Make Oven Grates Look Brand New Using This Pantry Staple

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For many home cooks, the oven is the busiest appliance in the kitchen, helping them whip up everything from flavor-packed beef pot roast to old-school pies like Grandma used to make. But if there's one drawback with ovens, it's that the more you use them, the more you have to clean them. And the grates can be one of the toughest parts to tackle, as they collect loads of grease and food residue. Luckily, baking soda is the easiest way to get a squeaky-clean oven since it's already in most pantries. And that goes double for oven racks. 

The reason baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is such an effective cleaning agent is that it's mildly abrasive, which means it can loosen stuck-on grime, especially after a soak, which you can do with oven racks since they're removable. Baking soda is cheap (about $1 per pound), available in most stores, and if it works, you can skip smelly, harsh cleaners altogether.

Before you begin, check the oven's manual. Certain products can damage the racks. If there are no restrictions, remove the racks from a completely cold oven. Put them in a container large enough to fully submerge them. This can be a bathtub, a sink, or even a big garbage bag. Line the surface with an old towel or a shower curtain liner to protect it from scratches. Then fill it with enough hot water to fully cover the grates, and add a couple of drops of dish soap and 1 cup of baking soda. Let the racks soak for up to 12 hours, before scrubbing them with a soft sponge or brush. Finally, give them a good rinse and dry them well.

The baking soda soak should take care of most of what gets stuck on your oven racks on a daily basis. But one of the big oven-cleaning mistakes people tend to make is not doing it often enough. That especially applies to your oven racks since most of the cleaning is hands-off with gentle cleaners like baking soda. If you haven't kept to the guideline of a deep-clean every three months, you may need more cleaning power to bring back the racks' original shine.

Bar Keepers Friend, which you can find on Amazon, can be a top choice for stubborn buildup. Mix it with water to make a smooth paste, and then apply it directly to the racks. Let it work for at least 45 minutes and wash the racks clean.

If all else fails, a commercial oven cleaner is another option. Once again, double-check whether your rack's finish can handle it. Oven cleaners can contain harsh chemicals (usually caustic soda or sodium hydroxide), so it's crucial to follow the safety instructions. Wear gloves, eye protection, and avoid breathing in any fumes by doing this outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. To start, place the grates in a garbage bag and apply a generous amount of the cleaner. In general, while you can leave the cleaner overnight on the racks, always read the label first. Wash the racks thoroughly to remove all traces of the cleaner. Before cooking again, you can heat the clean racks in an empty oven for 20 minutes with windows opened to ensure the oven is fully aired out.