Le Creuset - can I rescue this pan?

[Tagyoureit]

I put this on the induction hob on high, put some oil in and it was left probably for the amount of time it takes to boil a kettle.... this happened and no it won't wash off.

DH has been scrubbing away over the past few days but it's just not lifting it all.

I have to admit that whilst this pot is my dear departed mum's and I've always coveted it, I do find it really crap to use, it's not the dream pot I thought.

But I would like to rescue it!

Any ideas?

I had one that I just worked away at with the green bit of a washing up sponge and bicarbonate of soda. It eventually came off....

Have you tried leaving it to soak with hot water and washing powder? Before scrubbing?

Cast iron pans shouldn't be heated up quickly (as you now know!). Put the oil in and heat on a low-medium heat and then fry when the oil gets to temp. Their forte is the fact that the iron gets hot very evenly and holds the temp well which means they're great for low slow cooking, they aren't frying pans, so you have to treat them differently when you're frying off ingredients

I would try an inch of hot water and a dishwasher tablet and leave to for a couple of days before scrubbing.

I've left it soaking with a dish washer tablet in then a layer of washing up liquid but I'll give it another go with bicarbonate of soda.

I put it in on the hob, turned the hob high then got distracted, but not for that long, and the next thing I knew, the oil was smoking so I pushed it to the back to let it cool down.

Bit I've always found food sticks more in this pan than my others, even my dad just admitted mum wasn't a big fan of it either.

Dishwasher tablet and water - I find it works better if you put the tablet on top of the gunge, or get some ceramic hob cleaner. I use Astonish which you can get from Home Bargains.
Or just leave it and carry on using the pan?

Would it be OK to just carry on using it then?

I've just sprinkled some bicarbonate of soda and washing up liquid on it so I'll let it soak whilst I crak on with the rest of the house then give it a scrub.

Thanks all!

I love my Le Creuset pans, wouldn’t be without them.

First try soaking. Cover the base with hot water, squeeze of washing up liquid, and leave to soak overnight. Then scrub with the green side of the sponge.

That should do the trick, but if it doesn’t then take some hot water, a good amount of bicarbonate of soda, and bring it to a boil. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, while working away gently at the bottom with a wooden spoon. Obviously don’t let the water boil off.

Cast iron pans are tough, you can’t ruin them. They just need some TLC every now and then

Me, I’d just use it. Does the stain matter?

Don't laugh at this suggestion but what I would try is a denture tablet (yep, one that you would soak a set of teeth overnight in a glass by the side of the bed). Teeth have enamel on them, so does your Le Creuset pan and you need to leave it to soak overnight with a denture tablet or two in the bottom with some hot water.

I can't tell if some of the enamel has worn away but if that is the case, it's probably beyond rescue.

Bring some water with a dishwasher tablet to the boil and then give it a stir, it'll come off like magic.

If not, contact le creuset (if it was bought post 2000) and they will replace it as they are guaranteed for life.

Oh OP. I empathise! I really don't like my le creuset for the same reason. I had such high hopes for it too. I am clearly not doing something right with mine because even when I do cook low and slow, I end up with the mother of sticky bottoms that also takes DH and some elbow grease to get rid of.

Edit: to answer your question, we've never found a good solution other than very illegally hacking away at it with a wire sponge

Another thing that might be useful:
https://www.lecreuset.ie/en_IE/c/kitchen-essentials/kitchen-tools-and-gadgets/cleaning--and-care

Try some Cif on it and use a gentle motion to try to remove any stains.

I might have dreamed this but don't le crueset have some sort of rescue service and will recondition the pots and pans for a small fee/free of charge?

I would try boiling it on the hob with a dishwasher tablet or bio laundry detergent for about 15 mins, then leave overnight.

They are very robust, it's not ruined at all.

Not anymore unfortunately

I'm a huge fan of their casserole dishes but hate the frying pans for this reason.

I'm not a patient cook but DD is and loves them, especially for sauces.

I've recently invested in a ninja frying pan.

I've used washing powder before - sprinkle some on with water to cover bottom of pan then boil for a while. The stain should lift off.

That’s baked on oil, not enamel damage.

Magic sponge will sort it

I have a very stained Le Creuset, whole base is brown, enamel worn away in places, still works great albeit less non stick than it was.

Put your pot on the hob, fill it one third of the way up with boiling water, add a couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda. Let it simmer for a few minutes and then use a wooden spoon to 'push' the burnt bits off.

You could also try a brillo pad, they're great for removing stains.

I think anything abrasive will make this worse - surely it's just a stain? You don't want to damage the enamel or scratch it. I'd just carry on using it regardless. My Le Creuset is quite stained generally just from many years of use but it makes no difference. I'm a big fan!

Do you have to season them? Can the non stick be replaced?

It's the big casserole pan, my dad got it in selfridges for my mum many, many years.

To be honest, I'm attached to it sentimentally more than anything else because it was my mums and she was such a good cook but it is a good pot for winter dinners.

It's currently soaking again so I'll leave it for now and then pay it some attention in the morning and try boiling up water and bicarbonate of soda gently!

I rescued mine with pink paste . Rub it gently though!

I do have that in the cupboard so I'll give that a go

I'm sure you can use bleach on it.