Dutch ovens are one of the most hardworking pieces of cookware in any kitchen. Whether its showing up as the MVP on pasta night, simmering a creamy chicken and wild rice soup, or being the “one-pot” in a one-pot goulash recipe, dutch ovens are a great vessel to simplify any culinary adventure.
Good Housekeeping explains that dutch ovens are the height of simplistic design. They are essentially just heavy, often enameled, pots with lids. What makes them stand out though is their ability to retain and distribute heat. This makes it great for browning meats, and caramelizing vegetables, but is also just as adept at gently simmering sauces and soups.
Famed dutch oven manufacturer Le Creuset even says that its products are so effective at maintaining their heat that they should only be used on medium or low stovetop settings. Using them at a higher temperature is more likely to burn your food, and possibly your precious dutch oven, than anything else.
If youve ever had burnt food stuck to the bottom of your dutch oven, you may have put it in the dishwasher in hope of an easy solution. Just because your dutch oven is dishwasher safe though, doesnt mean the dishwasher is the best way to get it clean.
It seems obvious for cast iron Dutch ovens since dishwashers use soap, but dishwashers are off limits for enameled Dutch ovens, too. They can take the dishwasher heat, but there is risk that the extended humidity of a dishwasher will wear down the enamel over time and increase the risk of chipping.
Why you shouldn’t put your dutch oven in the dishwasher
Just because your dutch oven (or any other appliance or cookware for that matter) says its dishwasher-safe, it doesnt mean that you should necessarily be putting it in the dishwasher. Le Creuset points out that while its dutch ovens are dishwasher safe, they still recommend hand washing.
Dishwasher manufacturer Whirlpool claims that items like dutch ovens — specifically enameled cast iron dutch ovens — should never be put in a dishwasher because the high heat and water pressure can cause serious damage. The enamel that covers most dutch ovens can easily be chipped by these factors after multiple washes. Cooks Illustrated claims that chipped enamel cookware is still safe to use, but it certainly ruins the appearance of our favorite cookware.
Instead of taking the risk with the dishwasher, and ruining the quality of your enameled dutch oven to save some time, here are some simple tips to make cleaning your dutch oven a breeze.
Can You Put Le Creuset In Dishwasher? 4 Superb Facts That You Should Know About It
FAQ
Is a Dutch oven dishwasher safe?
Can you put enameled cast iron in dishwasher?
Can a crockpot Dutch oven go in the dishwasher?
Can you put a Dutch oven in the dishwasher?
Le Creuset says you can clean your Dutch oven in the dishwasher, but you should know the following. Le Creuset also advises that to keep your enameled cast iron in pristine condition, washing by hand is the best way. Lodge Dutch Oven Dishwasher Safe?
Can you put a cast iron dutch oven in the dishwasher?
Yes and no to enamel cast iron Dutch ovens. They can go into the dishwasher, but the enamel will dull the enamel surface. According to manufacturers’ instructions, you can clean your enamel Dutch oven in the dishwasher. The dishwasher uses abrasive cleaners, which will, in time, dull the enamel on the oven.
How do you clean a cast iron dutch oven?
Lodge advises that you clean your enameled cast iron by hand with a non-citrus-based soap. Citrus-based cleaning products can make enamel dull. They also advise that although the dullness from cleaning in the dishwasher will not affect the performance of the Dutch oven, damage in this way is not covered by their warranty.
Do you use kosher salt to clean a Dutch oven?
Our former Tools Editor, Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm (who knows a lot about Dutch ovens ), uses kosher salt on a regular basis to clean her Dutch oven and all her other enameled cast iron cookware (like her braiser ). “I just sprinkle on the salt, add a little water, and scrub any burnt-on bits with a sponge,” she’s explained.