How to Get Burnt Food Off a Stainless Steel Stove Top

Wipe the surface of your stainless-steel stove top with a mixture of warm water and soap. Dip your clean, soft cloth in the soapy mixture, and gently wipe the surface so that any loose food residue is removed. Removing as much of the burnt residue as possible before it hardens is key to simplifying the removal process.

Mix together baking soda and warm water in a large mixing bowl. Begin with 1/2 cup of water, and continue to add baking soda until the mixture reaches the consistency of paste.

Apply the baking soda paste to the stove top, over the burnt food. Use a clean, soft cloth to wipe away the mixture immediately. The baking soda mixture will serve as a mild abrasive, which will provide enough friction to remove the burnt food, without digging into the surface of the stove. Gently move your cloth along the brushed steel marks and not across them. By moving against the surface grain, you can cause irreparable damage to the stove top.

Apply cleaners that contain 4-to-6-percent tri-sodium polyphosphate to burnt food stuck to your stainless-steel stove top. Store-bought cleaners like Easy-Off and Degrease-It are suitable for the job. Check the labels on your favorite cleaner to see if it contains the proper mixture for your needs. Apply the cleaner according to the manufacturer's instructions.