes cause thermal shock (stone cracking from stress) to the stone.
Extreme temperature changes create discolored areas (whiter areas where the countertop has settled).
Extreme temperature changes cause damage (splitting) to the stone.

The otherwise bland-looking flat granite slab was actually a small unsung hero of kitchen safety. Using granite countertop heat pads for absorbing heat maintained the integrity of your surfaces.

How Can Smooth Surfaces Get a Hold?

The Redditor also wondered why the granite slab wouldn’t budge. The reason? When two polished stone surfaces—like granite or marble—sit in contact for a long time, surface tension and suction can make them feel slightly “stuck.” It’s not glued, just snug. In some cases, the fit is so perfect that it creates mild resistance. If you’ve ever tried lifting a stone cutting board off a granite counter, you’ve felt the same effect. With a bit of pressure, it usually comes off easily.

An Older Boomer’s Kitchen Tip That May Be Worth Reviving

We were countertop men, and it was commonplace to include the additional granite in as a complimentary heat pad for the homeowner. It was a thoughtful gesture from a different time when executives cared about their customers and took the extra step to make sure that they could always continue using your products. Granite countertop heat pads were a useful addition to a well-thought-out kitchen.

In today’s world of minimalist kitchens and disposable gadgets, those little gestures and objects seem to be archaic. However, they do work, and they still do.

Really, perhaps it is time to revive the concept of using a heat-resistant slab of granite (cut and formed to fit your countertop) to fit over part of the range. Rather than looking for a silicone trivet or stacking cloth potholder, having a matching stone heat pad seems elegant, and effortless. There is no flame, and it doesn’t wear out.

And Not Just a Stone, So Much More – An Educational Experience

Next time you see a blank flat slab of granite on your countertop, or possibly while searching for new and/or antique items in a salvage yard – you may be looking at an older piece of useful mid-century ingenuity. And, you will eventually understand why you bought it. Could it have served as a granite countertop heat pad in its previous life?