How to Clean Oven Racks?

Check out these pro tips to make your job easier.

Even if you call yourself a cleaning enthusiast, we doubt whether cleaning oven racks tops your list of things you enjoy doing! After all, cleaning away the heavy grease, grime and food residue accumulated on your racks can be quite a task. Even if you have a self-cleaning oven! But there is no denying that this is an essential task, for health, hygiene and aesthetic reasons. It is a known fact that if your racks are caked with grease, they could also cause your food to smell, and taste bad. Besides, a heavy build-up of food residues could also damage your oven’s heating element over time, which can be expensive to repair.

Unfortunately, the longer you put this task off, the dirtier they will get. You certainly wouldn’t want to cook your next meal on gunky oven racks, would you? There are even people who go as far as to replace their oven racks when they get seriously gunky. But this isn’t necessary, if you use any of these pro tips that we are going to be sharing with you in this blog. Read on to know more about oven rack cleaning hacks to get your racks sparkling clean!

4 Proven Ways for Cleaning your Oven Racks 

A quick search online will bring up multiple articles, each with their own version of the best ways to clean dirty oven racks. We’ve decided to make it simple, and list only the most proven techniques which can give you clean oven racks with the minimum effort from your end! You see, we also want to save you the effort of having to go through multiple results, and trying out multiple ways before zeroing in on one.

The tips shared below have been tried and vetted by cleaning experts, and we believe they will work well for you too!

1. The Bathtub Soak Way

There are two ways in which you could use your bathtub to clean your oven racks, depending upon the cleaning materials you have at hand. In both cases, you start out with laying an old towel in your bathtub and placing the oven racks over it.

In the first option, you could do a generous sprinkling of baking soda over the racks, and douse it with distilled white vinegar. The chemical reaction between the two will cause some foaming, and when this happens, submerge the racks in very hot water and let them sit overnight. You could even add a few drops of orange essential oil, for its antimicrobial properties. The morning after, you could scrub away the grease and the grime with an old toothbrush or towel, and if there are any stubborn bits, you could also brush them away with some salt, for added abrasion.

In the second option, you could soak the racks in very hot water, and add generous squirts of dishwashing liquid or powder detergent to it. Adding this will help to degrease the racks, as the racks sit in this solution overnight. By the morning, you should have much cleaner racks, and you could use a scrubby sponge to clean away any remaining buildup. Some people also use dryer sheets as part of this method, but in our experience, they do not make much difference.

2. The Trash Bag & Ammonia Way 

This is an option best tried out in your yard. Take a trash bag, put the soiled oven racks in it, and add one pint of ammonia inside. Seal the bag and leave it overnight. By the next morning, the ammonia should have worked its action on the stubborn grime, and no scrubbing should be needed. Take care while unsealing the bag, as the ammonia fumes would be strong. You would mostly need to just rinse off the racks with a garden hose, or in a shower and be able to use them again.

3. The Bar Keepers Friend Way

This is an option that many swear by, as it requires the least time and effort. All you need to do is to make a paste of Bar Keepers Friend and water. Take care to keep it the right consistency – it shouldn’t be too thick or too runny. You may then place your dirty oven racks in the sink or the bathtub, and give them a slight rinse. Using a scrubber or a basting brush, you could then proceed to apply the prepared paste on to the racks, covering its complete surface. Allow the racks to sit undisturbed for around an hour, and rinse them clean with a sponge and warm soapy water.

As you can see, cleaning oven racks can be easy if you have the right materials and techniques. It is a good idea to clean them regularly – which will not only make it easier for you and keep the racks in great shape, but will also ensure that your food is being prepared in a hygienic environment. You could try each of these methods to find your own best way to clean oven trays and racks. And if you choose to get the Goldline 75-litre, 15 function Pyrolytic Electric Oven, you can leave the rest of your oven cleaning worries behind.

FAQs

Question : Is it good to use an oven cleaner to clean oven racks?

Answer : Oven cleaners are specially formulated to tackle the tough grime and grease that can settle on oven racks. However, while they are potent and effective, they could also be harmful for your health. This is why it is best to explore natural solutions such as baking soda and vinegar.

Question: Can I use a dishwasher to clean oven racks?

Answer : It is possible to clean your oven racks in a dishwasher, but we wouldn’t recommend it as the high heat and strong detergents can cause damage to the racks, and reduce their lifespan.

Question : How often should one clean oven racks?

Answer : This completely depends on your cooking, and how dirty they get. Usually, it is recommended to give your racks a proper, deep clean every six months. You might also clean them more frequently if so required, based on your usage.