Explore hundreds of top quick, delicious and easy recipes at ninerecipes.com

How to Clean a Dutch Oven

Is your beloved Le Creuset dutch oven stained from all the searing, browning, stewing and braising? Letโ€™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 Iโ€™ve been braising stews and roasts all winter long?

And it brings such a satisfaction to finally clean it and bring that โ€œnakedโ€ look back.

Luckily, it takes very little elbow grease and simple ingredients that you probably have on hand. And for the record, thisโ€™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.

How to Clean Enameled Dutch Oven 5

WHAT YOUโ€™LL NEED TO CLEAN YOUR DUTCH OVEN?

  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Sponge and/or scrubber

Instructions:

  1. Now if your stains are light, you can cover the area with a baking soda and add a little water to create a paste.
  2. Let it sit for 30-60 minutes and wash it with a sponge. Everything will wipe away revealing beautiful clean surface.
how to clean your dutch oven 1

However, if your pot has heavy built-on stains, weโ€™ll need an extra step.

  1. Instead of making a paste, weโ€™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.
  2. Once cooled, wash it with a sponge.
  3. 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, itโ€™s not advised to use abrasive scrubber, but Iโ€™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!

author-sign