Rinse the pan with water and leave it wet. Sprinkle a tablespoon or so of Bar Keepers Friend on the bottom of the pan. Using a soft, damp sponge (no abrasives), scrub small areas in a circular motion.
Bar Keeper's Friend, or a paste of baking soda and water, is also a great option for keeping your cookware looking like new. Be sure to thoroughly dry enameled cast iron cookware after washing, and store in a dry cupboard away from steam and moisture.
I swear by Baking soda--it's the best cleaner in my kitchen. It's non-toxic, anti-bacterial, cheap, safe, VERY effective. I've even removed grape juice stains with it. It's all I've ever needed to use to clean those stains from my enamelled cast iron--and mine still looks like brand new--inside and out.
The only way you're going to damage the enamel is by percussion... hitting it with something hard that will chip it away from the cast iron (or drastic temperature changes, of course).
To remove those stubborn bits, boil 2 cups of water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda for a few minutes. Then use a pan scraper to loosen the food. Follow this process with a good cleaning with soap and a scrub brush.
Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven
Don't fill your cast-iron cookware with wine or vinegar. A splash for sauce or deglazing is OK, but tossing a significant amount straight into the pan undiluted will ruin your cookware, and your health.
Or you can also fill the pot with warm water and a tablespoon or two of baking soda, and bring the water to a simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Once the food residue has softened, cool and drain the liquid in the pot. Rinse and dry, and you should be good to go.
Recommended cleaning products for enameled cast iron
For stubborn stains or stuck-on food, a paste made from baking soda and water can be applied with a soft sponge in a circular motion, acting as a mild abrasive without damaging the enamel.
Cast iron is quite heavy in nature so a small knock can chip the enamel. Avoid using your oven as storage. Should you forget it's in there and turn your oven on a high heat, you will damage the enamel coating. After washing up your Dutch oven, dry it with either a tea towel or a paper towel.
While enamel is useful in that it eliminates the pitted surface of cast iron where food can more readily get trapped and stick, it is not inherently nonstick and does not build up a seasoning. So each time you cook, you'll need a sufficient amount of fat to avoid stuck-on messes.
Sprinkle about a tablespoon of Bar Keepers Friend on a small portion of the pan bottom. Using a damp sponge, get your elbow grease on and get scrubbing!
My foolproof method for cleaning my cast-iron kitchen sink is using Bar Keepers Friend with a Magic Eraser, which works every time. I've never met a scuff mark I couldn't beat.
Using soap will not ruin your pan. It is totally fine on enameled cast iron, and on plain cast iron, too. It's not going to destroy your seasoning. With enameled cast iron, you're done: Wash and dry.
we have a tip from a commenter that says: “Yes, you can use oven cleaner on the outside of your Le Creuset enameled cast iron without damaging the finish or color.”
No. Though Bar Keepers Friend can be used on a variety of hard, non-porous surfaces (like stainless steel, glass, and enamel), it will strip the coating on nonstick pots and pans. The same goes for cast iron without an enamel coating.
I Used Bar Keepers Friend to Clean My Enamel Tub — And You Have to See the After Photos. You could also use it on your enamel sink!
Don't use metal utensils.
And you definitely don't want to cut food within the cookware—save that for the cutting board. (It's also a good idea to not stack other pans on the enameled surface or it could damage the coating.)
Just like with traditional cast iron cookware, you should replace enameled cast iron cookware if any cracks appear. Enameled cookware is more likely to crack than traditional enamel from sudden temperature changes.
Fill your dutch oven with water and bring it to a boil. Then add a few big spoonfuls of baking soda (add them slowly as the baking soda will bubble up and foam). Let the mixture simmer on the stove as you use a wooden spoon to scrape up the blackened, burnt-on stains.
Did you know BKF is safe for enameled cast iron? 🧐 Take an example from Megan, who used our Soft Cleanser to clean up the burnt-on residue left on her.
Two words: heat & oil.
The most common reason food sticks to cast iron is because the pan is simply too hot.
Abrasive cleaners can damage certain surfaces. The Pink Stuff could scratch the shiny finishes of stainless steel kitchen appliances, plated metals, enamel, and finished flooring. “Avoid using it on anything that is delicate or anything that can be easily scored or scratched,” Dickerson says.
My favorite items for cleaning my Le Creuset is the “scrub daddy” sponge and even better for stains or grease is the “Mr. Clean magic eraser.” It works wonders with hot soapy water! You can also persevere the integrity of your Le Creuset by hand washing and drying immediately.
The Winning Method: Baking Soda and Water
The method: Add 4 cups of water to your pot and bring it to a boil on medium heat. Once the water is boiling, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and stir with a wooden spoon. Let the solution simmer for a few minutes, scraping the spoon across the bottom of the pan.