How to clean your cast iron stove grates and burners.

What are stove grates and burners?

Before we begin, here's a quick overview of grates and burners:

Stove grates and burners are where the magic happens. Burners are where the gas comes out of the stove. This gas ignites in the air, providing the flame you need to cook. Naturally, you can't just drop a pot right in the fire without a mess, so grates give you an elevated and level surface to rest your cookware.

Usually, grates are made of porcelain-coated cast iron, though some older stoves may be uncoated cast iron. Porcelain-coated cast iron stove grates can prevent rust and are easy to clean — as long as you know the right tricks. Luckily, we’ll cover how to clean stove burners below.

Important tips when cleaning cast iron grates and burners.

• Don't soak uncoated cast iron burners or grates in water. Uncoated cast iron is porous. If you soak it, it may develop rust.
• If you notice chips on porcelain-coated cast iron grates, don't soak them. Inspect your cast iron grates and burners for exposed areas that may rust if soaked in water.
• Seasoning your grates may help protect them from rust. Just put a thin layer of vegetable oil on the cast iron grates. Put them in the oven (set at around 450 degrees) for an hour, and you're done.

What you’ll need:

• A mildly abrasive cleaning product
• Hot, soapy water
• Soft-bristled brush or damp cloth
• Straight pin, needle, or wire
• Screwdriver
• Baking soda (optional)
• Distilled white vinegar (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the stovetop.

First, remove the grates from the stove. Grate cleaning is much easier this way. Make sure they’re completely cool before touching them.

Most grates usually just lift straight up. Each burner likely has its own grate, and you may have a center cooktop one as well. 

Next, you have to remove the burner caps. Some models may require you to use a screwdriver to loosen them, while others lift right off. You may also have drip pans on your stove — remove these so you can clean them as well.

Related: Here's how to clean your stove top the right way.

Step 2: Soak the grates and caps.

The next step in cleaning stove grates and burner caps is to soak them in hot, soapy water for at least 20 minutes. Just one word of warning: Don’t soak your cast iron grates unless you’re sure they’re coated. As noted above, most are — but it’s worth double-checking.

Baking soda method: If soaking your grates in a dish soap mixture doesn’t do much, you can boost the cleaning power with a baking soda mixture. Mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Then, cover the grates and caps in it for at least 15 minutes.

Vinegar and baking soda: For even more cleaning power, you might try a vinegar and baking soda mixture instead. Feel free to also sprinkle baking soda directly on tough stains.

Dishwasher method: Some grates can be washed in the dishwasher, but this varies by model. If you can wash yours, this might be more effective than soaking, especially if you use the most aggressive cycle.

Step 3: Scrub away.

Once everything’s done soaking, it’s time to wipe the grates with a soft, damp cloth or soft-bristled brush. Never use metallic scouring pads or steel wool to clean your stove. These are too abrasive and will scrub off the protective coating. 

During this step, you can use a mildly abrasive oven cleaner or distilled white vinegar to get rid of lingering grime. Use a bit of elbow grease to remove stubborn stains.

Step 4: Rinse and dry.

Rinse off everything you’ve cleaned so far with clean water, then dry the grates with a clean cloth. Rinsing the grates removes any lingering particles and gets off all of the cleaning liquids.

Related: How to clean a glass stove top (without scratching it).

Step 5: Clean the burners.

Hold on, you’re not done scrubbing yet. You still have to get to the burners on the stove itself.

Using the same cleaner and cloth you used for the burner grates and caps, get into all the nooks and crannies of your burner base. You may even consider using a straight metal pin or needle to clean gas stove burners that have food or grease stuck inside.

Once done, wipe down the burners with clean water and a soft cloth. Then, let the burners air dry for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Put it all back together.

You’re almost done cleaning your gas stove. Now, the challenge is reassembling everything. Before you do this, make sure all the components are completely dry. Otherwise, you might get unsightly watermarks on your freshly cleaned stove.

Reassembling the burner caps comes first. Check the bottom of each cap to see if they have a label for which burner they belong to (some do, but not all). Certain burners also have pins on the edge that help you push the cap back into place securely. When it’s on the right way, the cap shouldn’t wiggle or slide around.

Putting the grates back on is a little easier, as most just sit on top of the stove. Just make sure you’re using the right ones on the right burner.

To verify all is good, test out each burner to make sure they work. 

Download the Thumbtack app to find local pros.

Now that you know how to clean a cast iron stove's grates and burners, the real question is: do you want to?

It can take a lot of elbow grease to do it the right way. And you may not have the time or energy. That's where Thumbtack comes into the picture.

We can help you find a cleaning professional in your area who'd love the challenge of deep-cleaning your stove. And if your stove requires repairs, you can find top-rated appliance technicians near you as well. Download the Thumbtack app today to get started.

Related: How to clean an electric stove top with metal coils.