Le Creuset How To Clean Burnt On Food

Cast iron pots, also known as Dutch ovens, are a great investment for your kitchen. Though they're versatile for cooking a wide range of meals, they're particularly great for making winter casseroles and stews.

The downside is that it's very easy to burn food onto the bottom of your pot, and very hard to clean it off without damaging the enamel. We consulted the experts to solve this common cleaning conundrum and get your Dutch oven clean in no time.

General cleaning for enamelled cast iron pots

Always allow your cast iron pot to cool completely before cleaning.

Although many enamelled cast iron pots are dishwasher-safe, regular cleaning in the dishwasher can dull the enamel over time, so washing by hand with warm soapy water is recommended.

Don't use metal scrubbing pads or scrapers as these can mark or dull the enamel. Nylon scourers or brushes are less abrasive and can be used when a bit of extra elbow grease is required.

Cleaning baked on deposits

Fill your pot with warm soapy water and leave to soak for anything from a few minutes to overnight to help loosen baked on foods and make cleaning easier.

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How to clean badly burnt pots

It only takes a small distraction and before you know it, your food has burnt on to the bottom of the pan. But don't start attacking that black burnt on stain with every kitchen implement you can find in an effort to scrape it off, otherwise you'll damage the enamel. This method works well and doesn't use any harsh chemicals, when we tried it out, we were impressed with how effective it was.

To your pot, add 1 tsp washing up liquid, 2-3 tbsp bicarbonate of soda and fill half way with warm water.
Place on the hob, bring to a simmer and continue to simmer for 8-10 minutes, then use a plastic spatula to ease off any burnt food.
Allow the water to cool a little before tipping most of it away.
Once the remaining water is cool enough, use a gentle nylon scourer to clean away any remaining residues.
For very bad burns it may be necessary to repeat this process.

For the outside of the pot or any areas above the water line, use the same bicarb and washing up liquid mixture to make a paste (add a few drops of water to help create a paste) and apply the paste to the areas that need cleaning and scrub gently with a sponge or nylon scourer. The burnt residues will start to clean away quite quickly.

Alternatively, there are specific products for cleaning cast iron like this one from Le Creuset, which has been specially developed to remove food deposits including charred food, whilst also preserving the shine on the enamel.

Green cleaners our experts love

Dri Pak Bicarbonate of Soda, Pack of 6

Dri Pak amazon.co.uk

£8.99

DriPak Soda Crystals, Pack of 6

Dri Pak amazon.co.uk

£11.98

Wilko Original White Vinegar Spray

Lazy Lemon Juice for cleaning, 1 litre

Lazy Lemon amazon.co.uk

£5.60

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