Le Creuset Cookware Cleaning
- Always let a Le Creuset enameled, cast-iron pot cool completely before you wash it. Never fill a hot pot with cold water or stick it into a sink full of cold water, because extremes in temperature may cause the enamel to crack.
Le Creuset recommends that you hand-wash enameled cast iron in hot, soapy water, rinse it in warm water and then dry it before putting it away. Don't let it dry in the dish drainer, and don't put it away wet. You can wash the cookware in the dishwasher, but keep in mind that the enamel may get dull with constant exposure to dishwasher heat and detergents.
If the pot has food stuck to it, soak it for a few minutes in warm water, then use a scrubber sponge to clean it. Don't use an abrasive cleanser or a steel-wool pad, as these materials can scratch the enamel.
Try not to drop your Le Creuset enameled cast iron, or to hit it on any hard surface, as this can also crack the enamel. - Stoneware is a line of bakeware that's meant to be used in a conventional, convection or microwave oven. Before you wash it, make sure your stoneware is cool to the touch--otherwise, it may shatter. Hand wash the stoneware in hot, soapy water, rinse it and dry it before you put it away, or put it in the dishwasher if you prefer. Don't use harsh abrasives or steel wool pads to remove stuck-on food; instead, soak the bakeware for a bit, then scrub it with a nylon pad or a scrubber sponge.
- Le Creuset Tri-Ply stainless steel pots and pans include skillets, casseroles, sauce pans and non-stick products. Once they have cooled, you can hand wash these pans in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry them, or you can wash them in the dishwasher. To remove stuck-on food, soak the pan in warm water and use a scrubber sponge (not a steel-wool pad or abrasive cleaner) to get the food off.
Le Creuset makes its own cleanser for its stainless steel line that will remove limescale and hard-water marks. You can also use it to clean up pans that have become dull from being washed in the dishwasher. - Le Creuset's hard-forged anodized aluminum pots and pans have nonstick surfaces that require special care. Like other Le Creuset products, let these pots and pans cool before you wash them in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry them. If you wash this type of cookware repeatedly in the dishwasher, it will get darker and may develop a white, powdery look on the exterior; clean this residue off with a scrubber sponge and a little dishwashing soap.
Avoid using metal utensils, or scrubbing these pots with steel wool or abrasive cleansers, as you may scratch the non-stick surface. It's also possible to damage the nonstick surface by overheating the pot, which can cause the surface to peel off entirely.