How to Clean Cooking Grease

Contributor

By Deborah Waltenburg
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

Cleaning up is the least enjoyable part of cooking for most people. However, to keep your kitchen sanitary and protect your stove and cookware, you need to remove all the spills, splatter and grease that remain from cooking your favorite meals. Follow these simple steps to clean up cooking grease and protect your stove and cookware.

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Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Scratch pad Grease-cutting dish detergent

On the Stove

Step 1

Allow the stove top to cool completely.
Step 2

Use hot water and a grease-cutting dish detergent and wipe down the surface of the stove top. This applies to glass or ceramic cook tops, as well. Dry with a clean, lint-free towel or paper towels.
Step 3

Remove burner coils and drip pans (on standard stove tops) and wash with hot, soapy water. If grease is burned on to drip pans, allow them to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then use a scratch pad to remove the built-up residue. When using a scratch pad, such as a Brillo pad, do not apply force or you will leave scratch marks in the burner pans.
Step 4

Dry the drip pans and reinsert into the stove top. Allow the burner coils to dry thoroughly before reinserting.

On Cookware

Step 1

Scrape out any excess grease and discard into a disposable container. Avoid washing grease down the kitchen drain, as it will adhere to the pipe walls and may cause clogging in the future.
Step 2

Fill the sink with hot, soapy water and add pans. For burned-on grease, allow pans to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and then wash, using a scratch pad.
Step 3

Dry with a towel or allow them to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

Removing burned-on grease is easier if it is done right after cooking. Line cooking sheets with aluminum foil to prevent grease build-up
Always allow skillets, pans and cooking sheets to cool before washing. Putting hot pans into dishwater or rinsing with cold water can cause the metal to warp. Don't use metal scratch pads on no-stick cookware, as they will damage the cooking surface.

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