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How to clean range grates


How to Easily Clean Gas Stove Grates & Burners

Gas stovetops bring together powerful burners and durable grates to deliver a dynamic cooking experience. Gas stove surfaces, burners and grates can get dirty while cooking and require cleaning. This guide will teach you simple, everyday steps for cleaning your stove burners and grates as well as heavy-duty cleaning techniques for built-up or stuck-on grease and spills. 


You should always check your appliance’s owner’s manual before beginning any cleaning process. Your specific model may come with its own cleaning considerations and methods. Read on for more information on how to clean a gas stovetop, including how to clean clogged gas burners and cast-iron stove grates.

HOW TO CLEAN GAS STOVE BURNERS

Most gas burners feature an easily removable burner cap which protects the burner base underneath from food spills. However, food or grease can accumulate under and around the caps over time. Regularly cleaning them, as well as the burner base, will help you maintain even flames and proper ignition. See below for tips on how to clean dirty or clogged gas burners in a few simple steps.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

STEP 1: PREP THE STOVETOP FOR CLEANING

Before cleaning, make sure all controls are turned to the off position and the cooktop is cool. Remove the stovetop grates and set them aside. Remove the burner caps.

STEP 2: CLEAN THE BURNER CAPS

Wipe down all sides of the burner caps with a non-abrasive scrubbing pad or cloth and mildly abrasive cleaner or soap. If the caps are extra dirty, soak them in hot, soapy water for a minimum of 20 minutes.

 

If food and grease is still stuck on the burner caps, try creating a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water. Coat the caps with the paste and let them sit for 20 minutes. Rinse them and wipe them down with a soft cloth.

STEP 3: CLEAN THE BURNER BASE

Wipe down the burner base with a non-abrasive scrubbing pad or cloth and mildly abrasive cleaner or soap. If the ports (the notches that help spread the flame) look dirty or clogged, remove any food or grease with some type of straight metal pin or needle. Do not use a wooden toothpick. Wipe down the burner with clean water and a soft cloth.

STEP 4: PUT THE BURNER CAPS BACK ON

Manually dry the caps with a towel before putting them back on. Some burners have a marker on the underside of the cap that indicates which burner they belong to. 

 

Some burner bases also have pins that help you align the cap correctly. The burner cap should fit flush with the burner and move very little when you try to turn it in either direction. Check if the caps were reinstalled correctly by turning on the burner and verifying that the flame looks normal.

HOW TO CLEAN STOVE GRATES

Gas stove grates are designed to handle whatever you throw on them, and a certain amount of spillage can be expected. Read these steps on the best way to clean stove grates, including cast iron grates, to get them clean with minimal time and effort.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

STEP 1: REMOVE THE GRATES AND SCRUB THEM

Make sure the grates are cool before removing them. Scrub them gently with a non-abrasive scrubbing pad or cloth and mildly abrasive cleaner or soap. Don’t worry about using water and cleaners on cast iron grates; they are mainly for heat conduction and durability, so they don’t need to be treated like a cast-iron pan for cooking.

STEP 2: PUT GRATES IN THE DISHWASHER, IF NECESSARY

Many gas stove grates are dishwasher-safe, but check your oven’s owner’s manual before placing them in the dishwasher. If you’re washing them in the dishwasher, make sure to place the grates in the lower rack and select the most aggressive cycle. Scrubbing the grates by hand ahead of time can improve the cleaning process.

STEP 3: PUT THE GRATES BACK ON

Wait until the grates are completely dry before putting them back on the stove. Look for any tabs or marks that indicate how they should be configured on the stovetop. When the grates are back in place, jiggle them slightly to make sure they are secure.

Gas burner heat is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). Not all gas burners on a single stovetop are capable of putting out the same amount of heat. Check your owner’s manual for the BTU ranges of each burner so you can avoid overcooking and spills.

HOW TO GET GREASE OFF THE STOVETOP SURFACE

To tackle grease on a gas stovetop, first remove the grates. Work warm water and liquid dish soap (the kind used for handwashing dishes) into a lather with a soft cloth. Coat the stovetop surface with soapy water and let it sit for around five minutes. Scrub the surface until all the grease is gone. 

