Topic
Care and repair
Most pan problems have a cheap fix: stains lift with a soak or a mild cleanser, rust scrubs off before reseasoning, and stuck food usually means the heat was wrong. Chipped enamel inside a pot and a badly warped base are the usual signs it is time to replace it.
- Rust on iron
- scrub, dry, reseason
- Chipped enamel inside
- check the maker's warranty
Stainless stains and rainbow tint come off with a paste cleanser made for stainless steel. Enamel discoloring lifts with a soak and a gentle cleaner; avoid steel wool on enamel.
Rust on cast iron or carbon steel scrubs away with steel wool. Wash, dry over heat and apply a thin coat of oil, then bake or heat it in.
A pan that rocks on a flat surface heats unevenly and is a poor match for induction and glass tops. Many premium makers cover enamel defects and warping under warranty, so check before you replace.
Common mistakes
- Using steel wool or harsh scouring powder on enamel.
- Cooling a hot pan under cold water.
- Throwing out a rusty iron pan that only needs reseasoning.
Pages on this topic
- How to restore a rusty cast iron Dutch ovenHow to remove rust from a bare cast iron Dutch oven, reseason it so it lasts, and deal with rust on the exposed rim of an enameled pot.Fix
- Can you put Le Creuset, All-Clad and Staub in the dishwasherCan Le Creuset, All-Clad and Staub go in the dishwasher? What maker care guides generally say for each material, and why hand washing still wins.Explainer
- How to store heavy cookware without chips and scratchesHow to store pots and pans, including Le Creuset and other heavy cookware: pan protectors, lid storage, hanging racks and shelf weight limits.How-to
- How to clean a Le Creuset Dutch ovenHow to clean a Le Creuset Dutch oven: everyday washing, soaking, a baking soda simmer for burnt bottoms, lifting stains from the interior, and what to avoid.How-to
- Warped pan: why it happens and whether it can be fixedWhy stainless, aluminum and carbon steel pans warp, how a warped base affects induction and glass tops, flattening attempts, and when to replace the pan.Fix
- Why your enameled Dutch oven is turning brownWhy the inside of an enameled Dutch oven turns brown, from polymerized oil to food stains, and how to lift the stains without damaging the enamel.Fix
- Do enameled Dutch ovens need seasoningLe Creuset and other enameled Dutch ovens do not need seasoning. Why enamel needs none, and how to care for the bare cast iron rim that can rust.Explainer
- How to clean and polish copper cookwareHow to clean copper pots, polish copper cookware or keep a patina, care for tin and stainless linings, and spot when a tin lining needs retinning.How-to
- Chipped enamel on a Dutch oven: is it still usableChipped enamel on a Dutch oven: when an exterior or rim chip is fine, why interior chips matter, enamel repair kits, warranty claims and how to prevent more.Fix