How To Clean Electric Stove Burners

updated Sep 22, 2022
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(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Does your pot frequently runneth over? If you’re part of the regularly-sets-off-the-smoke-alarm-while-cooking-dinner club, chances are your stove burners are in desperate need of attention. To get a really good, deep-down, clean-clean, you’ll need to actually remove the burners from the stove and use some good old-fashioned elbow grease.

How to Clean Stove Burners

While technically you can turn your burners all the way up and have the food burn off, this method is much more effective.

Materials

  • Dish soap
  • Baking soda
  • Water

Tools

  • Dish rag

Instructions

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

1. Wait for the burners to completely cool (we can’t stress this enough!), then remove them from the stovetop. Most should slide out with a gentle tug and lift from the connection point, but if you have questions, refer to your manual (or find your stove’s manual on Manuals Online).

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

2. Using a cloth, mild dish soap, and water, rinse any residue from the burner coils. Take care not to get any part of the electrical connection wet, and don’t submerge any part of the burners.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

3. If there’s any cooked-on food residue that won’t come off with the soap-and-water mixture, use this method: make a paste from baking soda and water, then apply it to the tough spot. Give it about 20 minutes to sit, then scrub and rinse the burner.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

4. Make sure the burners are completely dry before you try to replace them.

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