A quality piece of cookware like an enameled cast iron baker or Dutch oven is an investment that’s meant to last a lifetime in your kitchen. Good care and cleaning help keep these pieces looking great and ready to pass down to the next generation. Here are answers to a few common questions you might have when caring for your enameled cast iron cookware.
How Do I Clean Enameled Cast Iron?
- Let your cookware cool.
- Hand wash your enameled cast iron with warm soapy water and a nylon scrub brush.
- If the food is extra sticky, soak the pan in soapy water and use a nylon scraper to remove the residue.
- Dry it with a towel right away because the rim around the edge isn’t enameled and could rust if it’s left to air dry.
How Do I Maintain Enameled Cast Iron?
- Use it on any kitchen stovetops including induction. It’s also oven-safe to 500°F (260°C).
- Lift to move your enameled cast iron cookware. To prevent scratching ceramic or glass cooktops, or damaging your cookware bottoms, never slide enameled cast iron around.
- Preheat with a little butter, oil, or water each time you cook for easier cleanup later. Skip the nonstick cooking sprays. It can damage the coating and it’s difficult to clean.
- Use on low to medium heat. Cast iron has excellent heat retention and performs best when heated and cooled gradually. It rarely requires a high heat.
How to Handle Stains
Stains won’t affect your cookware’s performance, but you can reduce the look of light stains and marks with an enameled cast iron cleaner. Just follow the cleaner’s instructions. For tougher stains, wipe it down with a little warm vinegar.
Enameled Cast Iron Q & A
No need to season! The enamel finish lets you get cooking right away.
Use silicone and wooden utensils. Skip the metal utensils, handheld mixers, and metal beaters. They leave scratches and marks.
Enameled cast iron is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. Even when you use the dishwasher, hand-dry it after the wash cycle to prevent the outer rim from rusting. Then store your pan in a dry place.
Regular dishwashing can dull the enamel finish over time, but the fading isn’t harmful, and your cookware will still work great.
If the exposed cast iron rim develops some rust, lightly scour the affected area with steel wool. Then rinse, dry, and rub with vegetable oil.
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