How to Clean Le Creuset (Without Damaging the Enamel)

Le Creuset cookware is made to be used. I’m talking simmering pots of slow-cooked beef stew, Sunday roast chicken dinners, one-pot masterpieces, crusty loaves of homemade bread, and, occasionally, a little cooked-on food or staining left behind!

While many people freak out when they get their first stain, I’m here to set the record straight… That buildup and stains are normal, and really, it’s just a sign that your cookware is well-loved. I tell my customers at Martha’s that it’s all “love and flavor”.

So are you ready? Here’s how to clean Le Creuset (the right way!)

One of my favourite one-pot dinners, my Mexican pulled chicken, but look at those crusty burnt-on bits around the sides!

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For those who like to get into the nitty-gritty (and have a super clean-looking pot), the good news is that cleaning Le Creuset cookware is generally quite simple. Most of the time, warm soapy water and a soft sponge are all you need. For stubborn marks or built-up residue, a gentle soak or specialist enamel cookware cleaner can help restore the finish without damaging it.

I’ve cooked with Le Creuset for years, and while I’m quite happy for my cookware to look well-loved, every now and then it needs a little more than its usual wash. So I’m going to show you how I clean my Le Creuset cookware, including the results from using Le Creuset Cast Iron Cookware Cleaner on one of my own most-used pieces, my Le Creuset 24cm enamel Dutch oven in the color Meringue.

How to Clean Le Creuset After Everyday Cooking

For everyday cleaning, keep things super simple. Firstly, allow your cookware to cool completely before washing it. Adding cold water to a very hot Dutch oven may cause thermal shock, which can damage the enamel.

Once cool:

Fill the cookware with warm water and add a small amount of mild dishwashing liquid.
Wash using a soft sponge, dishcloth, or nylon cleaning brush.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Dry well before storing.

Avoid leaving your cookware wet or allowing water to sit around the rim. While the cooking surface is coated in enamel, some edges may be less heavily coated and can develop small rust marks if left damp. For most meals, this is all my Le Creuset cookware needs before it goes back into the cupboard, ready for its next outing.

How to Remove Stuck-On Food

If food is stuck to the base of your Dutch oven, resist the urge to reach for a metal scourer. Metal scourers belong in the garage, not in the kitchen! A little patience is much kinder to the enamel.

Fill the cooled pot with warm soapy water and leave it to soak for 15–20 minutes. The softened food can usually be removed with a non-scratch sponge or nylon brush.

For stubborn areas, use a silicone or wooden scraper to gently loosen the residue. Avoid metal utensils, steel wool, and abrasive scouring pads, as these may scratch or dull the enamel finish.

If food regularly sticks to your cookware, it may also be worth looking at your cooking temperature. Enameled cast iron retains heat extremely well and rarely (if ever!) needs high heat. Cooking too hot is one of the most common causes of food sticking or burning onto the base.

Patience Is Key!

I once burnt rice onto my 20cm enamel Dutch oven. It looked like a total throw-out job, but after a few days of soaking, simmering, re-soaking, and practicing having the patience of a saint, my pot was looking like new again.

How to Remove Stains

Over time, pale enamel interiors may develop brown marks, discolouration, or a dull film. These marks are often part of cooking with enamel cast iron and don’t necessarily mean the cookware is damaged.

For stubborn staining, I really recommend Le Creuset Cast Iron Cookware Cleaner. It’s what I use on all my enamel cast iron cookware, including non Le Creuset pieces like Chasseur and Staub.

The cookware had developed visible staining and cooked-on marks that weren’t coming away during its usual wash. I applied a small amount of cleaner to the enamel and gently worked it over the surface with a soft, damp cloth.

After cleaning, I rinsed the cookware thoroughly with warm water and dried it.

As you can see from the before-and-after photos, the cleaner made a significant difference to the enamel without needing aggressive scrubbing. It almost looks brand new again (This pot is 3 years old). It removed much of the built-up residue and restored the shine to the surface.

While I don’t use a specialist cleaner every time I wash my cookware, it’s useful to have on hand when regular dishwashing liquid isn’t quite enough. I usually do a deep clean of all my enamel cookware every 3 months or so.

