How to Clean a Dutch Oven after Use

It is easy to keep a dutch oven clean. Water is an ovens enemy. They do rust. So after you cure it as outlined in my other article, it should be cleaned after use.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   There are different ways to clean a Dutch Oven. The easiest start is simply turn it upside down over the fire and burn the residual food out. Then after it cools wipe it out with a clean dry cloth. If seasoned properly this may be all that is needed.

2. Dish soap and water are OK to use. If you use them you will need to dry it well and lightly oil the pan again before you store it.

3. Salt can be used as a mild scouring agent. Wipe out all the food you can. Dump some in the oven and scrub it around with paper towels. Rinse when it is clean and put on a thin coat of cooking oil before you put it away.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping your oven lightly oiled will give it a nice smooth shiny surface that is easy to clean.
• Water not quickly dried off is the ovens worst enemy. never let it sit with water. A one minute soak is OK if it is dried and oiled soon after.

[kcnkc]

on 4/1/2009 Some people choose not to use soap on any cast iron. The soap will get into the tiny crevices. You don't need soap if you use the cook off cleaning method above. The oven will get to a high enough temp to disinfect. If you are going to store your oven for a long time you might want to apply a coating of oil, putting it back on moderate heat to cook that into the oven, take it off, let it cool, then reapply another coat of oil.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 2/17/2009 Thanks for the great tips. If I get my Dutch Oven, this will be very useful. 5*

[iamageniuster]

on 10/15/2008 Good tips. Great article! Thanks for sharing.