Trick to Getting Stuck-On Food off of a Flat-Top Stove

Flat stove tops require care to maintain the surface.

Many electric stoves have a flat top, with the heating elements lying beneath the glass or ceramic surface. Although this style of stove distributes heat evenly, making for better stove-top cooking, the surfaces must be cleaned carefully to maintain their condition. The wrong techniques result in permanent scratches, which become filled with dirt and stains. The trick to removing stuck-on food from your flat-top stove, therefore, is using the right supplies and techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• Sponge
• Plastic scraper
• Ceramic and glass cooktop cleaner
• Clean cloths

Instructions

1. Fill a small microwave-safe bowl with 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for 30 seconds on "High" to warm the vinegar.

2. Dampen a sponge with the warm vinegar. Lay the sponge directly onto the stuck-on food stain on your flat-top stove. Leave the sponge there for five to 10 minutes to soften the stain.

3. Remove the sponge from the stove surface. Gently scrape away the softened stains with a plastic scraper.

4. Apply a few drops of ceramic and glass cooktop cleaner to the sponge. Scrub the remaining stains on the stove top to loosen them.

5. Rinse the sponge with water and wring it out. Wipe the stove-top surface off to remove any last traces of food stains.

6. Dry the stove top with a clean cloth to remove all moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Sprinkle baking soda onto the sponge to scrub off hard stains without scratching the flat stove-top surface.

• Abrasive cleansers and scrubbing tools should never be used on a flat stove top. These items leave tiny scratches in the surface that serve as a collection point for dirt, stain matter and debris.