Is your beloved Le Creuset dutch oven stained from all the searing, browning, stewing and braising? Let’s bring the sparkling clean interior back with this super easy method! No overnight soaking, no boiling vinegar!
I know, I know. My Dutch oven looks horrific! Can you tell I’ve been braising stews and roasts all winter long?
And it brings such a satisfaction to finally clean it and bring that “naked” look back.
Luckily, it takes very little elbow grease and simple ingredients that you probably have on hand. And for the record, this’s not my everyday cleaning method. I usually thoroughly wash and clean my pot after every use with just a dish soap and sponge.
But every once in a while, I get stains build up over time. And do a deep clean like this maybe in once year or so.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO CLEAN YOUR DUTCH OVEN?
- Baking soda
- Water
- Sponge and/or scrubber
Instructions:
- Now if your stains are light, you can cover the area with a baking soda and add a little water to create a paste.
- Let it sit for 30-60 minutes and wash it with a sponge. Everything will wipe away revealing beautiful clean surface.
However, if your pot has heavy built-on stains, we’ll need an extra step.
- Instead of making a paste, we’ll add about an inch of water. Bring it a boil over medium heat and then simmer for a few minutes. And then turn off the heat and let it cool completely.
- Once cooled, wash it with a sponge.
- If you still have stubborn stain left, sprinkle more baking soda and a bit of water to make a paste and scrub it with a sponge or scrubber.
DISCLAIMER: I know, it’s not advised to use abrasive scrubber, but I’ve used it on my enameled dutch oven about 3 times total in 7 years of owning this pot. And I have no problem whatsoever!
Ta-da! Nice and clean Dutch oven ready to be used again for all the stews and pot roasts!
Got more pans to clean?
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Reader's Reviews
David Gwinn says
Has anyone used liquid bleach to help get stains out?
Bob G. says
Yes, bleach (diluted) works. I put about a cup to a pot filled to the rim and let it sit overnight. Be careful as the bleach water can whiten your clothes as well – don’t splash. Keeping the full pot flat in the bottom of the sink helps.
Vin says
Bleach is the only thing that seems to work well with little fuss. Dilute the bleach with water and fill the pot to cover any blemishes. I just leave it in for an hour or two. Sometimes, much less, as you can see the stains come right off. I have tried the boiling water and baking soda paste and found it didn’t work, and I was worried about using a scouring pad. Much easier to use the bleach blend.
Jill Lokay says
I did just what you and a bunch of other sites said to do with boiling water and baking soda. Only took out a small amount of color. Still looks awful. There are no names of my dutch oven so I don’t know if that is why it’s not coming clean but there are no cracks etc in the enamel.
Stacey Nicole Getchis says
This does not work.
Kevin Maguire says
I used fine wet and dry paper.i used it damp(wet but not soaking-rubbed gently and the muck formed a watery paste which may have actually helped-the enamel was thick enough to cope with this grinding( in my opinion) and my heavy enamelled pot is pretty much restored …
Wallace says
I have All-Clad SS cookware & several Le Creuset enameled cast iron pieces and use them all a lot.
When I bought a couple of All-Clad pans early on at Williams Sonoma, they recommended Bar Keepers soft cleaner. I was amazed at how thoroughly it took off all stains/discoloration and looked brand new! Except for the small scratches (patina) everything comes out with a little elbow grease.
I never use metal utensils or metal scrubbers on the Le Creuset, but there can be a build up when browning meat or caramalizing onions for French Onion soup, but letting the pot cool down before cleaning up, most of the buildup comes off and sometimes I have to let it soak with soapy water to get it cleaned up. Nevertheless, often a haze is left a Barkeepers Friend takes it right off!
I am not advertising or some fake news, it really does work beautifully.
Lorraine says
This is amazing! Thank you so much for the post – I use 4 dutch ovens twice a week for my sourdough, and they get grungy. I’m so happy to have found a cleaning method that is kind to my Le Creuset! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Lorraine says
I have photos but am unable to post. Perhaps busycooks can help out
Clint L says
Complete b.s. Doesn’t work. Don’t waste your time on this. I should have known better.
Wallace says
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you. With my first enameled cast iron (Le Creuset, Descoware, Cousances) pieces, I didn’t really know how to clean it, often trying to clean before it got cooled off and overusing one of those plastic scrubby things and I had marginal success and it built up. I called Le Creuset on the first one and they asked me to send it to them in SC for evaluation with my sales receipt. Two weeks later an identical French oven showed up at my door with their apologies. By this time I found out the proper cleaning method and I have a pristine pop pt that stay that way!
Maybe you should call Le Creuset customer service and speak with them?
Rebecca says
I have done this process multiple times and I cannot get the stains off. I do, however get baking soda all over my house because as it simmers it goes into the air and disperses. What am I doing wrong? And do you put the lid on when simmering? Thanks!
Shinee says
Hi, Rebecca! How much water are you adding to the pot? I’ve never had that happen, but I only add an inch-deep water. Are you filling the pot with too much water and soda? And how long are you simmering? I don’t put the lid on.
Sara Hazellief says
For really tough stains on my Le Creuset I’ve used a dawn and baking soda paste and let it sit overnight, it’s works really great. Bar Keepers friend too. I didn’t know about boiling baking soda in the pan, I’m definitely going to try that. Thanks!
R says
How do you get stubborn stains off the inside of the lid? Tried the baking soda paste and it didn’t work and I can’t boil the lid on the stove (although that did work for the pot itself). Thank you
Ellen says
I have found if you fill your stained Dutch oven about 1/3 full of water and add a Cascade dishwasher pod to the water. Set it on your stove top on low heat and let it simmer for 20-30 minutes. All will dissolve and make your pot look good as new.
Rebecca says
Please don’t do this. The chemicals in Cascade bake into the enamel and then get into your food. They are finding this is happening from all pod style detergents in the dishwasher as well. It might look clean but it is not worth what you are eating after.
Barbara says
How do I bring back the shine to my enameled pot? I did the 1/2” peroxide with baking soda.. bring to a boil and then shut off the burner. It did a great job cleaning the stains but the bottom of my Le Creuset pot is rough. Did not have that problem cleaning my Lodge enameled pot. Peroxide/baking soda worked perfectly
Robert T Gatesh says
I just use a mix of bleach and water 50/50. Fill up to the top of the stain, let sit overnight and rise the next morning.
Wallace says
Bar Keepers friend works better and no damage to the enamel. Scotch Brights ruined a friend’s Le Creuset!