I tested Oven Pride and Elbow Grease oven cleaners side by side on burnt-on grease to see which worked best. The cheaper option came out on top
If, like me, you’ve got a complicated relationship with household chores, you’ll understand that whilst the results are undeniably rewarding, the actual process of cleaning frequently fills you with absolute dread. This rings particularly true when tackling the oven, especially those troublesome racks.
I generally prefer natural cleaning methods wherever feasible, but when I’ve allowed the oven racks to gather burnt-on grime for months on end, Oven Pride becomes my ultimate lifesaver.
That said, beyond containing aggressive chemicals, Oven Pride also comes with a hefty price tag. I recently grabbed a box of Oven Pride from Asda for £3.44, and positioned directly beside it was a box of Elbow Grease Oven Cleaner, which cost nearly £1 less, priced at £2.25. With four racks requiring attention, I treated two with Oven Pride and the remaining pair with Elbow Grease.
Both Oven Pride and Elbow Grease Oven Cleaner are promoted in remarkably similar fashion as industrial-strength, fume-free cleaning solutions engineered to eliminate burnt-on grease and carbon build-up from ovens, grills, and hobs. They both employ potent formulas to thoroughly deep clean without requiring vigorous scrubbing.
These cleaning products provide you with bags where you place oven racks, together with the cleaner, before sealing them up, allowing them to soak and ultimately rinsing everything off. Having trialled both products side by side, I observed that whilst each performed admirably, there was an obvious victor.
For this comparison, I deployed both items simultaneously and applied identical quantities of the cleaning solution supplied with each basket.
Upon unpacking both products, each contained its solution, gloves, and a plastic bag. It was immediately apparent which commanded the higher price point, as the gloves and bag included with the Oven Pride kit were noticeably superior in quality.
To tackle the racks, I began by taking them out of the oven and popping two into each of the bags. Both oven cleaning products recommend only placing two in the bag at a time.
I then slipped on some gloves and poured three-quarters of the Oven Pride solution into one bag and three-quarters of the Elbow Grease Oven Cleaner into the other.
Oven Pride was completely odourless; however, the Elbow Grease one gave off a really powerful, almost fishy smell. I’d absolutely suggest opening the windows before getting stuck in with these products.
With the racks and cleaning solutions safely in the bags, it was time to squeeze out the air from the bags, seal and fold them, before rocking the bags backwards and forwards to ensure the trays were thoroughly covered in the liquid.
Straightaway, I could see that the liquid in both bags was turning brown and the grime on the racks had begun to loosen.
Both brands suggest leaving the racks in the bags for roughly four hours; however, it’s better to leave them overnight, which is what I did. I left them outside overnight just to be safe in case the bags happened to split and leak.
The following day, I inspected the racks and found that both solutions had turned a deep brown, almost black. Without any rinsing, the Oven Pride racks were gleaming, whilst the Elbow Grease racks still bore brown stains.
To examine them more closely, I donned some gloves, partially filled the bags with water, resealed them and tilted the bags so the solutions gathered in one bottom corner. I then snipped off one corner of each bag and hoisted them back up to allow the solution to be safely drained down the sink immediately with running water.
I gave both sets of racks a wipe down with washing-up liquid, and was astounded that the grime on the racks in the Elbow Grease solution came straight off without any scrubbing.
Upon closer inspection, the racks cleaned with Oven Pride, which weren’t as heavily stained to start with as the other pair, were shiny, but they did have a few tiny stains remaining. The racks cleaned with Elbow Grease, however, were immaculate – not a single stain to be seen.
All in all, both cleaning products performed brilliantly at sprucing up my oven racks, but despite the smell, I’d have to crown Elbow Grease Oven Cleaner the victor. It’s more affordable and does a more effective job, so I’m willing to tolerate the scent now and again.
