A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning an Oven Broiler

Oven broilers are useful kitchen tools to have at your disposal when you want to cook meat, vegetables, and other items. To keep it working correctly and avoid bacteria build-up, you must give them a regular clean.

In this guide, we give you simple step-by-step instructions for how to thoroughly clean your broiler. Better yet, you only need natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar to do it. At the end of the guide, we’ll give you some simple tips to help keep your oven broiler clean so it doesn’t have to be deep cleaned as often.

Before you get started, make sure you have the following tools and materials on hand:

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• A cleaning brush or non-scratch pad
• Kitchen scraper
• A pair of protective gloves
• Dish Soap
• A small bucket or container

Once you have all of these, you can start the cleaning process.

Turn the power off

Before you begin cleaning your broiler, make sure the power to your oven is turned off. You can either switch the power off or turn the circuit breaker off. Turning the power off will prevent any electrical accidents from happening.

Remove the racks and drip pan

The next step is to remove the racks and drip pan from the broiler. Before removing them, fill up your kitchen sink with hot soapy water. Once the sink is filled, place the racks and drip pan into the water. This allows the grease and grime time to loosen up so the racks are easier to clean.

Remove loose debris from the broiler

Over time, your broiler will most likely start to accumulate grease and other debris that will need to be scraped off before cleaning the broiler. While the racks and pan are soaking, grab your scraper (use a spatula if you don’t have one) to remove any loose debris from the oven broiler. Just be careful that you don’t scratch the broiler surfaces.

Create and apply a baking soda paste

The next step is to make a baking soda paste. When you mix baking soda with water it creates a thick paste that can be applied to the broiler surfaces. Once applied, the paste will start to break down all the grease and grime so it’s easy to remove. 

Here’s how to make, and then apply, a baking soda paste:

• In a container, mix ½ cup of baking soda with ½ cup of water. Combine both ingredients until it turns into a spreadable paste.
• Use a brush or non-scratch pad to apply the paste onto the inside surfaces of the oven broiler. Once covered, let the paste sit for 30 to 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can leave it overnight. If you need more paste you can mix equal parts baking soda and water until you have enough.

Clean the racks and drip pan

While the baking soda is soaking into the surfaces of the broiler, it’s a good time to scrub the racks and drip pan. All you need to do is use a brush or non-scratch pad and scrub the racks and pan to remove all the grease and grime from them. If you have to deal with any stubborn stains, use some white vinegar to help remove them. Once clean, dry the racks and pan and set them aside.

Clean the broiler thoroughly

After the baking soda paste has had time to soak into the surfaces of the broiler, the next step is to clean the broiler thoroughly. This can be done using a non-scratch pad brush to scrub all the surfaces of the broiler. If you find any stubborn stains, use a scraper to remove them. Once the broiler surfaces are clean, use a damp cloth to wipe them. Make sure all the baking soda paste is removed.

Dry the oven broiler and reassemble it

Now that the broiler is clean, use a dry cloth to wipe away any leftover moisture. You can then leave it to air dry before using it again. Once dry, place the racks and the drip pan back into the broiler. You can now start using it again!

Tips to keep your oven broiler clean

To prevent you from having to deep clean your oven broiler, here are a few simple tips. By following these tips, you can ensure it stays clean and functions properly for many years to come.

• Use aluminum foil. Place a layer of aluminum foil on the pan and/or racks to stop food from sticking to the pan. When the foil is dirty, replace it.
• Clean up spills. Always clean up any spills when they happen. Food items like cheese can become very hard to remove once they get baked onto the racks.
• Don’t use oil sprays. Try not to use oil sprays on the pan as they can become baked on and difficult to remove.
• Clean the element. Clean the broiler element regularly to avoid any grease and grime building up on it. It can be a fire hazard if the element is covered in grease.

Deep clean your broiler regularly. Try to deep clean your oven broiler every few months. If you use it a lot, clean it more regularly.