Cleaning Cooktop Drip Bowls First, it is important to know if the bowls are chrome or porcelain. Both types of drip bowls are available in the market. It is important to understand the purpose of drip bowls and how they function. Drip bowls have two main functions. They are required for safety reasons, and they catch spillovers during cooking for easier clean-up. While performing these two functions, harsh conditions exist including: Extreme heat reaching temperatures as high as 1,000 degrees F. Thermal shock when a cooler liquid is spilled on the drip bowl during a boilover. Spillovers that burn on if not cleaned up promptly. These conditions can occur in everyday use and may result in discoloration and damage over time. Oversized cookware (canners, stock pots, etc.) trap heat in the drip bowl area. Drip bowls will become discolored or craze from this extreme heat. To prevent this from happening, use the canning element accessory. It elevates oversized pots slightly which reduces trapped heat. This canning element may be purchased through your dealer. It is not recommended to cover drip bowls with aluminum foil. Lining drip bowls with foil may result in risk of electric shock and increases the chance of chrome bowls rusting. Chrome Drip Bowls If your bowls are chrome, there are two types of discoloration: Brown stains caused by food spills and improper cleaning methods. Blue/gold stains caused by too much heat. To Remove or Minimize Discoloration It is not recommended to wash chrome drip bowls in a dishwasher. Dulling and discoloration caused by the dishwasher detergent may occur. Brown food stains can usually be removed by washing the drip bowls frequently in warm sudsy water. If heavily soiled, place an ammonia soaked paper towel on the stains to loosen soil, then gently scrub with a plastic scouring pad. Food stains left on the bowl become cooked on with heat and are more difficult to remove. A nonabrasive cleanser such as Soft Scrub or Bon Ami* can be used to remove these stubborn stains. However, in some instances these food stains may be impossible to remove. Blue/gold heat stains caused by overheating generally cannot be removed, but can be minimized if certain guidelines are followed: Use pans that do not extend more than two inches beyond the surface element. When an oversized pan or canner is used, the air flow is blocked and heat is trapped under the pan. If you want to use very large pans, the canning element accessory should be purchased. Contact your dealer. Use flat bottom pans. Warped or ridged pans cause heat to be transferred to the drip bowl rather than the bottom of the pan. Avoid excessive use of the high heat setting. Use it only when starting to cook foods, then lower the heat setting to finish cooking. Using lower heat settings also improves overall cooking results. Use Flitz Metal Polish*. Flitz is a nonabrasive cleaner that can be used to remove or lighten mild heat discoloration on chrome drip bowls. Flitz is available in many automotive supply and hardware stores. To Avoid Food Stains In Chrome Bowls Wipe out spillovers as soon as the element has cooled. Use a pan large enough for the amount of food being cooked to avoid boilovers. Use lower heat settings when cooking to help prevent boilovers and splatters. Porcelain Drip Bowls Porcelain bowls can be different colors - black, light gray, almond or white. Porcelain bowls, like chrome bowls, need to be washed frequently in warm sudsy water to prevent soil build-up. However, porcelain bowls can be washed in a dishwasher without discoloration. To Remove Soils and Stains For difficult soils, use a mild abrasive cleaner such as Soft Scrub*, a plastic, soap-filled scouring pad or Cooktop Cleaning Creme* (Part No. 20000001). If soil is not removed, reapply Cooktop Cleaning Creme, cover with damp towels and let stand 30 minutes. Scrub again. Rinse and dry. For burned on foods and very difficult stains, remove the bowls and place on newspapers. Spray the bowls carefully with commercial oven cleaner. Be careful not to spray any other areas (i.e. floor, near-by cabinets, etc.) to prevent damage. Place the bowls in a large plastic bag overnight or for several hours. Wear rubber gloves and remove the bowls from the bag wash, rinse and dry. The stains will be removed easily. To Avoid Food Stains in Porcelain Bowls Wipe out spillovers as soon as the element has cooled. Use a pan large enough for the amount of food being cooked to avoid boilovers. Use lower heat settings when cooking to help prevent boilovers and splatters. *Brand names for the above cleaning products are registered trademarks of the respective manufacturers.