Put 1/2 cup of any powdered dishwashing soap into a roaster pan full of water. Stir; then add the burner pans. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 30 minutes. Cool and you should be able to just wipe off all the crud. If especially bad, take a brillo pad to it BEFORE you wipe it. Afterwards, wipe your burner pans with Crisco and the next time they will be even easier to clean.
I have a gas stove and when the tops are dirty I just shove them into the self cleaning oven. Works Terrific. I was afraid the first time in case I wrecked them. But to my sheer joy they were like brand new. I've been doing it now for 7 years.
By Baylee (Guest Post)
11/19/2008
I have a gas range and when the pans and tops are dirty I put them into the self cleaning oven and they come out like brand new. The first time I was scared I might wreck them after somebody told me about doing it. After I tried it I have done it for 7 years now and no problems. Just great looking stove as brand new. Especially when guests come.
By
11/19/2008
Once they are clean, you could try wrapping them with foil, but I've never had any luck getting the burner shields back into place after that.