If liquid dish soap doesn’t do the trick, try creating a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water. Coat the stovetop surface with the paste and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. The paste should then come up easily with a soft cloth or sponge. For more information on cleaning your stove surfaces, read this guide on how to clean an oven in four steps.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR GAS STOVETOP CLEAN

Cleaning your stove surface, burners and grates after each use will help it withstand years of messy meals. Even if there hasn’t been a major spill, some grease or food residue most likely made its way onto your stovetop and could bake on the next time you fire it up. 

If you’re shopping for a new cooking appliance, consider a stovetop with a protective finish built in. For example, Maytag® DuraGuard Protective Finish and DuraClean Cast Iron Grates clean up easily and let pots and pans slide smoothly around the cooktop for fewer spills when transitioning from burner to burner.

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How to Clean Stove Grates: Step by Step with Pictures

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by Ashley Abramson

updated Sep 21, 2022

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

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Caked-on marinara sauce. Weeks-old bacon grease. A collection of burnt crumbs and other unidentifiable food debris. If you’ve ever tried to clean a gas stove—or any type of stovetop with grates—then you know how problematic it can be to delay cleaning this pesky, stuck-on evidence of your favorite meals, but the one universal truth is it’s always better to get to the grate-cleaning job sooner rather than later.

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Now, you probably don’t intend to skip out on scrubbing the stove grates every time you clean up the kitchen. Maybe you aren’t quite sure how to effectively de-gunk your oven grates. Perhaps you simply don’t make the time to do it. Either way, as with most of the chores looming on your to-do list, avoidance only exacerbates the problem.

The longer you put off the cleaning process, the more stubborn those burned-on spills and crumbs will become—making for a smelly reminder about every time you cook on the stovetop. Not exactly a fun process. 

So: How, exactly, can you achieve a like-new stovetop? Cleaning stove grates is probably an easier job than you think, and we promise it won’t take too much of your time. (Yes, we’re gently encouraging you to get the job done because it’ll be worth the effort!)

Ready to do the job you’ve been putting off? Here’s how to clean stove grates, step by step. 

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Things to Know Before You Start

Your stove grates are likely cast iron, so treat them with care to prevent damage. Avoid using steel wool or any metallic scouring pads to clean. Your best bet is to pair a heavy-duty brush, non-scratch nylon scrubber, or sponge with a cleaning product that scours, like a powder cleanser or baking soda (see below instructions for more detail).

And it may go without saying, but if you use any harsh chemicals (like ammonia) to clean your stove grates, always rinse with hot, soapy water. Prevent rusting by drying your grates before putting them back on your stovetop.

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How to Clean Stove Grates, Step By Step

Angela Bell and Georgia Dixon, Grove Guides at Grove Collaborative, prefer swapping out harsh oven cleaners for a simpler DIY method, which happens to be just as effective. This simpler route is the safest choice with cast iron, and you can use ingredients you likely already have on hand. If you aren’t seeing the results you want after the first try, you can try a second pass with ammonia (with caution! more on that below).

Here’s how to clean stove grates with a homemade soapy water mixture:

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1. Remove the oven grates from your stovetop and place them in an empty sink

The easiest part! Make sure they’re cool to the touch, then remove the grates from your stovetop and place them into an empty sink or bathtub. If you don’t have a sink or tub big enough, you can also use a plastic bin (even if you have to borrow it from under the bed).

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2. Mix a soapy water bath.

Cover the grates in the sink with boiling or very hot water, plus a squirt of dish soap. Allow the grates to soak in the soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes to cut through the grease.

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3. Scrub with powder cleanser to loosen excess debris.

After soaking and if necessary, use a scouring cleaner (like Bon Ami, Bar Keepers Friend, or even baking soda) on a stiff-bristled (non-metal) brush, sponge, or non-scratch nylon scrubber and scour away any baked-on food or leftover grease.

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4. Rinse, dry, and replace the grates.

Rinse the grates, dry them thoroughly with a clean cloth, and place them back on the stovetop. Good as new!

How do you get burnt grease off a stovetop?

Good news! The same dish-soap-and-powder-cleanser method can be used on a stovetop to loosen up set-in grease. 

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Can you use Easy Off on cast iron grates?

Some people swear by Easy Off, a popular oven cleaner that can be used successfully to clean tough grime off of your cast iron stove grates when used according to the directions on the package.

On the other hand, some cleaning experts, like Bell and Dixon, would not recommend this product line, citing harsh fumes and poor grades from the Environmental Working Group.

