How To Clean Enameled Cast Iron To Remove Stains And Stuck-On Food

Many of us have favorite cookware pieces we always reach for when making comfort foods and holiday recipes. For me, especially this time of year, it’s my Le Creuset Large Dutch Oven that I received as a Christmas gift a few years ago. Not only does it cook very evenly, but it also looks lovely and smells heavenly when a creamy tomato or broccoli-cheddar soup is simmering on the stovetop. As much as I love cooking in it, I've often wondered how to clean it properly. Typically, I hand wash, but I’ve questioned if placing it in the dishwasher would be a better option. Regardless, I know it’s important to keep it clean to keep the finish as perfect as the day I received the cookware. 

“Cleaning the enameled cast iron can help prevent it from chipping and make the equipment last a lot longer,” says Vera Stewart, Cookbook Author and Host of The VeryVera Show and Cookbook Author. 

Here’s What You Need: 

• Warm water
• Mild dish detergent soap
• A non-abrasive sponge or brush
• Silicone or plastic soft spatula 
• Drying dish towel or cloth
• Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser
• Coarse kosher salt
• Baking soda
• Paper towels

Before Getting Started

Certainly, there are some food items and recipes you want to avoid cooking in a cast-iron skillet. Enameled cast iron, however, is unique, and cooks are fond of it for its versatility, which is all the more reason to take care when cleaning it after cooking. Simply put, when it comes to enameled cast iron, it is best to hand wash after each use. Just ensure you have the essentials above on hand for when you begin cleaning it after use. 

How To Clean Enameled Cast Iron

When cleaning the enameled cast iron routinely after a cooking session or a recipe, remember a few important tips. First, avoid washing the enameled cast iron immediately after cooking in it. “Make sure you let it cool down to a temperature that you can handle without a cloth or glove,” Stewart explains.

Fill the pan with warm water and mild dish soap, allowing it to sit for 15-20 minutes. This allows time for the stuck pieces to absorb the water, soften, and become easier to loosen. Then begin washing. Use a non-abrasive sponge or brush to clean the surface and to loosen any stuck-on debris or food bits. 

Removing Stains And Stuck-On Food

Alas, we can commiserate about the frustration of stains and stuck on food. We love to cook our favorite casseroles and soups, but staining can inevitably occur and bits of food will become stuck. Avoid using any type of metal tool or spatula to scrape the surface. Metal can scratch or damage the enamel finish, leading to more damage. Soft silicone is always better for scraping stuck-on food; you won’t risk damaging the finish.

“For the tougher stains or those food bits that are stuck on, I’ll use some Bar Keepers Friend, but if I don’t have that handy, I’ll sprinkle a little baking soda and water on the skillet and scrape with a plastic scraper,” explains Stewart.

If you’re still having trouble loosening stuck-on food, another technique is to combine coarse kosher salt with lukewarm water and apply it to remove the residue.

For truly stubborn food on the surface, boil water in the pan, then repeat the paste method. Remember, too, that cleaning the enameled cast iron promptly after cooking and after it has cooled is essential. “Letting food sit on the skillet can lead to staining and make it harder to clean later,” says Stewart. 

How To Get Rid Of And Remove Smells From Enameled Cast Iron

Additionally, baking soda and warm water can alleviate cooking odors emitted from the cast iron.  Mix a paste and apply it, then wash away.

Another way to eliminate odors from cooking on the enameled cast iron is to boil water with lemon slices. This can break down any lingering smells that might still be on the cookware's surface. 

How Often Should I Clean My Enameled Cast Iron?

Thankfully, there's no need for yearly or monthly maintenance if you are routinely handwashing after cooking. “I clean my cast iron after every use by hand washing with some mild dish soap and a non-abrasive soft sponge,” Stewart says. If you’re adequately cleaning the cookware and wiping away any stuck-on food or stains each time you cook with it, then there’s no need to deeply clean the cookware.

If you’ve noticed stains over time, consider a deep clean along with other cookware. Doing a check-up once a year on all kitchen equipment can help ensure it works properly and is ready to go when needed. Follow the steps above to clean away stains on the enameled cast iron. 

Can I Use A Dishwasher To Clean Enameled Cast Iron?

Although many enameled cast-iron cookware pieces are labeled “dishwasher safe,” it is important to know that placing it in the dishwasher can cause some scratches and wear and tear of the enamel, especially if placed in a dishwasher multiple times. “I don’t put any of my pots/pans in the dishwasher, no matter if it tells me I can or not,” says Stewart. Placing cookware, utensils, pots, and pans in a dishwasher is convenient. Unfortunately, it’s just not as safe for them as handwashing. “Many times, dishwashers use more abrasive cleaning detergents, so I don’t take that chance,” she explains.

Although it takes more time and a little more work, handwashing the old-fashioned way is best to preserve the enameled finish of the cookware.

Note: for all the cooks who have helpers in the kitchen, communicate which items go in the dishwasher and which cookware pieces do not. There’s nothing worse than a nostalgic piece of cookware—even if placing it in the dishwasher was well-meaning—that is ruined by being loaded and washed in a dishwasher.