How do you remove and replace drip pans when stove-top electrical coils are in the way?

Question

I acquired a used stove with no instruction manual to go with it.

Answer 1

you should be able to lift the stove up like a pizza box and get to the drip pans.

Answer 2

I've seen 3 diff types of electric stoves. One where the whole top lifts up to clean underneath. Second one is where the drip pan can removed without moving the coils. And lastly is where you need gently pull the coils straight out and then the pans are removed.  Be careful when putting them back in, if the coils get bent at all, they can be quite stubborn.

I use tin foil to cover my drip pans before I put them on the stove. Easy cleanup!!

Answer 3

The coils are usually hinged and they lift up.  If you pull on them, they may discover that they unplug from a receptacle, making for easy replacement when they go bad.  Mine do not pull out, but they do lift up.

As others have mentioned, you can also lift up the entire stove top.

Answer 4

You can actually lift the coils up on one side and pull them out of the socket.  They just slide right out and can slide back in after cleaning.  

Answer 5

If you read the owners manual for the unit it will explain how to remove the element from the stove. Usually you lift the element and pull gently.

Answer 6

You should be able to remove the electrical coils from their sockets to get at the drip pans.

Answer 7

absolutely you pull the heating elements out of their sockets straight back at the angle they are pointed and clean the pans or replace and then push the elements back in.