Having baked-on grease stains on your stainless steel appliances and cookware can be particularly daunting when you're trying to cook. Grease stains can make any kitchen look dirty and unkempt, which is why it is important to know how to easily remove baked-on grease from stainless steel cookware and appliances.
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How to Remove Baked-On Grease from Stainless Steel: A Step-by-step Guide
Method #1: Boiling the Grease Away
This method is best used for stainless steel pots and pans. Removing baked-on grease from stainless steel pans is simple: just boil the stains away! Boiling water softens the greasy surface, making it easier to scrub out the stains without using much elbow grease.
Step 1: Fill the Pot with Water and Dish Soap
First, fill stainless steel pans or pots with water. Add in a few drops of dish soap, which will help break down the oils. Make sure the water level exceeds the level of the grease stain. Otherwise, the stains that are not submerged in this soapy water solution may not come out easily.
Step 2: Place it on the Heat
Place the pot on the heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Be careful not to over-boil the soapy water solution as the sudsy water may overflow from the pot. Keep an eye on the pot to make sure it does not overflow or burn. Once the water has boiled, shut off the heat source.
Step 3: Let it Sit, Then Scrape the Grease Stains
Let the water sit until it is cool enough to handle, but still relatively warm. Use a plastic scraper, such as a flat cake smoother, or a metal scraper to remove the baked-on grease. You should notice the stains coming out easily. If not, remove as much grease as you can, fill up the pot with water, and bring it to a boil to remove the rest of the stains.
Step 4: Wash and Dry as Normal
Wash the stainless steel cookware as you normally would, and dry with a paper towel or dish cloth. We recommend seasoning the pan with a neutral-tasting oil to seal the surface, and prevent food from sticking to the pan, and burning.
Method #2: Using a Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution
This method is great on almost any stainless steel surface, as baking soda and vinegar is a versatile stainless steel cleaner that is not only effective, is also food-safe, inexpensive, and easy to put together.
Step 1: Place Vinegar in a Spray Bottle
Mix equal parts white vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle. Like the boiling method, using hot water will allow the vinegar to penetrate into the oily stains easier, softening the stains faster for hassle-free removal.
Step 2: Spray Vinegar
Spray vinegar over the grease stains. Make sure to completely cover the surface with your vinegar solution. Focus spritzing on heavily-stained areas, soaking the grease stains completely with the diluted vinegar mixture.
Step 3: Sprinkle Baking Soda
Sprinkle generous amounts of baking soda over the surface, and let the solution react and bubble. This reaction helps lift stains out of the stainless steel surface, while baking soda acts as abrasive cleaning agents.
Step 4: Let it Sit
Let the mixture sit on the stains as it works to soften and lift out grease, oils, and burnt food residue. You can leave the mixture to sit for 15 to 30 minutes, refreshing the vinegar solution as it dries up.
Step 5: Scrub the Grease Stains Out
Use a sponge, nylon scrub brush, or even steel wool to remove the stains. You should notice the stains coming out easily as you go over the surface. If not, re-apply the baking soda and vinegar solution, then leave it for a longer period of time.
Step 6: Wipe Clean
Take a soft cloth dampened with water, and wipe the cloth over the entire area to rinse it. Use a towel to dry the surface, and seal with oil or stainless steel sealant to protect the metal from moisture and dirt.
Method #3: Using Lemon and Salt
Using lemon and salt provides a food-safe solution to chemical stainless steel cleaners, and is great to use on surfaces that the vinegar and baking soda method cannot reach, such as upright and vertical surfaces. It leaves a refreshing scent in your kitchen too!
Step 1: Slice a Lemon in Half
Slice a lemon in half. You'll only need one half of the lemon to clean your stainless steel items, so store the other half in the fridge for safe keeping. Lemons contain high amounts of citric acid, which dissolve soap scum and hard water spots, and break down grease and oil stains as well.
Step 2: Dip the Lemon in Salt
Dip the lemon in a mixture of fine and rock salt. Using purely fine salt is inadequate as it cannot properly provide an abrasive action, while rock salt cannot reach into small dents and scratches. Using a combination of the two gives you a powerful scrubber that can be used on any surface!
Step 3: Use the Lemon as a Scrubber
Use the lemon as a scrubber, and squeeze a bit of juice over the stain. As the juice works to dissolve the stains, the salt with scrub them out. Go in firm, circular motions, or follow the grain of the stainless steel surface to avoid leaving streaks.
Step 4: Wipe Clean
Wipe the solution away with a damp cloth (dampened with warm water), then dry the surface with a soft cloth. Apply an oil sealant to protect the stainless steel item from moisture and dust.
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