Choosing the right degreaser matters—whether you’re tackling baked-on oven grime, air fryer baskets, or greasy garage tools. This guide distills extensive product research, hands-on testing, and expert reviews to recommend dependable household degreasers for different needs and budgets.
How we tested and what we considered
We combined hands-on testing, expert opinion, and aggregated consumer feedback to evaluate each product. Tests focused on:
- Real-world performance (baked-on grease, fresh oil splatters, glue/tape residue) using stovetops, oven parts, and appliance trays.
- Surface compatibility (non-stick, stainless steel, painted surfaces, chrome).
- Ease of use (spray/foam behavior, dwell time, rinsing/wiping effort).
- Residue and scent (whether products left films or overpowering fragrances).
- Ingredients and safety (plant-based vs. solvent-based, NSF certification where applicable).
We weighted real-world performance highest—removing baked-on grease and residues reliably matters most—while also factoring price, availability, and environmental or safety claims.
Heavy-Duty Plant Degreaser
A budget-friendly, plant-forward spray that cuts through everyday kitchen grease. Lightweight formula with a pleasant lemongrass scent; best for quick stove, microwave, and grates cleanups when you want an effective but gentle option.
Best Budget Pick — Method Heavy Duty Degreaser
Method’s Heavy Duty Degreaser offers surprising cleaning muscle for the price. Made with plant-derived grease cutters, it sprays easily, lifts fresh and light-to-moderate baked-on grease, and leaves a crisp lemongrass scent. In our testing it performed well on stovetops, drip pans, and range hoods when given a short dwell time.
Standout features: plant-based surfactants, recycled-plastic bottle, gentle scent.
Technical notes: 28 oz spray bottle; not formulated for heavy industrial grime or thick adhesive residue. Best for routine kitchen maintenance rather than deep restorations.
Pros: inexpensive, pleasant scent, environmentally minded packaging.
Cons: less aggressive on very heavy, baked-on grease; may require repeat applications for stubborn grime.
Baking Soda Cream Cleaner
A versatile cream cleaner that uses baking soda to scrub away cooked-on grease and soap scum without scratching. Works well on stovetops, sinks, and pots — a reliable mid-price option for households wanting a gentler abrasive.
Best Value for Money — Baking Soda Cream Cleaner
This cream cleaner blends baking soda abrasives with plant-derived ingredients to remove grease and soap scum without scratching. It shines on sinks, stovetops, and cookware, and the Lemon Verbena scent is light and pleasant. In lab and kitchen tests it removed cooked-on spots with controlled elbow grease—effective but not harsh.
Standout features: baking soda scrubbing action, scratch-free finish, plant-derived ingredients.
Technical notes: 16 fl oz cream; best applied with a damp cloth or sponge; rinse thoroughly after use. Not a ready-to-spray degreaser—requires manual rubbing for deep buildup.
Pros: affordable, gentle on surfaces, multi-use.
Cons: needs scrubbing for very tough, baked-on grease; slower than spray degreasers for large surface areas.
Bull Shot Foaming Degreaser
Professional-strength foaming degreaser engineered to cling and penetrate heavy grease, adhesives, and grime. Residue-free formula and powerful emulsifiers make it ideal for heavy-duty cleanup in kitchens, garages, and on appliances.
Premium Choice — Bull Shot Foaming Degreaser
Bull Shot is built for heavy lifting: a foaming, professional-strength formula designed to cling to vertical surfaces and emulsify oil, glue residue, and baked-on grime. In our toughest tests it outperformed lighter sprays on stove hoods, grill exteriors, and greasy tools, often requiring minimal agitation after a 3–5 minute dwell. The formula rinses clean without leaving a film.
Standout features: thick clingy foam, residue-free finish, multi-surface compatibility (stainless, chrome, painted metal), made in the USA.
Technical notes: aerosol foaming canister; follow ventilation and safety directions. Best for heavily soiled areas—overkill for light daily tasks.
Pros: powerful, clinging foam for vertical and recessed areas; excellent on adhesives and heavy grease.
Cons: higher price; aerosol format may be unnecessary for light cleaning tasks.
Clear Lemon Degreaser
A fast-acting kitchen degreaser with NSF certification that penetrates tough grease and grime in seconds. Clear formula and lemon scent make it a practical, versatile choice for everyday deep cleans.
Editors Choice — Easy-Off Specialty Kitchen Degreaser
Easy-Off’s Kitchen Degreaser strikes a strong balance between speed, versatility, and value. Its clear lemon formula penetrates and dissolves grease quickly, rinses clean, and is NSF-certified for surface safety. In routine and heavy-duty tests it reliably removed grease from stovetops, counters, and splattered areas with just spray-and-wipe action.
Standout features: rapid action, NSF certification, broad surface compatibility.
Technical notes: 16 fl oz spray; best for users who want a dependable all-purpose degreaser without specialty application steps. Not a foam—won’t cling as long on vertical greasy residues compared with foaming products.
Pros: fast, affordable, NSF-certified.
Cons: less effective than foaming heavy-duty products on thick, set-in residues; fragrance may bother sensitive users.
Comparison at a glance
- Editors Choice (Easy-Off) — Fast, NSF-certified, and reliable for most household jobs; the best all-round pick.
- Premium Choice (Bull Shot) — Heavy-duty foaming power for vertical surfaces and adhesive or baked-on messes; ideal for deep or professional-style cleaning.
- Best Value (Mrs. Meyer’s Baking Soda Cream) — Gentle abrasive action that’s versatile and affordable; great where a non-spray cream is preferred.
- Best Budget (Method) — Low-cost, plant-based spray for regular maintenance and light-to-moderate grease removal.
Which is best overall: Easy-Off is the most balanced option for typical households—fast, effective, and NSF-certified. Choose Bull Shot if you regularly face heavy, set-in grease or adhesives and need a product that clings and penetrates. If you prefer gentler, multi-surface care and light scrubbing, the baking soda cream is the best value. For tight budgets or greener ingredients, Method performs admirably for everyday tasks.
Final recommendation
Our recommendations are based on hands-on testing, technical assessment, and consumer feedback. For most people, Easy-Off Specialty Kitchen Degreaser is the smart everyday choice: reliable, quick, and safe for routine use. If you need maximum degreasing power for grills, garage tools, or baked-on adhesive, step up to Bull Shot. For gentle scrubbing and multi-surface polishing, Mrs. Meyer’s Baking Soda Cream Cleaner gives strong value. And if budget or plant-based ingredients matter most, Method Heavy Duty Degreaser is a dependable bargain.
Choose based on the mess you face: spray-and-wipe convenience for everyday grease, foaming emulsifiers for heavy-duty clinging action, and cream abrasives when you want controlled, scratch-safe scrubbing. Our testing shows each of the recommended products performs well in its intended role—pick the one that matches your cleaning needs.