You May Want To Avoid Putting Your Dutch Oven In The Dishwasher
Dutch ovens are one of the most hardworking pieces of cookware in any kitchen. Whether it's showing up as the MVP on pasta night, simmering a creamy chicken and wild rice soup, or being the "one-pot" in a one-pot goulash recipe, dutch ovens are a great vessel to simplify any culinary adventure.
Good Housekeeping explains that dutch ovens are the height of simplistic design. They are essentially just heavy, often enameled, pots with lids. What makes them stand out though is their ability to retain and distribute heat. This makes it great for browning meats, and caramelizing vegetables, but is also just as adept at gently simmering sauces and soups.
Famed dutch oven manufacturer Le Creuset even says that its products are so effective at maintaining their heat that they should only be used on medium or low stovetop settings. Using them at a higher temperature is more likely to burn your food, and possibly your precious dutch oven, than anything else.
If you've ever had burnt food stuck to the bottom of your dutch oven, you may have put it in the dishwasher in hope of an easy solution. Just because your dutch oven is dishwasher safe though, doesn't mean the dishwasher is the best way to get it clean.
Why you shouldn't put your dutch oven in the dishwasher
Just because your dutch oven (or any other appliance or cookware for that matter) says it's dishwasher-safe, it doesn't mean that you should necessarily be putting it in the dishwasher. Le Creuset points out that while its dutch ovens are dishwasher safe, they still recommend hand washing.
Dishwasher manufacturer Whirlpool claims that items like dutch ovens — specifically enameled cast iron dutch ovens — should never be put in a dishwasher because the high heat and water pressure can cause serious damage. The enamel that covers most dutch ovens can easily be chipped by these factors after multiple washes. Cook's Illustrated claims that chipped enamel cookware is still safe to use, but it certainly ruins the appearance of our favorite cookware.
Instead of taking the risk with the dishwasher, and ruining the quality of your enameled dutch oven to save some time, here are some simple tips to make cleaning your dutch oven a breeze.
How to properly clean your dutch oven
There's no need to panic if you've got bits of food burnt onto your enameled dutch oven, or if that original finish is just starting to look a little dull. A good handwashing (and minimal elbow grease) with some common household cleaners is all it takes to get it looking good as new again.
The easiest way to clean burnt-on food from a dutch oven is to use a bit of kosher salt with warm water to give it a deep scrub. Once any burnt food particles are removed, Brit + Co recommends using a baking soda paste to remove any discoloration or dullness on the enamel. Applying just enough water to baking soda to make a paste, and leaving it to rest on dull spots of the enamel for up to an hour will make scrubbing the stains away an easy task. It can be used on either the outside or inside of the dutch oven as well to keep it looking as fresh and new as the day it was purchased. You can also apply the baking soda paste, and then spray each stain with white vinegar to help easily lift cooked-on oils.
Le Creuset also recommends using soft, nylon-based scrubs and sponges when cleaning the enamel. Just like the harsh environment of the dishwasher can damage the surface, metal or wire cleaners can leave scratches and marks as well.