A shear thickening oven cleaning composition having a viscosity at room temperature at a shear rate of 2 radians/second for 30 seconds of about 1 to about 110 Pa.s and a viscosity at room temperature at a shear rate of 10 radians/second for 30 seconds of about 2 to about 190 Pa.s which comprises by weight percent of about 5 to about 50 of an alkali metal silicate; about 0.1 to about 25 of a cyclic nitrogen containing compound; about 0.01 to about 4.0 of an alkanolamine; about 0 to 15 of at least one surfactant and the balance being water.