No matter how hard you try, cooking is always a very messy process. It’s as if no matter how much you clean, you’ll always find a splatter of food and stains over your stove.
If you have an aluminum cooker ring in your house instead of a smooth ceramic hob, cleaning these can prove to be quite difficult. These layers are containers for trapping dirt, oil, and food residue.
Although you can wipe down your counter and your stove to get rid of these splatters, cleaning the aluminum ring can be quite tough. They have curved areas that are hard to reach.
So what is the most efficient way to clean this part? How to clean aluminum cooker rings properly?
That is all we are here for today. Don’t worry, if you follow the right steps, you too can clean your aluminum cooker rings in no time with very little effort.
How To Clean Aluminum Cooker Rings - 4 Different Methods Explained
There are a lot of different ways in which you can clean your aluminum cooker rings. Here are a few methods that will surely work to get rid of all kinds of stains and food residue.
1. Soaking With Dishwasher Tablet
To do this, you will first fill a basin with about 3 inches deep of hot water. Break in a dishwasher tablet and mix it in thoroughly.
Then, let the aluminum cooker rings soak in this hot water and dishwashing tablet concoction and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
By this time, all the dirt, grime, and food residue should have softened up. You will see that some of the food residues have even floated apart from the ring itself.
Use a wire brush or a scouring sponge or scraper to gently scrub and rub off the dirt that is remaining on the ring. Try and get into all of the edges of the ring.
Rinse the aluminum cooker ring with cold water and dry it. And that's it, you have a clean aluminum cooker ring.
2. Use A Degreasing Product
For this, you need to get your hands on a good quality commercial-grade cleaning product. You can only use this method to clean your aluminum cooker rings if they are in good condition.
Spread the degreasing product onto the ring, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, use a microfiber cloth or sponge to scrub the grease and food off the rings.
Using a commercial-grade cleaning product, such as a degreasing spray, will help you clean your aluminum cooker rings more efficiently.
3. Soak In Hot Water
If you don't have any dishwasher tablets, you can try and soak the rings in very hot water.
Similar to the method we mentioned above, where you soak the rings with hot water and a dishwasher tablet, you will firstly fill in a basin with water.
Then, you can add a hefty amount of dishwashing liquid and stir it in.
Let the aluminum cooker rings soak in the soapy water for 20 minutes or more. The more you let the aluminum cooker rings soak, the easier it will be to clean.
After taking them out of the hot water solution, scrub the aluminum cooker rings with a sponge, microfiber cloth, or a wire brush. Try to reach all of the edges and crevices to get rid of any food residue.
Then, let them cool, and dry off before using them again.
4. Baking Soda And Hot Water Mixture
For this, you will first make a base of baking soda and water. Instead of using hot water, you can also use vinegar. It will work much better.
Steak equal parts of the ingredients and mix them until smooth. Then, apply the paste onto the aluminum cooker rings generously.
Let this paste sit on the aluminum cooker rings for 5 to 8 minutes. This mixture will start working immediately, and will slowly eat away the dirt, grease, and grime.
Then, instead of running the rings underwater, take a sponge or microfiber cloth and scrub the aluminum cooker ring with the mixture.
Then rinse it off with cool water and let it dry. If you see that some of the grime is still left, you can scrub it with normal dishwashing soap. Because the paste has already helped release the grease from the surface, it should come off quite easily.
Best Way to Polish Aluminum
If you want your aluminum cooker rings to last for a long time and not tarnish, a general idea that works well is polishing them. Not only does the polish help protect an aluminum cooker ring, but it also helps give it a mesmerizing shimmer. Here is how you can polish an aluminum cooker ring.
1. Making A DIY Paste Of Cream Of Tartar
To do this, you need to make a paste of tartar and water. The ratios are 1:1.
Take the mixture, and rub it in with a soft cloth. Work in gentle circular motions to work the best onto the aluminum cooker rings.
Then, let it sit for about 5 minutes.
After that, rinse off the paste with clean water and dry the aluminum cooker rings completely.
An additional step that you can follow is buffing the aluminum rings with a microfiber cloth.
2. Using Aluminum Polish
If you can get your hands on aluminum polish, your polishing process will become easier.
To use an aluminum polish, you will simply take some on a soft cloth, and work it onto your aluminum cooker rings.
Then rinse it off with clear water. There is no need to let the aluminum polish sit on the rings.
One thing you need to know is that- after you have polished your aluminum cooker rings with aluminum polish, you cannot eat any food that has touched the ring. This aluminum polish can be quite poisonous and even fatal if swallowed. The residue of this polish remains on the aluminum cooker ring after rinsing. So you need to be extra careful when using store-bought aluminum polish.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is The Benefit Of Using A Degreasing Spray?
Degreasing sprays are made for commercial use. Therefore, they are very strong and can eat through protein, fat deposits, and grease very easily.
When you use a degreasing spray or cleaning product on your cooking rings, the dirt and grime will almost side off.
2. Can You Clean Aluminum Cooker Rings In The Dishwasher?
You shouldn't put aluminum cooker rings in the dishwasher. They will tarnish and will get a very dull gray matte exterior layer on them.
3. How Long Should You Let An Aluminum Cooker Ring Soak For?
The more time you let the aluminum cooker rings soak, the better. But a minimum time of 20 minutes should be allowed for the warm water and detergent solution to completely break all the grime and food residue.
4. How To Get Rid Of Oil Residue On Aluminum Cooker Rings?
To clean oil, you need to make a paste of water and baking soda. Scrub the mixture in and let it sit for a while.
After that, scrub the ring with a microfiber cloth and wash it with cold water. The ring should be oil-free after drying.
Final Words
Worried about that dirty and oily aluminum cooker rings on your stove? No need to fret. Now that you know how to clean aluminum cooker rings properly, you can clean these with ease.
The trick is to understand what it is that you are cleaning. For oil and food residue, let the cooker ring soak in warm water and baking soda mixture, and the dirt should come right off.
If you want the aluminum cooker rings to last a long time and to look good as well, give them a good polish!
Up Next: How do you clean your weber gas grill burner tubes?
SeaRanchLodge.com is a participant in the Amazon Associate program and will earn from qualifying purchases.