CLEANING YOUR STOVETOP’S DRIP PANS

Making sure your stovetop drip pans are clean is an excellent way to ensure your kitchen looks and feels like a place where you can experiment freely with different recipes and cooking techniques. While you may be diligent at tidying up crumbs and wiping spills, your stove drip pains are areas that can easily go unnoticed as you’re cleaning your stovetop.

Whether you have gas or electric coil stovetop drip pans, this guide will help you learn how to keep them clean so you can continue creating deliciously seared, sautéed or grilled foods with ease. Read on for best ways to clean chrome or porcelain stove top drip pans.

HOW TO CLEAN STOVETOP DRIP PANS

Regularly maintaining your stove drip pans can help make cleanings more manageable. When cleaning stove drip pans, starting off with soap, water and a soft cleaning cloth or sponge is recommended. Follow these helpful tips to learn how to properly remove and clean stove drip pans.

STEP 1: TURN OFF THE RANGE OR COOKTOP AND REMOVE DRIP PANS

Begin by turning off all range or cooktop controls and allowing all stovetop components to cool completely before removing the drip pans from the appliance. Once the drip pans have cooled, remove them from the stovetop by first removing any components situated above the drip pans, such as electric coils, burners or grates.

If you have electric coils above your drip pans, some models allow you to remove them by pushing the edge of the coil element in toward the receptacle and lifting the edge up enough to clear the burner bowl. Then, pull the coil element toward you and away from the receptacle before removing the drip pan. For further instructions review our guide on how to remove electric stove burners or coils. If your appliance has burners, simply remove the grates and lift the cap off of the burners to access the drip pans for cleaning, on most models.

STEP 2: CLEAN THE DRIP PANS

The process for cleaning your drip pans will depend on the type used for your oven: chrome or porcelain. Determine the type of drip bowl you have before cleaning to ensure proper care for your cookware.

CHROME DRIP BOWLS

A good stove drip pan cleaner for chrome drip bowls is simply liquid detergent or all-purpose cleaner. Once cleaned, rinse the drip pans with clean water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Alternatively, you can also create your own cleaning solution by mixing ½ cup of ammonia with one gallon of water. Soak the drip pans in the solution for 20 minutes, then scrub them with a stainless steel-wool pad. If needed, you can use a mildly abrasive cleanser and a wet scouring pad to target stubborn spots before drying thoroughly.

PORCELAIN DRIP BOWLS

If your stovetop has porcelain drip bowls, these drip pans can usually be cleaned in a dishwasher. You can also wash them by hand with liquid detergent or all-purpose cleaner before rinsing with water and drying with a soft, lint-free cloth. Whichever method you choose, be sure the drip pans are completely dry after cleaning. 

STEP 3: PLACE DRIP PANS AND OTHER STOVETOP COMPONENTS BACK IN PLACE

Once the drip pans have fully dried, place them back on the stovetop before replacing the rest of the stovetop components.

To put your electric coils back in place, you can usually line up the openings in the burner bowl with the coil element receptacle. Holding the coil element as level as possible, slowly push the coil element terminal into the receptacle as far as it will go. Then, push the edge of the coil element opposite the receptacle down and into place.

If you have gas burners, most models allow you to simply place the caps and grates back on top of the burner bases, making sure all components are fully dry before reassembling the stovetop.

STOVETOP DRIP PANS FAQS

It can be easy to overlook your drip pans when cleaning your stove or rangetop. Whether you’re making a delicious take on a one-pot pasta dinner or searing your favorite cut of meat, understanding what your drip pans are and how to properly maintain them can help you ensure your food is cooked just the way you like.

WHAT IS A STOVETOP DRIP PAN?

Drip pans for stovetops collect drips or spills that may occur as food cooks over top of the heating element. On gas stoves, drip pans are situated around the base of the burners. On electric coil stoves, drip pans are situated beneath the heating coils.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR STOVETOP?

How often you should clean your stovetop will depend on how frequently you use the appliance and whether you spot clean after each cooking session. In general, you should aim to clean your stovetop thoroughly at least once a month.

Wipe spills as soon as you notice them once your cooking surface has cooled sufficiently to help make stovetop cleaning easier. You should clean up food spills containing acids, such as vinegar and tomato, as soon as possible as these spills may affect the finish over your stovetop.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR STOVETOP DRIP PAN?

To make stovetop cleaning a more manageable process overall, you should aim to clean your drip pans each time you use your stovetop burners. When your stovetop is slightly warm, spills and splatters can be more easily removed than if they are allowed to harden.

However, if you're unable to clean them after every after use, performing a thorough cleaning of your stove drip pans weekly or when you notice food stains building up can help you keep your stovetop looking tidy.

WHAT TO CLEAN STOVETOP DRIP PANS WITH?

While it's important to consult the owner’s manual or user guide for your stovetop for product specific care information, using a liquid detergent or all purpose cleaners are usually all you need for a stove drip pan cleaner. Having these items on hand is a great way to keep your kitchen clean. Learn more about how to clean scorched pans.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE DRIP PANS?

Drip pans can be damaged when used incorrectly or handled too harshly. If you want to replace damaged components, you can purchase replacement stove drip pans.

Before buying new drip pans, consult the owner's manual for your appliance to make sure you buy the correct pan for your particular model, as requirements will differ between gas and electric coil stovetops.

Give your KitchenAid^® appliance a fresh look and feel with replacement stove drip pans parts and accessories.

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