Cleaning Burned On Grease from a Stainless Steel Gasser

[fzxdoc]

I've been using my Summit 650 side burner for doing pan frying occasionally to keep the mess/smell out of the kitchen. The last fry caused grease to be burned on to the inside of the side burner lid just above the hinge area and the lid to be discolored in the same area on the outside of the lid. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw it, since I like to keep my SS grill shiny.

I went on the Weber site and of course they don't address burned on grease. They are full of suggestions on what NOT to use, but are not too forthcoming with what will work on something this difficult to remove. Weber says use no abrasives of any kind on stainless steel because it could cause pitting. And definitely no caustic cleaners like oven cleaner.

I find it hard to believe that Simple Green degreaser or Weber SS Cleaner will do the trick on this burned on grease.

You Tube videos suggest soaking pans or stove surfaces that have this problem in a hot vinegar solution. They still scrub the heck out of the area with abrasives after the soak, though.

Any suggestions?

Kathryn

[Steve B]

Just a thought. 🤣🤣
seriously though Kathryn I wish I had an answer for you.
There is a product called "never dull" that might work on the outside.
Oh and glad to see you more active here again. 👍

[fzxdoc]

Thanks, Steve. I'll check it out. (the Never Dull, not the weed burner. )

Oh, and I've been posting regularly. Only break was over Christmas. We've got to stop not meeting like this.

K.

[Steve B]

Haha. You’re funny. 😘

[THE Humble Texan]

Soak a paper towel or rag in a very strong orange cleaner and let it set for about 30 minutes. figure out some way for the wet towel/rag to stay against eh vertical surface.
I understand orange cleaner was first used by tar and gravel companies to clean their machines. Then the workers started using it to was their clothes. They bought it by the 55 gal barrel.

[fzxdoc]

Sounds promising. Thanks!

K.

[bten]

I have heard that "Barkeepers Friend" works well, but I have not personally tried it.

[Dadof3Illinois]

It worked great for me on my stainless grill. I use it on our class cook top, microwave, sink....any solid/hard surface. It can be hard to find, our local farm store carries it here but you can order it online too.

[treesmacker]

I use Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) to remove stubborn smoke and grease from my stainless steel Rec Tec. It is not abrasive, though I do use a scotch brite pad and rub in the same direction as the factory finish grain for the really burned on stuff. I also use it on my stainless steel refrigerators and appliances in kitchen, with a nice soft rag and then rinse with clean soft rag followed by drying - works great. I was happy to find a giant 26 oz. bottle of it at my local Ace harddw for less than $4.

[treesmacker]

I also used BKF this last weekend to clean the glass inside of my oven door and it worked great. I use it to clean my glass cook top, also with good results. Even if you don't use on your Summit, it is handy to have around for pots and pans, SS sinks, silverware, and so much more. Highly recommended.

[Troutman]

You might also try the Weiman products...

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/22-oz-weiman-108-spray-stainless-steel-cleaner-polish/999WM108.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleShopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6rGPtrCn4AIVRp7ACh2x4w08EAQYAyABEgKGffD_BwE

[fzxdoc]

I've got some of that. I'll try it but I'm not hopeful. Usually the cleaners/polishes are for lighter dirt and grime, not necessarily effective for burned on grease. But hey, hope springs eternal. I'll add it to my arsenal. Thanks, Troutman .

K.

[Murdy]

You probably saw this already, but just in case:

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Grease-Off-Stainless-Steel

Look down the page to Method 3. The suggestion is first a baking soda solution, then vinegar. If I recall my chemistry correctly (which I probably don't), this creates some sort of reaction?? It still requires some scrubbing, but they suggest gently with a nylon brush, which might be as good as you can do under the circumstances. The thing they don't say, which is probably the case for all methods, is you will need to repeat it about 75 times. I'd let the baking soda work in longer than they suggest if I didn't experience decent progress. Good Luck!

[fzxdoc]

Thanks, Murdy . I'll look into it. I saw something similar on You Tube but then they scrubbed with steel wool. Yikes.

K.

[MBMorgan]

Maybe just some spray-on oven cleaner? Nasty stuff but it might do the trick ...

[DavidNorcross]

I have not tried this but have heard that this works well.

