Help! Any idea how to clean the burned outside bottom of an enamel Dutch oven?

[Paper Roses]

Last edited Thu Dec 8, 2022, 07:12 PM - Edit history (1)

I lucked into a sale at a local thrift shop today and bought a Le Creuset 3 qt. Enamel Dutch oven. The inside was discolored but the outside base(bottom) is very scorched. The very base is Iron, not enamel. I've googled the heck out of this for an answer and nothing I find answers the question. All tell how to clean the inside.

Anyone have any ideas?

Edited to ask: The knob on the cover looks very much like plastic, it has the Le Creuset raised label. Is that safe to use in the oven or just as a stove top cover. Never had one of these pans so I'm not sure. Thanks.

[LakeArenal]

1. Easy off oven cleaner. Just the bottom

[Paper Roses]

4. Thanks for the hint. I have yellow top Easy Off.

I'll try it tomorrow.

[ratchiweenie]

8. Soak it overnight in pure ammonia. That will clean stove grills, pots, pans, oven racks. Almost

anything. It's cheap too. Also, if you have closed burner pans on a gas stove that have
baked on stuff, just pour ammonia in the pans and leave overnight. They wipe right out the next day.

It works like magic but it smells so bad. Crack a window.

[Paper Roses]

13. Hi, your suggestion worked perfectly.

The bottom of the Dutch oven looks like new. What a bargain I got. It was $24.99 but I hit a half price sale.
$12.50 for a pan that I never could afford. Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions. I tried the most simple one and it worked!

[LakeArenal]

14. Good job. Happy it worked.

[dweller]

2. Oven cleaner ?

The spray on kind . Just as you’d clean an oven with enamel sides, spray it, put it in oven upside down, and turn up the heat … follow instructions on the cleaner





✌🏻

[Beachnutt]

3. I cleaned the top of a stove around the burners

that my neighbor had with one of these on a drill and dawn soapy water

[Easterncedar]

5. Barkeepers Friend

Don't look at the ingredients - but it's pretty effective. I would myself first try sitting it in vinegar for a while, then hitting it with
a chainmail steel scrubber and baking soda.

[LakeArenal]

6. That's good stuff too Especially lime build up.

But for scorch I found Easy Off better.

[Scrivener7]

7. Try soaking it in Cascade dishwasher detergent and water for a couple of days.

It works on everything for me.

But I'll also second the Easy-Off.

[Kali]

9. I'm lazy

I wouldn't do anything.

[Major Nikon]

11. I'd convince myself it looks better that way

So I’d never have to do anything about it

[mitch96]

15. "it looks better that way" I think they call it "character"...😉...nt

[Botany]

10. #1 wire scouring pad and something like comet and water

#2 soak in vinger for a few days and then use a power drill with a wire wheel

#3 back into new vinger and let it soak for a few days

#4 dish soap and water and a scrub pad

[hippywife]

12. Re: your cover knob...

when I got an enameled cast iron DO to bake bread in, I replaced the knob with a ceramic cabinet knob to make sure it would be safe up to 500F.

I hope if you've used the oven cleaner for the DO, that you did so outside. That stuff can be pretty noxious even in a closed oven.