Some people avoid using the broiler in their oven, and not because of the results they achieve. They do not want to have to clean up the mess. The juices from the meat and the fat bakes onto the broiler pan. It becomes almost impossible to clean, even after soaking for several minutes in hot soapy water. Instead of avoiding using the broiler in a gas or electric oven, use the following fast and easy ways to clean an ordinary metal broiler pan. It does not have to be a big chore. When using these easy methods, the mess is easy to remove without using abrasive cleaners or damaging steel wool.
Begin by Wiping Away Grease and Loose Food Particles
It is possible to clean a broiler pan without using harsh steel wool and a massive amount of abrasive cleanser. Simply pour away any liquid, and wipe off grease and loose food particles with paper towels. With any luck what is left behind will not be difficult to clean away. However, more than likely, portions of the metal will be blackened by baked-on food and grease. This is typical. It seems to meld with the metal, and no amount of ordinary rubbing and scrubbing will clean it away. The mess is the main reason why many people would rather use an outdoor grill instead of the broiler, even in the cold winter months, but it does not have to be difficult to clean.
Use Hot Water and Automatic Dishwasher Detergent
When looking for an easy way to clean a very dirty broiler pan, use automatic dishwasher detergent instead of abrasive cleanser. It is far better than any other store-bought product or tool used for scrubbing. It literally melts away baked-on, burned-on food in a matter of minutes.
Fill the kitchen sink or laundry tub with the hottest tap water available. The water does not have to completely cover the broiler pan, but the entire broiler pan must be wet when the detergent is applied.
Next, cover the broiler pan with a generous amount of powdered dishwasher detergent. To clean the metal without having to rub or scrub, allow the detergent to loosen the baked-on food for at least twenty minutes. If the pan is not completely submersed, turn it over halfway through the soaking period. This will allow the detergent to work with the hot water to automatically clean away the stuck-on mess.
After the broiler pan has soaked, use a scrub sponge to easily clean away food that was once holding tight to the metal. Amazingly, it will come right off with very little effort. Dishwasher detergent makes the chore of trying to clean a broiler pan as easy as washing dirty plates. Personally I have not found anything that works faster or better than dishwasher detergent when trying to clean a broiler pan or any other stainless steel or enamel coated cooking utensil.