If you need a more powerful alternative to dish soap and powder cleanser, try soaking the grates for a few hours (or even overnight) in a sealed bag or covered container filled with ammonia. After soaking, rinse and dry the grates thoroughly. If you opt for this method, be cautious: Never mix ammonia with other cleaners, always wear gloves, and ensure you have proper ventilation throughout the process.

How to quickly clean the grate of a gas stove

Most of the kitchen dirt comes from a gas stove. Escaping coffee, splashes of broth, fat and sauce are inevitable companions of the culinary process. Stains on the work surface are instantly evident, so it is customary to remove them as they appear. With a grid, things are more complicated. Washing the rods is not particularly convenient, and their stains are less noticeable.

How to prepare the grate for cleaning

Before cleaning the gas stove grate at home, you need to find out what material the rods are made of. This can be determined from the instructions for the stove or by external signs:

How to clean the grate depends on its design. Removable grates are the easiest to clean. Depending on the material, they can be pre-soaked in a detergent solution, sent to the dishwasher or steamed in the oven. Be sure to remove all plastic and rubber parts, if any, beforehand. If the grate is attached to the hob, getting to all its corners will be problematic. To clean hard-to-reach places, you can use an old toothbrush and cotton swabs. Instead of classic gel and cream detergents, it is better to give preference to household chemicals in aerosol format. In order not to damage the working surface of the plate, it should be covered with foil or oilcloth. Before cleaning the grate on the stove, be sure to turn off the gas supply.

Do not forget about the basic precautions:

How to clean cast iron stove grates

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Due to its porous structure, cast iron actively absorbs fat during cooking. Gradually, dust and other small contaminants stick to it. They are fired on an open fire, forming a dense armor of soot.

Despite their massiveness, cast iron grates are very fragile. You should not scrape off carbon deposits with a knife or other hard abrasives - the rods are easily damaged, which will lead to rust formation. Washing the grate in the dishwasher or soaking it in water for a long time is also contraindicated. But it perfectly withstands exposure to high temperatures. Before cleaning the cast-iron grates on the gas stove, it is better to bring the structure to the country house and ignite it in a fire for 2-3 hours. You can also use a blowtorch.

How to clean the grate of an enamelled cooker

Enameled rods must be handled with care. When using steel wool and abrasive cleaners, it is easy to scratch them - the damaged surface attracts dirt faster and gradually rusts. .

The easiest way to clean the grate is in the dishwasher - do not forget to increase the dosage of detergent and set the high temperature setting. You can use a conventional oven and boil the grate in a pan with a solution of vinegar for 2-3 hours. The soot crust will soften enough to be removed with a dishwashing sponge. Avoid temperature extremes - when immersed in cold water, the enamel runs the risk of instantly cracking.

How to clean the steel grating

Steel gratings can withstand the roughest cleaning. Old soot can be scraped off with a knife or steel wool. In suburban conditions, ordinary sand is suitable - its solid particles perfectly remove even stubborn dirt.

If these methods seem too painstaking and time-consuming, household chemicals and folk remedies will come to the rescue. Make a slurry of baking soda and water, spread it evenly on the grate and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Dip a sponge in the vinegar solution and run the hard side over the bars. Let stand for another half an hour and wash off loose dirt with water.

Universal ways to wash the gas stove grate

Cast iron grates do not interact well with water, but enameled and steel grates should be soaked in hot water for several hours before treatment. For the best effect, you can add dishwashing detergent, detergent for kitchen surfaces or soda to it.

Otherwise, the ways to clean the grate of the stove from grease are the same for different types of grates:

Fresh dirt is much easier to remove. In the process of cooking, drops of fat and sauce inevitably fly out of the pan. Allow the hob to cool completely and wipe the grate bars with Cif universal wet wipes. They easily cope with grease and other contaminants, do not scratch the surface and do not leave villi.

Get into the habit of cleaning the grate as part of your weekly general cleaning. This will save the time and effort required to deal with ingrained contaminants.

HOW TO CLEAN THE GRATE ON THE STOVE

“The stove will tell about women's cleanliness,” say the wise men. A big sin or not - this is the question of neatness. And the grills of the gas stove are a clear marker for this.

Remains of food and gradually increasing fat layer do their dirty work, getting rid of them is not so easy. But nothing is impossible. See for yourself by reading the text and taking note of our life hacks for setting up a marafet in hard-to-reach places.

Universal ways to clean the grate on a gas stove

Solving the problem without chemicals, which flies into a penny, is within the power of an experienced and novice hostess. With what is in the kitchen. How to clean the grate on a gas stove - later in the article.

