| Electric and Gas Cooktops--Cleaning Information |
Most electric and gas cooktops are porcelain enamel, which can be easily cleaned when cooled, with a damp cloth (warm water) or paper towel. If greasy or sticky soil, use warm sudsy water on cloth, paper towel, or sponge; rinse with clean cloth; wipe dry.
If stubborn soil, lay sudsy wet cloth or towel over spot and leave a few minutes to loosen soil (semi- soaking). And/or rub with a nylon net scrubber or soft plastic mesh pad. Do NOT use abrasive pads or scouring powders as these can permanently scratch the porcelain finish.
Control knobs are washed in warm suds with cloth or brush, rinsed, and dried. If they come off, they're easier to clean, but do not soak them.
The area under drip pans may be washed with warm suds, rinsed, and dried. Use paste of baking soda and water on difficult spots. A soap-filled steel wool pad may be used occasionally if necessary, or use a plastic mesh pad.
Cleaning Burners, Gas or Electric Electric burners usually burn off food spilled on them. Heavy spills can be wiped off with a damp cloth when the burner is completely cold.
Gas burners and grates may be removed for cleaning. Soak grates in very hot water and detergent about a half-hour if very dirty; then scrub with a brush, rinse and dry. A little ammonia may be added to the soaking solution if they are very greasy. Soak burners in hot, soapy water to soften grease and grime. Clean with a brush. Do not use scouring powder which will clog the holes. The metal ring with holes in it may come off the burner for cleaning. If the holes in the burner are stopped up, clean with a fine wire, hair pin, paper clip or pipe stem cleaner. Don't use toothpicks as they could break off and clog the holes. Rinse burners in hot water and place them upside down in a warm oven (300 F.) to dry; about 15 minutes.
Cleaning Reflector Bowls Reflector bowls under burners may be taken out and washed in hot suds. Soak several minutes to loosen heavy dirt; up to 20 minutes may be needed if grease is burned on the bowls. Wipe off trim rings with sudsy cloth. On stubborn spots on chrome bowls and rings, use a paste of baking soda and water with a plastic mesh pad. Rinse and dry. Never put chrome bowls in the dishwasher or in a self-cleaning oven. Porcelain reflector bowls can be washed in either sudsy water or in an automatic dishwasher. If your manual recommends it, porcelain bowls can occasionally be cleaned in a self-cleaning oven cycle, upside down on oven racks. Wiping spills off bowls after cooking prevents stain build-up which requires stronger measures.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus.
MSU 2003
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