How to Clean Electric Oven Grill

If you’ve ever noticed smoke billowing from your oven or your roast dinner suddenly tasting a bit burnt, your grill element might be to blame. The grill element — that metal bar positioned at the top of your oven — collects grease and food residue over time. When left uncleaned, that buildup burns each time you cook, creating smoke, odours, and even uneven heat.

Keeping this part of your oven clean is essential not only for hygiene but also for performance. A dirty grill element can affect how your oven cooks food and may even become a fire hazard if neglected. Luckily, with the right approach, it’s easy to clean it safely at home.

Before You Start

Before diving in, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Never scrape the grill element aggressively — the metal surface is delicate and can be damaged easily.
Avoid using any flammable cleaning products. Chemical residue plus heat can lead to dangerous fumes or even fires.
Once you’re done cleaning, always heat the oven empty for a short while to evaporate leftover moisture before using it again.

With those basics out of the way, let’s look at how to clean your grill element properly.

The Easiest Way to Clean the Grill Element

This simple method works for most household ovens and doesn’t require any disassembly.

Turn your oven’s grill function on at a low to medium temperature — around 80°C to 120°C — for about 10 minutes. You’ll see the element begin to glow red.
Make sure your extractor fan is on and your windows are open. A bit of smoke is normal as the heat burns off grease, but you’ll want plenty of ventilation.
After 10 minutes, turn off the oven and unplug it. Allow it to cool completely.
Once it’s safe to touch, spray a small amount of oven-safe cleaner or natural degreaser on a damp cloth and gently wipe the element. Avoid soaking it or spraying directly onto the metal.

This quick heat-and-wipe method softens baked-on grease, making it easier to remove. However, it mainly cleans the exposed side of the element — the back is harder to reach. If it still looks greasy, you can repeat the process.

Can You Remove the Grill Element to Clean It?

Technically, yes — but it’s not something most people should attempt. Removing the grill element involves unscrewing electrical fittings and disconnecting wires, and if reinstalled incorrectly, it can cause malfunctions or void your oven’s warranty.

If your element is heavily coated in grease or not heating evenly, it’s better to call a qualified oven technician. They can safely remove and clean or replace it if needed.

How to Prevent Grease Buildup on the Grill Element

A bit of prevention goes a long way. Every time you cook, tiny splashes of oil and food particles make their way upward. Here’s how to minimise that:

Cook at moderate temperatures.
Modern ovens work efficiently at around 180°C. Cooking at higher temperatures — especially 200°C and above — leads to more oil splatter and faster grease buildup on the grill element.

Avoid overfilled trays.
When roasting or baking, leave space at the top of your dish. Liquids that bubble over will splatter on the element and burn, creating smoke and that burnt smell that lingers for days.

Wipe down regularly.
A quick wipe after every few cooking sessions can make a huge difference. Waiting until grease is thick and burnt makes cleaning much harder later on. A weekly light clean keeps your oven fresh and smoke-free.

Why Keeping Your Oven Clean Matters

A clean oven doesn’t just look better — it works better. Built-up grime and grease affect how evenly heat circulates, leading to longer cooking times, higher energy use, and unevenly cooked food. In the worst cases, that buildup can ignite and cause dangerous flare-ups.

Cleaning your oven regularly has a few clear benefits:

Tastier food with no burnt smells
Faster, more even cooking
Reduced risk of fire or malfunction
Longer lifespan for your appliance
Less energy consumption and better efficiency

When to Call the Professionals

Let’s be honest — not everyone wants to spend their weekend scrubbing inside an oven. If you’re busy or just prefer a guaranteed deep clean, hiring a professional oven cleaning service is a smart choice.

A professional technician will dismantle your cooker, soak removable parts in special degreasers, and clean every corner of the appliance — including behind and around the grill element. Once everything is reassembled and tested, your oven will look and smell brand new. Best of all, it’s ready to use immediately after cleaning.

Final Thoughts

The grill element might not be the first thing you think to clean, but it plays a major role in how your oven performs. By maintaining it properly, you’ll enjoy better-tasting meals, cleaner air in your kitchen, and fewer problems down the road.

Take a few minutes after each cooking session to wipe away splatters, and once in a while, give the element a deeper clean using the safe heating method. And if it ever feels like too much work, a professional oven cleaning service can handle the job for you — safely, efficiently, and without the smell of burnt grease ever again.