The present disclosure relates to high alkaline cleaners, cleaning systems and methods for removing polymerized zero trans fat soils. The high alkaline cleaner of the present invention generally includes one or more alkaline wetting and saponifying agent(s), a chelating/sequestering system and a surface modifying-threshold agent system. In various embodiments, the cleaners may include, at least one cleaning agent comprising a surfactant or surfactant system and/or a solvent or solvent system and/or a cleaning booster such as a peroxide or sulfite type additive. The cleaners may also include one or more components to modify the composition form and/or the application method in some embodiments. All components described above may also be optimized optionally, to provide emulsification of a composition (both as a usable product or a concentrate that can be diluted to form a usable product). The use of the high alkaline cleaner of the present invention has demonstrated enhanced cleaning characteristics especially at higher temperatures (100° F. to about 200° F.) but also shows enhanced cleaning at ambient temperatures.