Use kitchen utensils made of wood, silicone, or heat-resistant plastic with your Staub cookware. These materials protect the glass-like enameled surface from scratches, chips, and dulling.
Avoid pointed and sharp utensils. Use kitchen utensils made of wood, silicone or plastic and do not cut directly in the pan or pot.
We recommend using kitchen utensils made of wood, plastic or silicone.
Always use wooden, silicone, or nylon utensils on enameled cast iron. These materials protect the delicate glass-like enamel coating from scratching and chipping.
Yes, Staub silicone utensils are highly safe to use. They are an excellent, non-toxic choice for your kitchen that won't scratch delicate nonstick coatings or Staub's famous enamel cast iron.
Silicone does not release microplastics, but it can shed microscopic silicone particles, often referred to as nanoplastics, especially when exposed to high heat or mechanical stress. However, these particles are considered chemically inert and non-toxic, and are much safer than traditional petroleum-based plastics.
No, Staub cookware does not leach heavy metals. Their enameled cast iron and ceramic pieces are rigorously tested and guaranteed by the manufacturer to be free of lead, cadmium, and other toxic heavy metals.
To protect your enameled cast iron from scratching, cracking, or dulling, avoid using metal utensils, abrasive scouring pads, aerosol cooking sprays, bleach, and harsh citrus or oven cleaners. Additionally, never plunge hot cookware into cold water, and avoid using it in the microwave.
The most important factor when choosing cooking utensils for cast iron is they must be able to withstand high temperatures. Wood, metal, and silicone are safe; plastic is not. At Field Company, we generally prefer using natural materials so we're going to focus on wood and metal (stainless steel).
Both are incredibly safe, non-toxic options, but they serve different dietary and lifestyle needs. Traditional cast iron is healthier if you want to naturally boost your dietary iron intake. Enameled cast iron is healthier and safer if you want to avoid chemical coatings while preventing metal leaching and rust.
Both Le Creuset and Staub produce world-class enameled cast iron. The right choice depends on your cooking style. Le Creuset excels if you prioritize a lighter weight, easy-to-read light interior, and larger handles. Staub is the better choice for superior meat searing and self-basting.
Cast iron skillets are nearly indestructible. The seasoning can almost always be stripped and restored, but you can permanently ruin the skillet itself by exposing it to extreme thermal shock that cracks or warps it, melting lead or chemicals in it, or letting it rust to the point of structural decay.
Yes, you can absolutely use Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) on Staub enameled cast iron. Both the powder and liquid/soft cleanser versions are safe to use on the interior and exterior to remove stubborn stains, baked-on oil, and heat haze.
Wooden Spoons
And for deglazing the pan, our Wood Scraping Spoon is the perfect tool for easily getting all the delicious little bits of fond quickly off the bottom of a Dutch Oven. Just take care to hand wash any wooden utensils to ensure a long life in your kitchen.
To remove burnt food from Staub enameled cast iron, boil a mixture of water and 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda for 10–20 minutes to lift grime, then scrape with a wooden or silicone spoon. For stubborn stains, create a paste of baking soda and water or use Bar Keepers Friend with a soft sponge.
Neither is universally better; the best choice depends entirely on your cookware and the task at hand.
Stainless steel is generally considered safe for cooking, even for those sensitive to these metals. Cooking with cast iron can increase iron intake, potentially benefiting iron-deficiency anemia. However, frying in cast iron can lead to the formation of trans fats.
Yes, silicone utensils can release tiny particles, though they are technically microscopic silicone particles rather than traditional petroleum-based microplastics. However, compared to conventional plastics, high-quality food-grade silicone is highly heat-stable and chemically inert, meaning it sheds significantly fewer particles under normal cooking conditions.
Yes, silicone utensils are an excellent and safe choice for cast iron. They will not scratch or damage the pan's protective seasoning layer, and high-quality silicone is highly heat-resistant.
What Not to Cook in a Cast-Iron Skillet
Enameled cookware and bakeware are completely free from microplastic concerns, making them far superior to non-stick coatings that can flake into food.
Yes, Dawn dish soap is perfectly safe for seasoned cast iron. The old rule about avoiding soap stems from decades ago when soaps contained harsh lye, which would strip a pan's seasoning. Modern dish soaps are mild enough to clean away food debris and surface oils without harming the protective layer.
Staub is better for premium quality, superior heat retention, and basting design, while Lodge is better for budget-friendly value and traditional seasoning. Staub features highly durable black matte enamel and tight-fitting moisture-retaining lids. Lodge offers heavy-duty bare cast iron (or affordable enamel), ideal for high-heat searing.
No, you should not use metal utensils on Staub cookware. While Staub pieces are made of cast iron, the entire interior and exterior are coated in a glass-like enamel. Metal tools can easily scratch, mark, or chip this delicate enamel surface.
Cast iron, carbon steel, and uncoated stainless steel are considered the least toxic cookware types. Because they contain no chemical coatings, they are completely free of PFAS, PTFE, lead, and cadmium. When cared for properly, cast iron and carbon steel even develop a naturally non-stick surface.