Cleaning A Burnt Drip Pan: Easy And Effective Methods

Drip pans are a pain to clean, but it's not impossible. The best way to avoid a lengthy clean is to wipe away spills and splatters every time you cook on your stovetop. If you're looking for a deeper clean, there are several methods you can try, including soaking the pans in hot water, vinegar, and baking soda, or a mixture of dish soap and baking soda. For really tough stains, you can try using ammonia or acetone, but these chemicals should be handled with care.

Soak in hot water

Soaking in hot water is an effective way to clean a burnt drip pan. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, ensure your stove and its drip pans are switched off and cooled down. Removing the drip pans for cleaning requires handling the coils or grates sitting on top of them, so it's important to wait until they are at room temperature to avoid burning yourself.

Now, you're ready to remove the drip pans. Start by removing the coils or grates on top of the pans. For an electric stove, gently lift one side of the burner coil to see the socket it plugs into. Then, gently tug the burner coil straight out of the socket and set it aside. For a gas stove, simply lift off the metal grates to access the drip pan underneath.

Once you've removed the drip pans, shake them over a trash can to get rid of any loose crumbs or burnt food particles. You can also scrape them with a dry paper towel to remove any stubborn particles.

Next, fill your sink or a bucket with hot water. You will need enough water to completely submerge the drip pans. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the water and mix it to create soapy water.

Place the drip pans in the hot, soapy water and let them soak. The soaking time will depend on how burnt or dirty your drip pans are. For lighter stains or fresher spills, 10 minutes of soaking may be enough. For more severe grime, you may need to soak the pans for 15 minutes or longer.

After soaking, use a sponge or dishcloth to wipe down the drip pans. For stubborn spots, you can use a plastic scouring pad or a Mr. Clean Eraser to lightly scrub away the food residue.

Finally, rinse the cleaned drip pans in hot water and dry them with a microfiber cloth before reinstalling them under the burners of your stove.

Remember, always exercise caution when handling hot water and cleaning products, and ensure your stove and drip pans are cooled down before starting the cleaning process.

Use vinegar

Using vinegar is an effective way to clean a burnt drip pan. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Remove the Drip Pans

Make sure the stove is turned off and unplugged, and allow the burners and drip pans to cool completely. Removing the drip pans while they are hot can cause burns. Once cooled, take out the coils or grates sitting on top of the drip pans. For an electric stove, gently tug the burner coil straight out of the socket to remove it. For a gas stove, simply lift off the metal grates. Now, carefully lift out the drip pans.

Step 2: Initial Cleaning

Shake off loose crumbs and particles into a trash can and use a dry paper towel to scrape off any remaining loose or burnt food particles. You can also rinse the pans with hot water to remove any remaining residue.

Step 3: Soak in Vinegar

Using the sink stopper to prevent the vinegar from draining, place the drip pans in the kitchen sink. Cover them with distilled white vinegar, ensuring all burnt areas are coated. Let the pans soak in the vinegar for about 30 minutes. The vinegar will help loosen the burnt-on food and grease, making it easier to remove.

Step 4: Apply Baking Soda

Without draining the sink, sprinkle baking soda generously over the vinegar-soaked pans. Use your fingers to rub the baking soda over the pans, creating a paste-like consistency. The combination of baking soda and vinegar will create a fizzing reaction that helps break down the burnt food. Let the pans sit for an additional 15 minutes.

Step 5: Rinse and Scrub

After the soaking and fizzing, rinse the drip pans with hot water. If any stains or burnt-on food remain, scrub the pans with more baking soda and a non-abrasive scrubbing brush, such as a toothbrush. You can also use a sponge or scouring pad to remove any stubborn bits. Rinse the pans again with hot water to remove any remaining residue.

Step 6: Dry and Reinstall

Once the drip pans are thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, use a microfiber cloth or kitchen towel to dry them completely. Finally, reinstall the drip pans under the burners, ensuring they are fitted smoothly in place.

Using vinegar and baking soda is an effective and inexpensive way to clean burnt drip pans without the use of harsh chemicals. This method may require some elbow grease, but it will leave your drip pans sparkling clean!