[fzxdoc]

Weber specifically says not to use oven cleaner on SS. I may have to use a more elbow-grease-focused method. Sigh.

Kathryn

[MBMorgan]

fzxdoc - Bummer! That kinda stinks ...

Mike

[jfmorris]

I would start with simple degreasers and let them soak, clean, repeat. Some of that other stuff like barkeepers friend is a mild abrasive. Good luck!

[adamcoe]

I feel like something citrus based might do the trick...many moons ago when I worked in a butcher shop we used one called CitruSolve that cleaned ANYTHING. Super powerful and food safe. Not sure if they still make it but something of that nature might be what you're after.

EDIT: They still make it!

http://www.lawrasons.com/js/index.php/products1/categories-vision/degreasers-and-cleaners/item/57-citrusolve-20-l

[Murdy]

I remember that stuff, I worked in a butcher shop 25+ years ago, we used it on everything (including black scuff marks on the tile floor). Came as a concentrate, I think. Awesome stuff.

[adamcoe]

Yeah it's quite powerful when used at full strength. We'd cut it 2:1 or even 3:1 for lighter duty cleaning, like wiping down the counters and whatnot, but for the walk in cooler (lots of beef blood on the floor and whatnot) we'd use it straight. Now that I'm reminded of it, I might even pick some up for cleaning up my grills. :P I think you can get it in smaller spray bottles if you don't need mega-gallons of it.

[Rfuilrez]

My go to for cleaning the KBQ is Lye water. Couple teaspoons of lye powder in a spray bottle of warm water. Spray it on and a lot of times the grime washes away with the stream. Inside parts and outside parts as well. Come back with diluted vinegar and wipe it clean.

[Nuke em]

On thing that I use is super fine (it think it’s call triple o steel wool). I used it on cleaning guns that was in a house fire of my cousins. I bought it at Home Depot in the paint dept. it takes the rust off of it and is so fine that you can scrub it on the side of a stainless steel toaster and not get the swirl marks. Of course it takes rust off of Crome pipes on my bike also.
Figuring it’s grease, ya can use it with water but I recon the grease will clog the steel wool up but they come in big bags. Might be worth checking out in a hidden spot

[bten]

I would make sure it is stainless steel wool. Regular steel wool will leave microscopic carbon steel deposits that will eventually rust. I do a lot of work inspecting stainless steel welded pipe, and the pipe fitters need to use stainless steel brushes, or you end up with rusty rings where the welds were.

[jgreen]

I think you got some great suggestions above for removing the grease from inside. Should work. The bigger problem might be the discolored outside. If that is due to a high temp ‘burn’ from the grease inside I don’t know if you restore that.

[Willy]

I've read about using aluminum foil w/ BKF and I did try it once on the outside bottom of a stainless pan. My recollection is that it was somewhat effective, though it did take more elbow grease than the article implied (or, I'm a 98-pound--er, 190-pound--weakling--LOL). One active ingredient in BKF is oxalic acid and the abrasive is feldspar, which has a Mohs hardness of 6--roughly equal to stainless steel (6 plus or minus a bit; varies according to which stainless composition). Al foil, of course, is much softer than stainless.

https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/2880/how-can-brown-stains-be-removed-from-pots-and-pans

Good luck!

[barelfly]

This stuff works really well on the grill. A friend got it for me from Sams I believe. Spray it on and let
it soak a bit.

[lonnie mac]

Great suggestions above. I do like my Barkeepers Friend. Stuff is amazing.

When all else fails though. (Verify your model number!) eReplacementParts DOT Com, has fixed many a grill of mine.

https://www.ereplacementparts.com/we...87_193599.html

Lid:

https://www.ereplacementparts.com/side-burner-lid-with-hardware-p-1477933.html

[Willy]

I just used eReplacements to refurb an old Weber Genesis gasser--the cook box (bottom half of it) had warped so badly the rotisserie spit wouldn't fit properly and my attempts to straighten it were short-lived. I second your recommendation of them. Prompt service and inexpensive shipping, parts themselves not so cheap.

[fzxdoc]

Thanks so much, Lonnie mac. If I really screw up the lid trying to get it clean, I'll get the replacement you linked me to. It's good to have a Plan B. Much obliged.

Kathryn