how to clean cast iron stove grates

Kim asked: How do I clean and remove spots from my burner grates? I have a Viking stove with six burners. The burner grates are very large, cast iron grates. No matter how much I clean them, the stove still looks funky to me because of the dirty, spotty look of the grates. I need help!

The simplest and most effective method for cleaning burner grates also works on cast iron burners. Follow these steps and your stove will look like new in no time!

Regular cleaning

Cast iron grates require very minimal cleaning as long as they are seasoned properly. Any food spills can be scrubbed off with a steel grill brush (wire) as needed and rinsed with hot water. To season the grates, use the guide How to Season Cast Iron Grates and Burners.

Deep Cleaning

You Will Need:

Ammonia
Plastic bag (large enough for the burner grate to fit in)
Water
Scrubbing pad
Dry towel

Steps to Remove the Stain:

Remove each burner grate and place each one in a plastic bag. For large grates, use a sturdy trash bag.
Add a cup of ammonia to each bag, then top off with enough water to cover the entire grate when it's lying flat.
Tie the bag shut so the ammonia and water cannot leak out. Using Ziploc bags will make this much easier.
Allow the grates to sit in the ammonia and water mixture overnight.
Open each bag the next day and carefully dispose of the ammonia solution according to label directions. A clean sink or bath tub is a great spot for this.
Scrub any remaining spots with the scrubbing pad. They should come off easily.
Rinse well with water.
Dry with a towel.

Removing Rust

You Will Need:

Steel grill brush
Water
A cloth
Oil (for seasoning)

Steps to Remove the Rust:

Scrub the area with a steel grill brush until all rust is removed.
Rinse the area well, preferably with hot water.
Dry the grates completely with a cloth.
Season the grates as usual. See the guide How to Season Cast Iron Grates and Burners for more details.

Additional Tips and Advice

If you have a self-cleaning oven, try placing the grates in the oven while running the cleaning cycle. The burners should come out clean. Only do this if the grates are solid cast iron though; the high heat could damage other materials. It is a good idea to check your owner's manual or call the manufacturer first to be sure this is safe for your specific grates. Also be sure to thoroughly inspect the grates first for any rubber feet or other parts that cannot go in the high heat.
Follow safety precautions on the ammonia bottle label. Avoid breathing in fumes and keep the area well ventilated.

Sources:

Joey Green's Cleaning Magic by Joey Green

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