Detailed Guide on How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates On Stove 2023

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How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates On Stove

So, the question here is that “How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates On Stove?” Are you about to finish the task you’ve been holding off?

Marinara sauce that has been caked on. Bacon grease that has been sitting around for weeks. A smattering of charred crumbs and other unknown food scraps. If you have ever wanted to clean a gas stove—or other stovetop with grates—you know how difficult it is to put off cleaning this annoying, stuck-on proof of your beloved meals.

You don’t plan to miss scraping the stove grates any moment you vacuum the kitchen, or you do!  Maybe you’re not aware of the techniques to clean your oven grates properly. Or maybe you just don’t have the time to do it. Whatever is the case, but avoiding it just intensifies the dilemma, as it does for most of the tasks on the to-do list. There are many methods for cleaning oven grates, but one common fact is that it is often best to scrub the grate earlier rather than later.

The more you wait to wipe up those scorched spills and crumbs, the more persistent they’ll get, leaving you with an odor every time you use the stovetop. It’s not exactly a pleasurable experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning stove grates.

Video on How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates On Stove

Things you should consider before starting the process:

If your stove grates are cast iron, treat them gently to avoid injury. To scrub, avoid using aluminum foil or other shiny scouring pads. Combining a heavy-duty cleaner, non-scratch nylon wash cloth, or sponge with a scouring cleaning aid, such as powder cleaning agent or baking soda, is your best alternative. Also, if you use any toxic chemicals (like ammonia) to scrub your stove grates, make sure to wash them well with fresh, soapy water. Remove any sort of water from your grates before reinstalling them on your stovetop to avoid corrosion. Here are a few tips for extending the life of your cast iron grates, no matter what technique you use to clean it.

  • Never leave water on your stove and always dry your cast iron grates if they get wet.
  • Enabling the heated grate to come in contact with cold water will cause warping. Let your grate to get cool and in order to make sure that it is on normal temperature then touch it. Or if you cannot wait then clean it with hot water. 
  • When seasoning, don’t forget to clean away any extra oil or your grate will get sticky. Stable shortening can be used wherever possible.
  • Do not store your grate in any closed space. It can cause the moisture to be trapped between the grate which can cause rusting.
  • To avoid scraping the bottom of your grate when washing it in the kitchen, line the sink with towels.
  • When re-seasoning the grate, get the oven as hot as possible. This helps the oil to melt down and reach its smoking point, bonding it to the cast iron and forming a smooth surface.
  • Set the grate upside down and put foil below to enable excess oil to drain off when re-seasoning in the oven.

Also Read : Best Dish Drainer Countertop

Step by step guide in cleaning your cast iron grate:

I have discovered the quickest and simplest ways to clean a stove top a while ago, which also removes cooked gunk without any scraping, but it doesn’t perform as well on the stove top grates. The stove’s grates are thick cast iron, and anything that boils over when cooking simply bakes onto the grates and STICKS. Fortunately, there are quick and simple ways to clean stove top grates that does not need scrubbing.

Place the oven grates in an empty sink after removing them from the stovetop:

This is the simplest step! Remove the grates from your stovetop and put them in an empty sink or bathtub until they’re cool to the touch. You could even use a plastic bin (even if you have to take it out from the bed) if you don’t have a large enough sink. 

Make a bath of soapy water:

Fill the sink with boiling or very hot water and a pour of dishwashing liquid to clean the grates. To slash via the oil, soak the grates in soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes.

To remove extra debris, scrub with a powder cleanser:

After soaking, scour some baked-on food or excess oil with a scouring cleaner (like Bon Ami, Bar Keepers Friend, or even baking soda) on a rigid (non-metal) cloth, sponge, or non-scratch nylon scrubber. Rinse the grate clean and see if there are any debris left. Once the grates are all clean then dry it with clean cloth. Place them back on the stove. Now they are good as new.

Using a degreaser:

We’re led to believe that strong degreasers can cut through grease and dirt with a single spray and wipe (at least according to the ads we see), but this isn’t the reality. Degreasers do their job, but as the phrase goes, “information is half the battle,” and many of us really don’t know about using them properly. What we aren’t told up front (publish the exact wording if you intend) is that a degreaser must stay moist on a surface for a certain amount of time before it can function. Your oil, dirt and debris are identical to that of your next-door buddy, who says that the same substance works for them.

It all boils down to the form of use! If you have an especially greasy stove top, go all out and spray the area generously, making sure it stays wet in the soaking period and If it starts to dry up, take out the bottle and re-spray the grate. If you’re using a supermarket degreaser, you can use whatever brand you want; however, I’ve found that products with citrus ingredients (such as orange or lemon oils) work well for degreasing. I’ve heard that degreasers such as Soft Scrub, Bam, Dawn, and even certain generic products perform.

Use Ammonia:

To be honest, I don’t want to use ammonia and I believe that something with a health alert isn’t a safe choice. Can osmotic pressure enable it to enter my bloodstream? Would it smoke my lungs if I inhale it? etc.). However, I cannot deny that it is successful. So, if you’re emotionally stronger than I am, here’s what you can do. To begin, you’ll need an open area with proper ventilation such as a patio or a garage. Take a garbage bag and put the grates and burner covers in it with the grates and burner covers in hand. We’re using a trash bag to keep the ammonia gas contained.

Fill the bag halfway with ammonia and tie it up (in order to keep the fumes inside). Allow the gases to do their work, since they are the ones who actually loosen the grease. Allow to sit hours, then wash the grates under cold water (wear protective gloves to cover your hands) and use a towel to dry it in the morning. They should be spotless when they’re finished. Take care of the bag. Keep in mind that ammonia should not be inhaled by someone who is chemically sensitive or pregnant.

How to Keep Your Cast Iron Grates Clean for a Longer Period of Time?

Now that the grates have been cleaned, take a few minutes after each usage to scrub down surfaces with hot, soapy water while the grill is still warm. Grease and food will easily wash away. To remove some gloopy traces, wipe it down with a sponge soaked in clear hot water. If the food starts to stick to the grate, re-season as required. If you have a new cast iron grate, you need to season it first. The seasoning will ensure the even cooking of food and the oil will prevent the grates from rusting. Disinfect the parts with clean, soapy water.

In the end, nobody likes to scrub off the grease and debris from the grates. Especially after cooking but it is essential if you want to increase the life of you cast iron grates. Which way you use to clean a cast iron grates, make sure to be thorough and detailed with your after-cooking treatment. Grates that have been well maintained only get better with age. Build up years of flavour-enhancing seasoning to create scrumptious food that your visitors would want to eat again and again. Enable the grill to cool slightly and wipe down the grill grates with a paper towel to minimise food debris, even though it cannot be washed fully after each use.

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