Cooking grates get a lot of grime from cooking as the grease, food splatters, and soot form on these metal pieces. These stove grates should be cleaned often to prevent corrosion and stuck-on grime, and these are usually cleaned manually by hand.
In this article, we'll present the step-by-step process on how to clean stove grates easily and effortlessly! The same methods are also good for cleaning burners and caps as well, so you can optimize your kitchen cleaning.
Cleaning Materials
Most stove grates are made from cast iron, which is a pure material. You can use abrasive scrubbers without severely damaging the material as long as you refrain from applying too much pressure to clean the stove grates. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Dish soap
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Sponge
- Scrubbing brush OR
- Metallic scouring pad
Step 1: Remove Stove Grates
First, let the stove grates cool, and remove them from the stove. If the grates are still warm, allow them to cool before handling to prevent burning yourself on the stove. Take the stove grates to the sink or outdoor area where you can clean them comfortably. Take the gas burner caps as well, if possible.
Step 2: Wash with Hot Soapy Water
Wash with hot soapy water: dish soap diluted in warm water, to remove any fresh oil and stove grease residue from the grates. Cast iron stove grates may absorb some good amount of oil from food during cooking, so removing these with soap and water first will expose the baked-on grease, and remove excess debris.
Step 3: Create a Baking Soda Paste
For deeper stains and burnt-on bits, create a baking soda paste by mixing just enough vinegar to baking soda to create a paste. Apply the paste all over the stove grates and the burner caps, and let the solution sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
The baking soda will help lift the stains from the cooking grates, while vinegar softens the grime, making it easier to wipe the stove grates clean later on with a clean cloth or scrub brush. The baking soda paste is safe to use even on cast iron grates.
Step 4: Scrub Clean
After the allotted time, use a scrub brush or scouring pad to remove the loosened grime. You might notice the struck-on dirt is much easier to remove. Repeat the process if there are any more stains remaining, but let the cleaning paste sit longer than the previous application. The longer you leave the paste, the better the results.
Step 5: Rinse
Rinse the stove grates, making sure to remove all traces of baking soda and vinegar residue. Do the same for the burner caps, and let everything dry before placing it back onto the stovetop. You may use a kitchen towel to pat the grates clean, but you may end up transferring soot residue onto your towel instead.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Stove Grates
Stove grates are relatively simple to clean, as they do not require any fancy machines to upkeep. However, the wrong kind of cleaning can warp your grates, and harm you as well. Here are some don'ts when it comes to cleaning cooking grates:
- Do not wet a hot stove grate. Heated grates that are suddenly cooled with water can warp, making it difficult to place back onto the stovetop, and use to cook.
- Do not use chemical cleaners not meant for cast iron. Only use food-safe cleaners that work well on stoves.
- Do not place grates back onto the stove while wet. Water can get into the gas burner, causing the flame to flicker as water prevents fire from staying constant.
- Do not use a stove without grates. The grates form a barrier that prevents your pots and pans from getting too close to the burner, while stabilizing your cookware. Avoid using the stove without cooking grates.
- Do not use wet cooking grates soak overnight. Prolonged soaking can cause rust to form in the deep pockets of the cast iron material.
Trust in Luce Home
Looking to clean your kitchen from top to bottom? Luce Home has got you covered - our house cleaning experts can get the grime off any kitchen effortlessly and efficiently! Trust in our services, and you'll soon cook up masterpieces in your pristine kitchen.
Contact us today, and let's see what we can do about those stained kitchen grates!
