How to Clean Caked on Food on a Cooktop

Wipe the surface of the cook top down with a damp sponge to remove any loose particles, making cleaning easier.

Place three drops of liquid dish soap into a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with warm water and replace the lid. Shake to mix the soap into the water.

Spray the cooktop surface with the soap mixture. Saturate heavily caked on areas. Let the mixture sit for two to three minutes to penetrate into the food materials. For heavily caked on food, let the mixture sit up to 20 minutes.

Spray a clean sponge or rag with the soap mixture to wet it. Wipe the cooktop surface with the sponge. Start at the back of the cooktop and work forward, using a circular motion as you go. Use gentle but steady pressure to break up the caked on food. Rinse the sponge as needed under running water to remove loose particles of food from it. Wring the sponge out and spray it with more soap solution before scrubbing again.

Sprinkle the cooktop surface with baking soda. Wet your sponge with water, wring out the excess and scrub the surface with circular motions to release more food particles.

Rinse the sponge under warm running water to remove any surface debris and as much of the soap as possible. Wring the sponge.

Wipe the surface of the cooktop with the clean sponge to remove puddles of soap and food particles. Rinse and repeat as necessary to clean the entire surface.

Dry the cooktop surface with a clean terry cloth rag. Wipe in a circular motion to buff the surface.