There might be a whole lot of different ways to clean cast iron stove grates but there is one fact that we all know for sure and that is that we should always get to the process of cleaning them sooner rather than later. Letting those burnt-on spills and crumbs stay on the stove for long will add to a smelly reminder just about every time you cook on the stovetop.
Cleaning stove grates is a much easier and manageable job than most people realize and it does not take up much of our time either.
But it can also be that you probably do not intend to skip on scrubbing the stove grates every time you are cleaning your kitchen. Maybe you do not get the time or maybe you just do not know exactly how to de-gunk your stove grates efficiently. But it will be for the best if you consider it as important as cleaning the other parts of your kitchen because it can get a little frustrating if left unattended for a longer period of time.
Some of the various methods of cleaning cast iron stove grates are as follows :-
Cleaning With Degreaser
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When using degreaser, the grates are needed to be soaked with enough of it to make their surface appear properly wet. They have to stay wet through the entire process to make sure that the degreaser seeps in and goes to work.
Time also has an important role here. The degreaser needs to sit on the grates for at least 20 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of gunk build up on the grates. The grates must not start to dry out and if they do, we need to reapply more degreaser and let it sit for some time more.
The extra dirt accumulated on the grates are also needed to be removed but only with the proper scrubbing tool. Using steel wool is a strict no when it comes to cast iron because it can leave the grates with a bunch of ugly scratches. Therefore, though it might require some additional elbow grease, using non- non-abrasive sponge seems to be the best choice to clean the grates thoroughly.
2. Spraying With A Vinegar Solution
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In this method, we need to create a solution of vinegar and water with equal parts of both and then pour it into a bottle for easy application. The acid present in the vinegar helps to break up the residue on the grates.
Since this is a much more natural method of cleaning the grates, it is recommended to let the grates soak the solution for at least 15 minutes because it requires a significant amount of time to penetrate through the layers of grease.
Once the grates have completely absorbed the solution of vinegar and water, the excess residue present on the grates can be removed with the help of a little extra scrubbing. This can be done with a sponge or a toothbrush can be used to scrub away any hard to reach nooks and crevices.
3. Coating With Baking Soda
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The first thing we need to do before we apply baking soda to the grates, is washing the grates with warm water so that any surface layer that can easily be rinsed away is removed, allowing the baking soda to work its magic on the tougher material underneath.
The next step is to make a thick paste of baking soda and water ( vinegar can be used in the place of water to make use of a deeper cleaning agent).
The paste needs to be thick enough to coat and adhere to the grates.
Then, we need to coat all grates with the paste and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes. The bubbly baking soda goes to work on any acidic counterparts.
This caustic mixture will remove any excess building up as it sets in.
A non-abrasive sponge can be used to remove the built up grease on grates in this method as well. Although if the grease is rather stubborn and the process does not work at first, we can repeat the process and rinse thoroughly.
These are some of the best known and successful ways to clean cast iron stove grates and are used by many of the households around us.
Now, as we discussed earlier in this article, if you have ever tried to clean a gas stove or any stovetop with grates, then you know that it can get a little problematic if you do not get to it as quickly as possible. It is so because, a collection of crumbs and other unidentifiable food debris can actually prove to be a pesky, stuck-on stuff on your stove and make the whole process of what we know as “cooking” a bit disgusting.
And though cleaning the stove grates might not seem a priority at first when it comes to cleaning one’s kitchen, sooner or later all that cooking residue, oil and debris can result in a hefty crust, and eventually, you will have to prioritize it over other things.