Get Rid Of Grease: Clean Drip Pans Easily

Drip pans are an essential part of any stove, catching spills and splatters to keep your kitchen clean. However, they can quickly become caked with grease, oil, crumbs, and burnt-on food, making them a fire hazard and an eyesore. While it may be tempting to reach for harsh chemicals to clean them, there are several effective natural methods you can use instead. In this article, we will explore the best ways to remove grease and grime from your drip pans, leaving them sparkling and safe to use.

Soak in hot water

Soaking your drip pans in hot water is an effective way to remove grease and burnt-on food. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Remove the Drip Pans

Before you begin, make sure your stove is turned off and the drip pans are cool enough to handle. Remove 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. For a gas stove, simply lift off the metal grates. Now you can lift out the drip pans.

Step 2: Soak in Hot Water

Fill your sink with very hot water. You can also use a bucket or a large pot for this step. Make sure there is enough water to completely cover the drip pans. Let the pans soak for at least 10 minutes. For heavily soiled pans, you can increase the soaking time to 15 minutes or longer.

Step 3: Drain and Add Vinegar (Optional)

After soaking, drain the hot water. For an extra boost of cleaning power, you can add distilled white vinegar to your drip pans. Cover the pans completely with vinegar and let them soak for 30 minutes.

Step 4: Scrub with Baking Soda (Optional)

If your drip pans still have stuck-on grime, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the surfaces of the pans. Let the baking soda sit for at least 15 minutes. You can use a plastic scrubber to gently scour the pans, sprinkling more baking soda on any stubborn stains.

Step 5: Rinse and Dry

Rinse the drip pans thoroughly with hot water. Dry them with a microfiber cloth or a towel. Your drip pans are now clean and ready to be replaced on your stovetop.

Tips:

• Always exercise caution when handling hot water and cleaning products.
• For extremely dirty drip pans, you can repeat the soaking, scrubbing, and rinsing steps as needed.
• To maintain the cleanliness of your drip pans, wipe away spills and splatters after each cooking session.

Use baking soda and dish soap

To remove grease from drip pans using baking soda and dish soap, follow these steps:

Firstly, ensure your stove drip pans are at room temperature. If you've just finished cooking, let the drip pans cool down before you start cleaning. Once cooled, remove the drip pans from the stovetop and shake off any loose crumbs into a garbage can. Then, rinse the pans thoroughly in the sink with the hottest water possible.

Next, prepare your cleaning solution. In a small bowl, mix equal parts liquid dish soap and baking soda. A half-cup of each is a good starting point, but you can add more if needed. You can also add an extra ingredient to enhance the grease-cutting power of the solution. For example, you could add a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar, both of which will help to break down grease.

Now it's time to 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. Let the mixture sit for about an hour. While you wait, you can use a damp sponge dipped in baking soda to scrub the rest of your stovetop, ensuring it matches your soon-to-be-clean drip pans.

Finally, rinse the drip pans thoroughly with hot water to remove the soap mixture. For any remaining dirty spots, use a scrub brush or a sponge freshly dipped in baking soda. Dry the drip pans with a dish towel and return them to your stovetop.

This method is an effective way to remove grease from drip pans without resorting to harsh chemicals.

Use vinegar and baking soda

To remove grease from drip pans using vinegar and baking soda, follow these steps:

Firstly, remove the drip pans from the stove when the stovetop is cool. Shake the pans over a trash can, using a dry paper towel to remove any loose or burnt food particles. Next, fill a sink or bucket with hot water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid, and completely submerge the drip pans. Allow them to soak for 15 minutes.

Now, drain the hot soapy water and cover the pans with distilled white vinegar. Leave them to soak for 30 minutes. Generously sprinkle baking soda over the vinegar. You don't need to drain the vinegar before doing this. Using your fingers, rub the baking soda into the burnt-on grease. Leave the mixture to work for at least 15 minutes. If there are areas with hard-to-remove stains, sprinkle on some more baking soda and use a plastic scrubber to scour the pans.

Finally, rinse the drip pans with hot water and dry them with a microfiber cloth.

Use ammonia

Using ammonia is an effective way to clean stove drip pans without much scrubbing. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the drip pans

Firstly, wait for the drip pans to cool down completely. Then, remove them from the stove and give them a quick rinse in hot water.

Step 2: Bag the drip pans

Place each drip pan inside its own separate one-gallon resealable plastic bag.

Step 3: Add ammonia

Pour 1/4 cup of household ammonia into each bag. You don't need to worry about coating the entire surface of the drip pans, as the fumes from the ammonia will do the hard work of loosening the burnt-on food splatter and grease.

Step 4: Seal and soak

Seal the tops of the plastic bags and then leave them stacked in your kitchen sink or another safe place for at least 12 hours or overnight. The longer you leave them, the more effective the ammonia will be.

Step 5: Remove and dispose

Open the bags in a well-ventilated area, as the ammonia fumes will be strong. Remove the drip pans from the bags and seal and dispose of the used bags. Dilute the remaining ammonia with cold water and pour it down the sink drain. If you have a septic system, be sure to neutralise the ammonia before disposal.

Step 6: Rinse and scrub

If any dirty spots remain on the drip pans, they can be easily wiped away with a sponge, some dish soap, and a little scrubbing. Rinse the drip pans thoroughly with hot water to remove any remaining ammonia.

Step 7: Dry and replace

Finally, dry the drip pans with a towel and return them to your stovetop.

Tips

• Always use rubber gloves when handling ammonia and do so in a well-ventilated space.
• This method is not suitable for Teflon pans, as the ammonia can cause the Teflon to peel off.
• Do not dispose of the plastic bags filled with ammonia in the trash, as the fumes could combine with other materials and create a dangerous reaction.

Use oven cleaner

Oven cleaner is a great option for cleaning your stove's drip pans. It's designed to remove baked-on, burnt gunk from your oven, so it's well-equipped to handle the same from your stove burners.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use oven cleaner to clean your drip pans:

Step 1: Gather your supplies

You will need a bottle of your favourite oven cleaner and some dish soap. You may also want to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Step 2: Remove the drip pans

Make sure your stove is turned off and cooled down before removing the drip pans. Gently lift out the drip pans from underneath the burners and set them aside.

Step 3: Soak the drip pans

Fill your sink with hot water and add a generous amount of dish soap. Place the dirty drip pans in the sink and let them soak for at least one hour. The hot water and soap will help to loosen the grease and grime.

Step 4: Rinse and apply oven cleaner

After soaking, drain the sink and rinse the drip pans with warm water. Spray a thick and even layer of oven cleaner over the drip pans, making sure to coat all the surfaces.

Step 5: Let the oven cleaner work

Allow the drip pans to sit in the sink for another hour. The oven cleaner will need time to penetrate and break down the grease and burnt-on food.

Step 6: Scrub and rinse

After soaking and applying oven cleaner, use a scrubber or scouring pad to remove any remaining grime. If necessary, you can repeat the process for heavily soiled areas. Rinse the drip pans thoroughly with hot water to remove any residue.

Step 7: Dry and replace

Use a microfiber cloth or towel to dry the drip pans completely. Once dry, you can replace the drip pans under the burners, making sure they are fitted smoothly in place.

Tips:

• Always work in a well-ventilated area when using oven cleaner.
• Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the chemicals in the oven cleaner.
• If you have sensitive skin, you may want to wear long sleeves and pants to avoid direct contact with the oven cleaner.
• Always follow the instructions and warnings on the oven cleaner bottle.

Frequently asked questions