How To Clean And Treat Cast Iron

How to Clean Stove Grates

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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.

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.

There are lots of good ways to clean oven grates, but the one universal truth is it's always better to get to the grate-cleaning job sooner rather than later. The longer you put off the cleaning process, the more stubborn those burned-on spills and crumbs will become—making for a smelly reminder just 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.

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 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.

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:

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).

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.

3. Scrub with powder cleanser to loosen excess debris.

4. Rinse, dry, and replace the grates.

Rinse the grates clean, 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.

Can you use Easy Off on cast iron grates?

Some people swear by Easy Off, a popular oven cleaner which 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.

Ashley Abramson

Contributor

Ashley Abramson is a writer-mom hybrid in Minneapolis, MN. Her work, mostly focused on health, psychology, and parenting, has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Allure, and more. She lives in the Minneapolis suburbs with her husband and two young sons.

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