Baking soda scrub

Step 1: Remove the drip pans from the stovetop

Take out your cooled-down drip pans and shake off any loose crumbs into a garbage can. Rinse the pans thoroughly in the sink with the hottest water possible.

Step 2: Prepare and mix the cleaning solution

In a small bowl, mix liquid dish soap and baking soda in a 1:1 ratio. A half-cup of each is a good starting point, but you can add more if necessary. You can also add vinegar to this mixture.

Step 3: Apply the mixture to the stove drip pans

Use your fingers or a pastry brush to liberally coat each drip pan with the soap/baking soda mixture, scrubbing it into the pans. Some of the stuck-on gunk should start to loosen right away.

Step 4: Let the soapy drip pans sit

Stack the soapy drip plates out of the way in your sink and let them sit for about an hour. You can also let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes and then rinse the drip pans with hot water, apply more baking soda, and work it into the remaining stains.

Step 5: Rinse the drip pans and scrub them again if necessary

Rinse the drip pans thoroughly with hot water to remove the soap mixture. Tackle any remaining dirty spots with a scrub brush or a sponge freshly dipped in baking soda.

Step 6: Dry the drip pans and replace them on the stovetop

Dry the drip pans with a dish towel and return them to your stovetop. Replace the burners, and enjoy cooking on your clean stovetop!

Ammonia soak

Step 1: Prepare the drip pans

Allow the drip pans to cool down to room temperature before you start cleaning them. Then, remove the coils or grates sitting on top of the drip pans. If you have an electric stove, gently tug the burner coil straight out of the socket to remove it. For a gas stove, simply lift off the metal grates. Now, lift out the drip pans.

Step 2: Rinse the drip pans

Rinse the drip pans in hot water to remove any loose crumbs or food particles.

Step 3: Prepare the ammonia solution

Place each drip pan inside its own 1-gallon ziplock plastic bag. Add 1/4 cup of household ammonia to each bag. Seal the bags.

Step 4: Soak the drip pans

Leave the drip pans to soak in the ammonia solution overnight or for at least 12 hours. The fumes from the ammonia will cut through the grease and loosen burnt-on food splatter.

Step 5: Remove the drip pans from the solution

Open the bags in a well-ventilated area, as the ammonia fumes will be strong. Remove the drip pans from the bags. Seal and dispose of the used bags appropriately.

Step 6: Rinse and scrub the drip pans

Rinse the drip pans with hot water and scrub away any remaining spots with a sponge and dish soap. This step should not require a lot of elbow grease.

Step 7: Dry and replace the drip pans

Dry the drip pans with a towel and return them to your stovetop.

Notes:

Always use ammonia in a well-ventilated space and wear rubber gloves. Do not dispose of the ammonia by pouring it into a plastic bag, as the fumes could create a dangerous reaction. Instead, pour it down the drain with cold water running on full blast to dilute it.

Rinse and dry

Rinse the drip pans with hot water. If you have used a cleaning agent like vinegar or ammonia, it is important to thoroughly rinse the pans with hot water to remove any remaining residue. This will ensure that your pans are safe to use for cooking again.

Use a sponge or cloth to wipe down the pans. If your drip pans are particularly greasy, you may want to use a microfiber cloth, as this will help to absorb the grease. You could also use a scrub brush or sponge to tackle any remaining stubborn spots. If you're using a scrubber, be sure to choose a plastic or nylon scrubber that won't scratch the surface of your pans.

Dry the pans with a towel. Make sure to dry the pans thoroughly, especially if they are chrome or porcelain, as water spots can form if they are not completely dried. Use a soft, clean dish towel or cloth to gently wipe down the surfaces of the pans until they are fully dry.

Allow the pans to air dry. If you don't want to use a towel, or if you want to ensure the pans are completely dry, you can let them air dry. Place them on a drying rack or a clean surface and let them air dry for a few hours. This will ensure that all water residue is gone before you put the pans back on your stove.

Reinstall the drip pans. Once the pans are clean, dry, and free of any residue or water spots, you can put them back in place under the burners of your stove. Make sure they are fitted smoothly and securely in place.

Frequently asked questions