Useful article: The best bread makers for home in 2021: an overview of the TOP 9 models The container should be such that the rods are placed in it, and the water completely covers it. Boiling water will soften the fatty coating, after which it will be much easier to get rid of it. It is enough to rub the rods a little with a scraper. If the dirt is minor, a sponge or cloth will do the trick.

Steaming

If there is a steam cleaner, the problem is solved once or twice. The device perfectly softens deposits. To do this, direct a jet of steam to the rods, passing from site to site. Then wipe thoroughly with a cloth.

An interesting article: Which vacuum cleaner is better - wired or wireless: 3 moments to "think"

Soda

To remove fat, it is enough to mix water and soda to the state of "slurry". Suitable food or calcined. The optimal ratio of ingredients is 2:1.

The resulting substance is spread on the wire rack and left for 60-90 minutes. During this time, an elementary chemical reaction will occur, as a result of which body fat will begin to dissolve. After that, the rods are cleaned with a stainless steel scraper or brush, washed in water and dried.

Mustard powder

This option may seem strange, but believe me, after trying it, you won't want to use expensive chemicals. The effect is amazing.

How to clean cast iron and enameled gas stove grates in four steps.

  1. Spread the mustard powder evenly in a thick layer on pre-moistened rods. The powder is mixed with water in a ratio of 2:1.
  2. Leave the plate component in this state for 1.5-2 hours.
  3. Clean and wash off residue.

This method will not only get rid of dirt, but also disinfect the grate.

Vinegar

A 9% vinegar solution will clean the grate on the stove very well. The product has a strong, specific smell, so it is better to work in a ventilated area:

  • take a container, place the rods, and pour vinegar generously;
  • within 90-120 minutes the acid will work with deposits;
  • after - rinse the rods, having previously worked hard with a scraper.

How to clean the cast iron gas stove grate

Cast iron is practical, it does not deform due to minor damage. But the raid is insidious. It comes from nowhere as quickly as on steel or enamel. So, in addition to your experience, a couple of working methods for cleaning the gas stove grate will come in handy.

By the way: Which cookware is suitable for an induction cooker, Or which 4 solid "YES"

Laundry soap

Two liters of boiling water and grated soap should be mixed in a basin or bath. One bar will be enough.

Leave the bars in the soapy substance overnight, preferably overnight. Then wipe with a soft cloth. Grease and soot will easily leave. Rinse under a tap.

Baking

The grate must be exposed to a fire, blowtorch or burner. It will stink, because when heated, fat is melted. So ventilation is inevitable if you do it indoors.

To remove scale:

  1. Fasten the grate over the flame. Turn periodically to ignite the entire area.
  2. After intensive annealing (15-20 minutes), allow the rods to cool down so as not to burn themselves.
  3. Wipe, wash and dry.

Mechanical cleaning

A washcloth, scraper or hard bristle brush is indispensable in this case. It will be easier to clean if the rods are steamed or calcined.

Cleaning the enamel grate

Enamel peels off if you remove deposits with a knife, rub with hard sponges or a brush. Therefore, excessive zeal is useless. Below in the text, it is detailed how to clean the enamelled grate of a gas stove sensibly, but sparingly.

Informative article: How to use a humidifier correctly: 10 + operating tips

Household chemicals

You can get rid of deposits if you arm yourself with chemicals with a note about the purpose. The agent is applied to the lattice faces and kept for the time specified in the instructions.

After - wipe and wash. The exfoliated ugliness will remain on the napkin.

Dishwasher

Cleaning the rack in the dishwasher is the easiest option. You will need cleaning tablet washers for washing, which are placed in the appropriate compartment of the device. This agent forms a lot of foam and intensively cleans the plate component.

In tandem with dishwasher salt, you will get a good result. It is used to improve the quality of washing, cleaning the machine itself from scale and plaque, softening water and restoring sodium reserves. The agent is poured up to the top into the salt tank, which is located under the lower basket.

The grates are placed in the chamber, an intensive washing program with hot water is selected, because to wash the grate from grease, you need a lot of water and foam. Upon contact with hot water and steam, the dirt will soften, begin to flake off and wash out. If in the end the result does not suit you, it is worth repeating the wash or finishing with your hands.

Melamine sponge

No extra cleaning pad. Melanin contains abrasives and everything you need for productive cleansing.

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