Any ideas for saving this casserole dish?

[AveAtqueVale]

Went out earlier and totally forgot I had mince simmering away on the hob. Came back an hour later to billows of acrid smoke and very pissed-off upstairs neighbours . Had to evacuate us (and the poor almost-asphyxiated cat) to my mother’s for a few hours to let the flat air out.

Anyhoo- we are back now and I’ve started trying to save my lovely iron casserole dish. It’s currently soaking in very hot water with masses of fairy liquid to try at least to soften the residue. Any further suggestions before I break out the bleach and wire wool?

Well if personally throw it ojt
But if not soak overnight in a sink of hot water and bio washing powder

Hmm actually not sure what that'll do to iron. Maybe not a good suggestion!

Tbh it can’t get it into a worse state than it is! I’m willing to try anything as otherwise it’ll definitely get chucked, so if I accidentally ruin it in the process it’s no great loss!

Bio washing powder overnight, a green scourer rather than wire wool, and lots of patience. I've done similar to my le creuset-style casserole no end of times due to having shit for brains and getting sidetracked by work while something's cooking, and it's still with me after 13 years.

Brillo pads are pretty amazing, and Cif cream cleaner too!

Bio washing powder with boiling water overnight, then elbow grease and a scourer. Should be fine then!

If it is cast iron I would be amazed if it wasn't salvageable.

Fill it with boiling water and a dishwasher tablet then keep on a rolling boil for a good twenty minutes or so. You will probably have to repeat it a few times but it will hopefully get you to a position where elbow grease will get the rest off.

Bio washing powder: soak overnight , rinse scrub and repeat for s few days.
As long as it is just burnt on food and the pot is still intact you will eventually get there.

Mr Muscle Oven cleaner

There is something really clever you can do involving bicarb and vinegar. It worked wonders on our Le Creuset after an apple-related incident and the pan was totally black and crusted on. Google it as I can't quite remember the details but it involves heating the vinegar and bicarb until they're really fizzing, leaving it, and scraping. I think. The fumes might have gone to my head - had to do it three times but it did work!

When you get to the final bits, salt (the cheapest stuff around) is useful - chuck a ridiculous amount into the pan and use a damp non-stick scourer - it removes the last bits without scratching the surface.

Some oven cleaner mousse spray and cover leave an hour or so and repeat.
Clean out with hot soapy water then when all the residue has gone and the pot looks clean, you will need to clean it once more because of the chemical so dry pot and stir some table salt in there over a low heat for a few mins then top up with boiling water throw that out and pot should be ok to use again

Get off the dried on food with a wooden spoon. Then when you're left with the baked on stuff, Mr Muscle oven cleaner will be the easiest though bio w/powder will work eventually. With MM you probably won't need to scrub that hard.

Any joy?