How to Clean Burnt-On Food

For burnt or heavily stuck-on food, allow the cookware to cool before adding warm water and dishwashing liquid. Always leave it to soak until the residue begins to soften.

Avoid trying to scrape burnt food from the enamel while the cookware is still hot. Repeated soaking and gentle cleaning are much safer than aggressive scrubbing.

For particularly stubborn residue, add warm water and a small amount of baking soda to the pot. Allow it to soak before gently cleaning with a soft sponge. Baking soda is mildly abrasive, so avoid heavy scrubbing or using it as a dry scouring powder.

ENAMEL CAST IRON FAN?

If your idea of a good time involves a Dutch oven and a rainy afternoon, I think we’re going to get along just fine. Start with my Cast Iron Field Guide.

How to Clean the Outside of Le Creuset Cookware

The colourful exterior enamel can collect grease splatters, cooked-on residue, and marks from stovetop use, especially on lighter colored enamels like my meringue Dutch oven.

Wash the outside with warm soapy water and a non-scratch sponge. Pay a little extra attention around the handles and near the base, where grease can build up over time.

For stubborn exterior marks, use Le Creuset’s Pots and Pans cleaner or an enamel cookware cleaner and gently work it over the affected area. Avoid harsh abrasives or metal scourers, which will scratch or dull even that beautiful glossy enamel. It’s amazing what this stuff can do!

A Quick Note…

Don’t just think that the Le Creuset Pots and Pans cleaner is only good for your cookware. Some lighter-coloured dinnerware pieces can also get grey lines from use over time. Give them a good cleanup with the cast iron cleaner, and they’ll come away looking like new again!

How to Clean Black Satin Enamel

Not all Le Creuset cookware has a pale enamel interior. Skillets, grill pans, and some other pieces have a black satin enamel cooking surface. What’s the difference, you ask? Well, the black satin enamel is designed to develop a beautiful patina over time (a natural layer created by all those cooking oils and fats baking onto the pan). Over time, your pan will only get better and better, as creating a patina on a pan will help improve the overall use of your pan. Be patient with this one; it only gets better with age!

After cooking, allow the pan to cool before washing it with warm soapy water and a soft nylon brush or non-scratch sponge. There is no need to scrub the surface back to its original appearance after every use.

Can Le Creuset Go in the Dishwasher?

Most Le Creuset enamel cast iron cookware is dishwasher-safe. However, repeated dishwasher cleaning over a period of time can definitely dull the enamel finish.

I generally wash my Le Creuset cookware by hand. It only takes a few minutes and helps preserve the colour and shine of the enamel. There is one exception… Le Creuset cookware with wooden handles. Wood is not meant for the dishwasher, and all of these pieces should only be handwashed.

Want to know more? Check out this post: Can Le Creuset Go in the Dishwasher?

What Should You Not Use to Clean Le Creuset? (listen up!)

The list is long, my friends. I shudder every time I read a new “fail safe” method online! To protect and maintain the enamel surface, please don’t use:

Steel wool or metal scourers
Harsh abrasive cleaning powders
Oven cleaner
Metal utensils to scrape away food
Rough or heavily abrasive sponges
Cold water in hot cookware
Lemon juice and rock salt

Gentle cleaning may take a little longer, but it helps keep the enamel smooth and glossy for years of cooking.

FAQ’s

Some staining and discolouration are normal, particularly on cookware with pale enamel interiors. Staining does not necessarily affect cooking performance or mean that the enamel is damaged.

A small amount of baking soda can be used with water to help loosen stubborn residue. Avoid using dry baking soda as a scouring powder or scrubbing aggressively, as it is mildly abrasive and can scratch the enamel.

Brown marks are often caused by cooked-on oils, food residue or using heat that is too high. They are usually cosmetic and can often be reduced with soaking and gentle cleaning.

My Final Thoughts

Le Creuset cookware doesn’t need to look brand new to cook beautifully. A few marks are simply signs of good meals made, and of course, love and flavor.

For everyday cleaning, warm soapy water, a soft sponge, and a little patience are usually all you need. When stubborn stains begin to build up, an enamel cookware cleaner can help lift those stains and restore the surface without having to resort to harsh scrubbing. Remember, a little ongoing maintenance goes a long way!

Here’s to having your Le Creuset cast iron cookware for years, if not decades!