While enameled cast iron makes for easier maintenance than its unfinished counterpart, it's equally important to take care to clean it carefully. Our guide covers everything you need to keep your enameled cast iron skillet, saucepan, or Dutch oven looking&#;and performing at&#;its absolute best.
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The enameled surface of enameled cast iron prevents rust, allows you to use acidic ingredients without stripping, and makes cleaning a Dutch oven (or skillet) a whole lot simpler than if it were unfinished cast iron. This is the main difference between enameled and unfinished cast iron&#;whether the surface is enameled or not. While unfinished (or "raw") cast iron is porous and requires seasoning to develop a non stick cooking surface, enameled cast iron has a smooth, finished surface that doesn't require the same level of care as unfinished.
Similar to cleaning non stick cookware, the process for cleaning enameled cast iron cookware depends on how dirty it is. From stuck-on food to scorched enamel, here&#;s how to tackle each type of mess.
If you&#;re using your enameled cast iron skillet, saucepan, or Dutch oven for mainstays like stews, soups, or braises, your pot or pan likely isn&#;t getting very dirty&#;at most, you might be left with some stuck-on residue.
To clean, you&#;ll need to grab some dish soap, a sponge with an abrasive side, and dish soap or a specialized ceramic cleaner (powder or liquid both work here).
Step 1: Cool It Off
Allow your pan to cool thoroughly before cleaning. Just like a stainless or non stick skillet, any sudden temperature change can result in thermal shock, which could damage your cookware.
Step 2: Scrub
Once your pan has cooled, scrub with a soapy sponge and warm water, using the abrasive side to remove any stubborn bits. Make sure to scrub the outside of your pot or pan to prevent the enamel from staining.
Step 3: Soak
If you can still see stuck-on bits of food, leave the pan to soak with warm water and dish soap for a few minutes before scrubbing again. If this still doesn&#;t work, try sprinkling a small amount of cleaner onto the residue, then rubbing it in with the non-abrasive side of your sponge before rinsing. Dry thoroughly before putting away.
Like any well-loved pot or pan, your enameled cast iron cookware is eventually going to develop some slight discoloration, usually a brownish stain that can range from barely-there to prominent.
While it may look permanent, we promise it&#;s not, and it&#;s simple to remove&#;all you&#;ll need is a sponge with an abrasive side, liquid or powdered cleaner, and some dish soap.
Step 1: Wash With Soapy Water
Give your pan a thorough scrub with warm, soapy water to try and lift some of the discoloration, then rinse.
Step 2: Scrub Well
Same as when cleaning a Level One mess, you&#;ll want to sprinkle a small amount of cleaner onto the discolored area, rubbing it in with the non-abrasive side of your sponge before rinsing.
If a stain seems permanently baked on on after a Dutch oven deep-fry session, even after soaking with warm water, you may be dealing with polymerized oil&#;essentially a layer of seasoning that&#;s molecularly bonded to your pan. This is much harder to remove with just soap and water, and calls for a more intense cleaning method.
Step 1: Simmer With Baking Soda
Fill your pot or pan with enough water to cover all of the burnt residue, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda (roughly two tablespoons for every four cups of water) and stir gently with a wooden spoon or other non-abrasive utensil.
Step 2: Scrape and Scrub
Once boiling, gently and repeatedly scrape the burnt parts with your utensil until you&#;ve gotten all or most of the residue off. If there are any remaining bits, allow your pan to cool before scrubbing once more with soap and water. Repeat as many times as necessary to remove the burnt residue.
Knowing how to clean your Enameled Cast Iron Cookware is only half the battle. To keep your pot or pan in excellent working condition, keep these tips in mind while using it.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Easy Cleaning Enamel Cast Iron Pots And Pans.
Avoid using sharp metal utensils or steel wool on enameled cast iron, as this will scratch the glaze and damage the smooth surface. Instead, reach for a silicone or wooden utensil to stir, and a standard dish sponge to clean (the abrasive side of a sponge is fine, just be gentle).
As with non stick cookware, don't heat up enameled cast iron cookware without anything in it&#;this can damage the glaze and cause scorching or burning. Always add water or fat to your pan before heating on the stove or in the oven.
Make sure to wash enameled cast iron cookware by hand, as running it through the dishwasher can cause the enamel to wear out prematurely. Scrubbing with a sponge and dish soap should be enough to get rid of most messes&#;and if not, you&#;re now equipped with the knowledge to get rid of the rest.
Now that you&#;re an expert on cleaning and maintaining these workhorse pots and pans, it&#;s time to get to the fun part&#;all the incredible recipes you&#;ll be making in your well-maintained cookware. With hand enameling and French construction, our Enameled Cast Iron Cookware is as beautiful to look at as it is versatile to cook with. Add a piece (or two) to your collection today to see the difference this material can make in your kitchen.
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron is cast iron with a smooth porcelain surface bonded to the iron. Enamel is resistant against acidic and alkaline foods and can be used to marinate, cook, and refrigerate.
Stains are to be expected when you use enameled cookware and does not affect performance.
To remove slight stains:
Lodge Enamel Cleaner
or another ceramic cleaner according to directions on the bottle.For persistent stains:
pan scraper
to loosen the food.
If rust develops around the rim, it may be that the pan has been in a damp area. Leaving pans on a draining board to drip dry or cleaning in the dishwasher can cause a rust deposit. Rust can also form if the rim of the pan is not dried sufficiently after being washed. Should rust develop, we recommend cleaning with a nylon sponge and dish detergent and dry thoroughly. We recommend rubbing a small amount of cooking oil around the rim to create a seal and prevent rust from re-appearing. We recommend rubbing with oil periodically to prevent rusting.
To remove stubborn baked-on food, boil 2 cups of water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Boil for a few minutes, then use a pan scraper to loosen the food.
We do not recommend preheating an empty piece of enameled cast iron on the stovetop as it could damage the enamel coating. Instead, make sure the cookware has water or oil inside it to distribute heat evenly, and be sure to start with low heat while the vessel is getting warmed up.
It is perfectly safe to preheat empty enameled cast iron in the oven since the heat will be more consistently distributed across the entire cooking vessel.
Care for your skillet or grill pan just like you would care for an enameled dutch oven. Even though the interior looks similar to a classic cast iron pan, the enamel cooking surface doesn&#;t require any seasoning. To prevent sticking, just add a little bit of oil to the surface before cooking.
For more information, please visit Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven.