Have any advice for cleaning oven racks?

[NNN0LHI]

I would just as soon leave them in the oven and clean the racks while using the ovens Self Clean function.

But my wife doesn't like the chrome racks to turn blue due to the high heat used during the Self Clean mode so that idea is out.

So I usually get stuck trying to figure out how to clean the racks myself. I have tried a lot of different things over the years to clean them but it usually ends up taking a handful of SOS pads and a lot of hard work to get the job accomplished.

Anyone have any good ideas to get these things clean with the minimal amount of work?

Thanks in advance if anyone has any ideas.

Don

[trud]

1. who's going to see them in the oven?

If Mrs. Don doesn't like the self-clean feature, perhaps it's Mrs. Don who should be cleaning them :-)

There are some tips here:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cleaning/msg0906001325615.html

[NNN0LHI]

4. I like your suggestion the best so far

:toast:

[Suich]

2. This might work:

Put some ammonia in a bowl and set it in the bottom of the oven. Keep the door closed, the longer the better. The fumes should help loosen whatever is on them, so you might not have to scrub as hard with SOS!

You can also clean the stove top rings and "bowls" under the burners this way.

Good luck!

[ChromeFoundry]

3. Ammonia is the method of choice

most put the racks and burner grates into a large, heavy-duty garbage bag and dump in a few cups of ammonia.
Let it sit overnight.

The ammonia will turn the burned fats into soap (a salt, if looking at it from chemistry).

Then a hose will wash all the gunk off in the morning.

===
If the in-oven method is preferred, rather than using a bowl - use an old towel and soak it with some ammonia.
Then you can lay it across the rack. If the oven has a pilot, that should probably be put out prior to this method...just to be on the safe side.

[Warpy]

5. Since it's summer, it's really easy

You'll need some household ammonia, a spray bottle, a black trash bag and tie, a mask, goggles and gloves.

Open up the trash bag in a spot that's going to be in full sun for at least six hours. Lay the rack in the open bag, suit up, and spray the ammonia onto it liberally. Really soak that sucker down. Then close the bag and tie it and walk away from it for 6-10 hours, the longer the better.

When you come back the heat will have combined a lot of the ammonia plus the grease on the rack and made soap. Remove the rack from the bag and hose it off. If it's clean enough, fine, toss the bag in an outside trash can. If not, keep the arrangement on top of the trash can for another go tomorrow.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

6. I use oven cleaner

spray them big time,lean them up against the fence let it sit over night ,spray it again than pressure wash all the gunk off-beats using a wire brush ! those oven racks cost a bundle at the appliance parts outlets !

[Warpy]

7. Try the black plastic trash bag

The heat inside makes the whole job a hell of a lot quicker.

Here in the desert, a couple of hours will often do it. I use this method for broiler pans and grills, too.

[Mist]

10. Yep, the trash bag method is easy--I would only add that I use dilited Citra-Solve instead

of ammonia as it's a safer product with no fumes, but cuts grease well.

[trud]

8. I'm suddenly wondering

why I only have to clean over racks once in a millennium. Is it because I don't cook meat?

[Warpy]

9. That does it for me

I haven't cleaned my oven since I've had the stove because about all I've ever used it for is baked goods, not meat. I've done one chicken in there, but it was sealed into a Dutch oven.

Unfortunately, the people who lived here before me and left the stove ate a lot of meat and broiled all of it.

[NNN0LHI]

12. Mostly french fries and onion rings are what goes in mine

I think they have been blanched in animal fat before the company freezes them though? So we probably have that to deal with.

Our oven only need cleaning every few years.

Don

[Po_d Mainiac]

11. Do you have a dog? n/t