How to Clean Melted Plastic Off a Stove Burner

If you have accidentally placed something plastic, such as a lid from a food container or a bread bag, on a stove burner, it may seem like it will be a huge mess to clean up. Don't panic. There are a few things that you can do to remove the plastic residue from the stove burner and get right back to cooking.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Razor blade Paring knife

Glass or Ceramic Stove Tops

1. Turn off all heat on the cook top, and allow the surface to cool completely.

2. Take a razor blade and work under the edge of the now hardened plastic. If it is a fairly large pool of plastic, the entire piece should lift right up.

3. Gently scrape away any remaining thin plastic residue. Be careful not to apply too much force, or you risk scratching the glass.

4. Spray the stove top with an all purpose cleaner, wipe down and dry.

Electric or Gas Standard Cook Tops

5. Allow the burner to cool completely, then use a paring knife to lift off any larger areas of hardened plastic.

6. Turn on the ventilation fan, and turn the burner on high to burn off any remaining thin strands of film that you couldn't get with the knife.

7. Using the paring knife, you can also scrape off melted plastic while the burner is still on. Just remove as much plastic as possible while it is still pliable, then turn the burner on high and burn off the remaining residue.

8. Working with gas burners, it may be easier to remove the plastic in the sink, with hot water and a scratch pad. Don't forget to allow the burner to cool completely before attempting to move it.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the same process with the drip pan, if necessary.
• Wear an oven mitten or glove when scraping plastic off of a hot burner.