Unclog a Gas Burner on the Stove Top with a Needle

If your gas stove top burner is acting a little strange and uneven flames are shooting out or won’t light period, it could be clogged. Between grease, grit, and grime, there’s a good chance the burner hole or igniter electrode in your gas burner is caked on with food residue.

As long as you have a needle, pin, or a straightened out paper clip, that’s all you need for the burner hole. Grab up a used toothbrush to remove residue from the igniter. You definitely don’t want to use toothpicks or anything that could break off when it comes to unclogging—you could end up with a bigger problem than you had to begin with.

Before you begin, make sure to turn off the burners, unplug the unit, shut off the gas, and remove the grate(s). Grab up a needle or pin, and carefully unclog the burner hole near the flash tube. Be gentle when unclogging; don’t get too crazy and overboard when poking around as this could cause damage to your stove.

For the igniter electrode, use an old toothbrush to clean it up. The igniter is near the burner and looks like a small, white, ceramic hub. Gently brush the igniter to remove food residue as this build-up can cover the sparking components. Once you're finished unclogging, grab up a soft rag, and wipe away any leftover residue around the burner. Oh, and while you’re at it, why not use this opportunity to clean up your stove top grates? You’ll be cooking again in no time.

Photo by: sunshinecity

Unclog a Gas Burner on the Stove Top with a Needle