Dutch ovens are usually made of cast iron and glazed with an enamel coating.To clean a dutch oven, use hot water, soap, and a scrub pad.Baking soda, a mineral abrasive cleaner, or a degreaser can be used for burnt-on stains.You should only use hot water if your dutch oven is raw cast iron.If you want to do more intensive cleaning, rub the pot with steel wool and scrub it with oil and salt.
Step 1: Stay away from steel wool.
After using a dutch oven, it's easy to clean it with soap and hot water.The most important rule to follow when using an abrasive scrub pad is to avoid steel wool and other metallic pads or brushes.Steel wool, wire brushes, and other metallic scrubbers can scratch or erode the coating.Nonmetal options include nylon.A Scotch-Brite Dobie Pad is great for cleaning cookware.
Step 2: The pot should be washed with dish soap, hot water, and a scrub pad.
When it is still hot, wash your dutch oven as soon as possible.Run hot water, add a few drops of dish soap, and scrub off food debris with a non-scratch pad.Dry the pot with a towel after rinsing away soap suds.
Step 3: If it is a little grimy, you should boil the water in the pot.
It is not so tough to break out the big guns when boiling water is used.Place the pot on the burner and let the water boil for a few minutes.Put out the water with a wooden spatula and wash the pot with soap and hot water.If there were stubborn stains after the quick boiling water technique, you can try more intensive cleaning methods.
Step 4: The water and baking soda should be in the pot.
Bring your dutch oven to a boil by filling it halfway with water.When it starts to boil, slowly stir in baking soda, then lower the heat and let it boil for a few minutes.You can use a spoon or spatula.Baking soda should be used in a ratio of 2 to 1 for 1 US quart of water.Pour off the water and baking soda, then wash the pot with soap and hot water.You need to up your game with elbow grease and baking soda paste.
Step 5: Baking soda paste can be used to scrub stubborn stains.
Add a small amount of hot water and baking soda to form a thick paste.Place the paste on the sticky spots and let it sit for 30 minutes.The problem areas should be scrubbed with your non-scratch scrubbing pad.To check your work, rinse away the baking soda paste after scrubbing.If you still see stains, don't worry.There are many cleaning tricks that you can try.
Step 6: Baking soda won't work if you use a mineral abrasive cleanser.
Bar Keepers Friend or Bon Ami are abrasive cleaning powders that can be used after baking soda.To make a thick paste, mix 2 or 3 spoonfuls of cleaner with hot water.Use lots of elbow grease to scrub away the sticky bits.Wherever cleaning products are sold you can find cleaning powders like Bar Keepers Friend or Bon Ami.They should be carried by your local department store or grocery store.
Step 7: If your pot is still dirty, try a degreaser.
It's time to get serious if you have a major stain problem that survived baking soda and abrasive cleansers.There are a couple of degreaser options to choose from.Either spray the product onto the problem areas, scrub it with a nonmetal pad, then rinse it away with hot water.De-Solv-It is an eco-friendly degreaser.You won't have to wear gloves if you use a non-toxic degreaser.Not as powerful as heavy-duty cleaners, a non-toxic product should do the trick.Anything off of your pot can be removed by powerful, heavy-duty degreasers.They are toxic and not friendly with the environment.In a well-ventilated area, be sure to wear rubber kitchen gloves.
Step 8: If you have it, try it.
If you have ammonia for household cleaning, you can use it instead of going to the store.Dilute 2 to 3 quarts of ammonia with hot water at a 1 to 1 ratio.After scrubbing the problem spots, rinse the pot with hot water.Ammonia is toxic and not eco-friendly.Wear gloves while working in aventilated area.Toxic fumes can be produced when ammonia and bleach are mixed together.
Step 9: If the pot is discolored, soak it in a bleach solution.
If you scrub until your arm feels like it's falling off, you might find a burnt-on spot on your enamel.If you want your paint to last as long as possible, soak it overnight in a solution of bleach and water.After soaking the pot in bleach, wash it with soap and hot water.Dutch oven manufacturers recommend mixing a small amount of bleach with water.You can use a strong ratio of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water.If the bottom is stained, use enough solution to cover it.If the sides are discolored, fill the pot with enough solution to cover the stained area.Keep bleach away from ammonia.Before adding a bleach solution, rinse the pot thoroughly.
Step 10: The cast iron needs to be washed with hot water and a scrub brush.
You have to go through a seasoning process to use soap on cast iron.You can rinse the pot immediately with the hottest tap water.If it's necessary, use a nonmetal brush or pad.
Step 11: If you are concerned about germs, you should boil the water after brushing your teeth.
Some people worry about the safety of cast iron because they can't use dish soap.Germs shouldn't be a problem since you'll oil and heat the dutch oven after rinsing it.If you want to take an extra step, fill the pot with water, boil the water for at least a minute, then pour it out.
Step 12: The dutch oven needs to be dry.
Don't allow cast iron cookware to stay wet for extended periods of time.Immediately after rinsing it, you should completely dry your dutch oven with paper towels or a cast iron cloth.The seasoned coating on cast iron cookware will blacken the cloth you use to dry it.Instead of your best kitchen towels, use paper towels or a cast iron cloth.
Step 13: After each cleaning, lightly oil the surface.
Set the burner to medium-low and heat the pot until all the water has evaporated.Add a small amount of vegetable or flaxseed oil.Use paper towels to coat the inside of the pot with oil, then wipe the surface with oiled towels until it is black and smooth.It's the best choice for seasoning cast iron cookware.It is fine to use vegetable oil instead of a full re-seasoning since you are just giving the coating a quick touch up.
Step 14: Rub the pan lightly with fine steel wool.
You should not use steel wool for dirty pans.Fine steel wool, such as grade #0000, should be used.Rub the pan gently with a dry cloth to remove rust and gunk.When you have cleared away the rust or dirt, repeat scrubbing and wiping.
Step 15: Warm the pot on the stove for 5 minutes after coating it with oil.
The dutch oven should be placed on a burner set to medium-low.To coat the bottom when it is hot, add vegetable or flaxseed oil.After 5 minutes on the hot burner, turn off the stove.
Step 16: Coarse salt should be added to form a thin paste.
Put on a pair of clean work gloves after making a liquidy paste with salt and oil.To clean the inside of the oven, use a bunch of paper towels.As you scrub your dutch oven, use a potholder to hold the handle.
Step 17: You should heating and scrubbing your oven 3 to 5 times.
After the first scrub, the inside of the pot will absorb and distribute the oil.Add more oil to coat the bottom of the pot, then heat it until the oil smokes.Add more salt to make a paste, scrub the inside with paper towels, and repeat the process until the surface is slick and black.
Step 18: After rinsing and dry the pot, coat it with oil.
After scrubbing the pot, rinse it under hot water and then dry it with paper towels or a cast iron cloth.To evaporate the last bit of water, heat the pot on a burner set to medium-low.To absorb any excess oil, use paper towels to spread the oil and turn the burner off.