How to Clean Large Stove Grates
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Looking for an easy way to clean your large stove grates? Try this (but read your stove manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first!).
Cleaning my kitchen is not something that I look forward to – especially the stovetop and surrounding area.
Yes. I should keep up with it and wipe it down on a daily basis.
But the reality is that life gets in the way.
When I finally get around to cleaning the stovetop – well, let’s just say it’s a little bit greasy.
Thankfully, cleaning the actual surface isn’t too bad – but those stovetop grates are another story entirely.
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The Problem With Cleaning My Stovetop Grates
A great way to clean stove grates for a gas stove (no pun intended!) is to soak them in your sink with a bit of dishwashing liquid.
Then scrub them down with a stiff brush, and you should be good to go.
I have a Bosch dual fuel range that I love.
It has 5 burners and three long cast iron grates that go from the front of the stovetop to the back of the stovetop.
Unfortunately, the grates are longer than my sink – so soaking them in the sink is out of the question.
I have tried holding them vertically, scrubbing them down with a kitchen scrubbie, and then using the sink hose to spray them off.
Basically I ended up with a huge puddle on my counters and still sticky stovetop grates.
My Solution for Cleaning These Large Stove Grates
The best solution for cleaning these long stovetop grates – is to “semi soak” them on a drainboard (like this one) on the countertop.
You want to make sure that the drainboard you use has a good sized lip all the way around and a flat edge that drains right into the sink.
I put them on the drainboard one at a time and lather them up with Dawn dish soap.
Then I let them soak for a bit.
Finally, I use my pull out faucet to gently hose them down making sure the water only splashes on the drainboard and flows into the sink.
Should You Wash Iron Stove Grates in the Dishwasher?
Most appliance manufacturer’s will tell you – NO!
If you decide to try this, check the manufacturer instructions for cleaning your particular brand and model of burner grates.
Some manufacturers specifically say NOT to wash the stove grates in the dishwasher – like this article states on the Sub-Zero site.
You may be tempted to do so if your stove grates are especially greasy or sticky – but know that you might void any warranty by doing so.
Use Your Judgment
I cannot stress enough that you should use your judgment and read the cleaning instructions that came with your stove – contact the manufacturer if you can’t find them.
For me, my first choice is to wash them as best as possible in the sink or on a drainboard.
I suppose, if your sink is too small, you could soak them in the bathtub – but that is really pushing it. Cleaning the kitchen is already hard enough!
The Best Time to Clean Your Stovetop Grates
The best time to clean your stove grates is right after you cook – and after they cool down, of course!
At this point any grease will be the easiest to get off.
If you let it sit overnight or you continue to use the burners then the mess just gets caked and baked on making it harder to clean later.
How Do You Clean Long Cast Iron Stove Grates?
If you have a solution that works I would love to hear about it.
Drop me a comment below!
You can order cast iron grate cleaner, Kenmore brand on Amazon. It’s a powder to soak your grates in. I have a long plastic rectangle storage box that’s about 6 inches or so high and it’s long enough for the grates to sit in. I stack them in there, soak over night with hot water and the cleaner. In the morning I scrub with a scrubber and sometimes a little soft scrub. Works great!
100% AGREE with this method
I have washed them in the dishwasher but the crust doesn’t come off all the way and I am often left with this gummy, rubbery stuck in grease in some places but a very good brush with hard bristles might work to take the residue left off.
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Using a cleaning brush seems like it will do the trick on stuck on goop!
Cast iron in a dish washer is a no go,
The tablets are to aggressive, cast iron is porous.
If your grates do not have rubber feet cushions attached to grate itself (like my GE Cafe ) the manual says to put in oven on the racks as you do self clean mode … works amazing I do my burners too in there ! Read your manual
Hi Danielle,
Great idea – and yes, it is so important to always check the manual first.
Thanks for sharing!
Hello,
Good idea! I have been told before this can be done. Do you use any dishwasher detergent? Or let the hot water do the work?
Thank you
Rachel
Thx for the tip.
Did you put detergent in the dishwasher load? Or just let it run for an hour by itself?
Thank you!
MM
Thank you for your question. I have done it both ways – but I have to say that I am reluctant to use detergent each time. Many manufacturer’s do NOT recommend to wash iron grates in the dishwasher – so you should absolutely check the manufacturer instructions for your particular appliance.
Ultimately, you have to do what you are comfortable with. When the grates on my stove get too greasy I will use detergent, otherwise just a water wash seems to do the trick.
Recently, I also wash them in the sink – but since I can’t soak them (the sink is too small) I use a stiff dishwashing brush with handle and a few drops of Dawn to scrub them down as they rest on a diagonal in the sink – if that makes sense.
I hope that helps!