The enamel coating is one of the wonderful coatings used for cookware. This kind of cookware is made with metal and covered with a porcelain coating. Enamel cookware is extremely durable because of the metal underneath.
With the regular use of time, the enamel of your cookware may be discolored, or it will get stained. It is a consequence of the fact How to clean discolored enamel cookware? When food burns, enamel cookware is comparatively easy to clean.
But if it is not cleaned appropriately, the cast iron gets rusted and damaged. Using household items and basic methods, you can make your enamel cookware look new again.
What is Enamel Cookware?
Enamel is a type of glass particle which is fused to an underlying layer by intense heat. The enamel cookware is made with mostly cast iron, aluminum steel, and enamel coating.
It is easy to use, safe and non-toxic. The enamel is created as a powder, and then it is poured, melted as a coating. It can prevent altering the flavor of your food.
Cleaning Procedure:
The enamel cookware is effortless to clean. Despite using chemicals, common household materials can clean this type of cookware nicely. Go forward to learn the process:
Boiling Water:
Speedily cleaning your cookware, you need to boil water on your cookware. Requires enough water to cover the surface. Let evaporate the boiling water, and it can loosen the food stains. But not well for rust. Keep the warm water overnight on this pan to eliminate the stains.
Baking Soda:
For discolored enamel cookware, baking soda is a magic solution. It is the most familiar and cheapest method to clean tough stains. But you have to give some effort to clean the stains from your cookware.
Two methods you can apply by using baking soda. First, heat some water on your enamel pot, then spread one or two tablespoons of baking soda on the stain based on the size of your pan. Let it sit down for one hour to work against the stain.
However, if the above method is not working, make a paste with water and baking soda. Apply it on your enamel cookware then scrub with a cloth.
This paste has an abrasive effect, so it can easily work on tough stains. You can add some salt to enhance abrasive quality. So, when your pan is sparkling again, then wash this cookware with water and dish soap.
Scrubbing:
For regular washing of any cookware, you need some scrubbing. Removing food residue, ordinary dirt, or simple stains stuck on the pan, use the gentle abrasive sponge that is not so rough.
It can not damage the enamel surface of your cookware. Instead of abrasive metal material, you can use wooden spoons.
The wooden material will not cause harm to the enamel. After washing with warm water, you can use a wooden spoon to remove stuck food residue.
Lemon Juice & Salt:
Some common household elements can remove the stains from enamel cookware. Boil some water with lemon juice to loosen the stains. If you don’t have lemon at home, you can use vinegar instead of lemon juice.
Apply coarse salt upon the affected area and squeeze half the lemon juice into the water. Make a thick paste and spread it on the stains. Use a rag cloth with this paste. Let the mixture sit down in the area for one or two hours.
When you have done to remove the stains, wash your pan in your regular cleaning method. If the stain is still noticeable, add more paste of lemon juice and salt. Then rinse with warm water.
Laundry Detergent:
Laundry detergent is another hack to clean discolored enamel cookware. First, remove all food residue from your pan. Then boil some water in this pan and mix one tablespoon of laundry detergent there.
Now, boil this mixture for two minutes and let it cool down. Surprisingly, the result is to come out and clean the pan as usual. Hopefully, your pan looks stunning by this method.
Abrasive Cleaners:
There are varieties of commercial cleaners available for enamel cookware. Some come in powder form, and some others come in cream format. Choose which one is suitable for your cookware.
But it would help if you avoided over-aggressive or high acidic cleaners that can affect the color of your cookware. Apply these abrasive products upon the stains and scrub with a wet cloth until the surface gets clear.
Once you have done this, rinse the pan with mild dish soap and warm water. Be aware that no residue remains on the cookware.
How To Restore Discolored Enamel Cookware?
Keep your enamel cookware in the best condition, wash soon when food is stuck on it. Use warm water and dish soap which is the most available in your kitchen.
If you do this, you need not scrub or scrape your cookware too much. Before cooking, spread some cooking oil or butter on the pan to avoid sticking food on the bottom.
How To Protect Enamel Cookware?
There are some mistakes we often make which can cause the discoloration of enameled cookware. When cooking, you need to avoid extreme heat or temperature change.
The material of enamel can not tolerate extreme heat shortly. It would be best if you heated in a medium way during cooking time. If you need extreme heat, increase it gradually.
Enamel may crack if you use high heat and then lower the heat. Avoid the enamel cookware filled with cold water just after cooking. Let it cool down before the cookware is washed. This way, you can prevent cracks.
If the surface starts cracking, it will damage the entire cookware soon. For protecting your enamel cookware from scratching, you should always avoid metal cleaning products. You should use a wood or silicone spoon which can not scratch accidentally on your cookware.
What To Avoid?
It would help if you learned some vital aspects when you want to clean enameled cookware. The manufacturer of cookware offers some important suggestions about their products.
- Never use a metal scrubber like a foil scrubber. It can damage your cookware.
- Abrasive sponge, steel wool, and rough scrubber also need to be ignored.
- Never leave your enamel cookware in the dishwasher, though some brands claim it’s safe.
- It would be best if you cleaned the enameled cookware by hand.
Final Words:
Anyone can feel affection with the elegant look of enamel cookware. So, discoloration of enameled cookware is not desirable to us. But food residue can stick anytime.
Do not think further. How to clean discolored enamel cookware is not a crisis to you at all. Try any of the following methods available on your hand. Keep your favorite enamel cookware stained-free and stay satisfied!
Hi. I’m Catherine C. Vestal, the founder of Needinhome.com and author of the series A Practical Guide To Home Improvement. On this site, you’ll find all sorts of home improvement advice on everything from lighting to flooring to kitchen remodels.
Along with building some practical knowledge, my goal is to inspire creativity in people who are looking for ways to make their homes feel like a place they can call their own – whether it’s an apartment or a house.