[Albion Wilde]

I do love my gas cooktop & I also have cast iron grates. The grates are heavy, but easy to lift off for cleaning.

I was on a bacon binge all winter and spring. Even though I wipe the stove every time, the build-up of heat-hardened grease on the burner grates was daunting. After scraping the grates with a razor blade and scouring with a wire brush and Brillo a couple of times, I hit on the idea of putting the burners—and the drip pans—in the dishwasher every time I run it.

Et voilà! The repeated hot washes have softened the burned-on bits and they come out very clean! There has been no visible wear on the paint.

It helps to spray the drip pans LIGHTLY with degreaser (I use Simple Green) and rinse under the tap before putting them in the dishwasher. They come out 99% spotless.

[Qiviut]

Thank you for a valuable tip! I have some frozen hamburgers I make & although I keep the pan covered as soon as the burgers are in, grease splatters no matter how carefully I partially lift the lid for turning. I have started washing the grates every time I make burgers, so no buildup - yet! The jelly that splattered took a bit of scrubbing, but did eventually come off. We don’t really use the dishwasher so doing the grates would be a good way to run the dishwasher now & again & it sure would be easier than scrubbing in the sink!

I recently got a gas grill & would like to make the burgers outside on that grill instead of in a pan on the cooktop. Never had a gas grill before (just charcoal) ... getting a lesson from the brother this evening grilling some brats :-)