Your stove is still gross. Here's how to clean grimy stove grates easily.

Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY
·2 min read

After a flurry of cooking activity, stove grates can often bear the brunt of the culinary chaos, becoming coated with a stubborn layer of greasy residue, food splatters and burnt-on remnants. Not only does it look nasty, but as any home chef knows, bulky stove grates can be a nightmare to clean if you don’t have the right tricks up your sleeve.

Luckily, with a little know-how, a few simple steps and supplies you probably already have hanging out in your cabinet, you can get those grates gleaming again in a matter of minutes. Not only are we here to give you the rundown on how to easily remove stubborn residue from those grimy grates, but we’ll also teach you how to properly maintain cast iron and enamel grates for maximum longevity. Here’s everything you need to know about how to easily clean your dirty stove grates.

Watch the video above to learn how to easily clean your dirty stove grates.

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How to easily clean dirty stove grates

Supplies:

  • Dish soap

  • Extra hot water

  • Scrub brush

  • Baking soda

  • Vegetable oil (optional)

Instructions:

  • Plug the drain in your kitchen sink.

  • Lay a towel at the bottom of the sink to protect it from damage caused by the rough grates.

  • Place the dirty grate on top of the towel.

  • Using hot water, dish soap and a scrub brush, thoroughly scrub your stove grates.

  • Be sure to scrub the top, bottom and inner edges of the grates to thoroughly clean.

  • After scrubbing, rinse the grates and drain the water.

  • If any food residue remains, repeat the process.

  • For stubborn grime, create a paste by mixing baking soda and water. Scrub problem areas with the paste until the buildup is gone.

  • Smooth-surfaced, enamel-coated grates can air dry as they're not prone to rusting.

  • Cast iron grates should be dried immediately to prevent rusting; you can do this by hand or by warming them in the oven.

  • Dry cast iron grates can benefit from seasoning. To do so, apply a thin layer of vegetable oil all over them and wipe off the excess. This will help create a natural, non-stick surface, prevent rusting, and generally prolong their lifespan.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to clean stove grates in a few simple steps