Maybe this should be in the DIY forum? Ah well. I burnt the bottom of my Le Creuset enameled saucepan when making sweet and sour pickle with sugar and vinegar. I forgot to turn the heat off. Old age! I've tried the Googled methods. Boiling water and vinegar. Baking soda paste, etc., to no avail. Burnt still hard as a rock! Any suggestions.

I don't have an answer, but I do have a warning:

The same thing happened to me (Le Creuset casserole) and, eventually, I used an abrasive pad (steel wool) to get it clean. It came up looking ok, but completely ruined. Everything sticks and burns.

Now I can only use it for baking bread, lined with baking paper.

31 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Baking soda paste, etc., to no avail. Burnt still hard as a rock! Any suggestions.

Soak in hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate overnight then heat the pan on a medium low setting with the concoction in the pan for a half hour or so then use a wooden spatula and hack at it while it’s heating, it may take a couple few times of rise and repeat, be patient.

As we also have 2 Le Creuset pans (over 20 years old) and use them 2 x per week I tried also to get the info.

Of course, never scratch with metal items (yes you know that for sure...)

No.1

Try it first with oven spray over night. Pack it in a plastic bag. Repeat as often as burnt material comes off when rinsing.

You can also gently heat it in the oven (50°C) if you have one (not on the stove!)

No.2

What you can try is water covered bottom, 4 tablespoons of laundry detergent powder, cover and bring it to just to the simmering point. Open the window or better the outdoor kitchen.

Turn heat off, let it cool down and clean again.

Repeat...

15 minutes ago, Schoggibueb said:

As we also have 2 Le Creuset pans (over 20 years old) and use them 2 x per week I tried also to get the info.

Of course, never scratch with metal items (yes you know that for sure...)

No.1

Try it first with oven spray over night. Pack it in a plastic bag. Repeat as often as burnt material comes off when rinsing.

You can also gently heat it in the oven (50°C) if you have one (not on the stove!)

No.2

What you can try is water covered bottom, 4 tablespoons of laundry detergent powder, cover and bring it to just to the simmering point. Open the window or better the outdoor kitchen.

Turn heat off, let it cool down and clean again.

Repeat...

Thank you.

6 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Thank you.

Le Creuset also seems to have a paste as a solution, but let me know if you could solve the problem with any suggetion above - you have now quite a few different solutions :-)

Just now, Gandtee said:

Thank you.

Just now, Gandtee said:

Thank you.

I bought these as a set of five, complete with the hanging case, for my wife in England in 1966. Sadly, she passed away in 1982. They still get used. I could kick myself for allowing this one to burn. Thanks for the tip. I'll post if I have any success.

39 minutes ago, Schoggibueb said:

Try it first with oven spray over night.

Personally wouldn’t use caustic chemicals on this enamel, especially if there’s any scratches, it could also dull the shine which is part of keeping it slick. Have had burnt in le creuset enamel and only ever used non caustic and non abrasive with success.

22 minutes ago, novacova said:

Personally wouldn’t use caustic chemicals on this enamel, especially if there’s any scratches, it could also dull the shine which is part of keeping it slick. Have had burnt in le creuset enamel and only ever used non caustic and non abrasive with success.

I my oppinion - as long as the enamel isn't damaged - oven spray won't harm it.

But I'm not a specialist in this case...

10 hours ago, novacova said:

Soak in hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate overnight then heat the pan on a medium low setting with the concoction in the pan for a half hour or so then use a wooden spatula and hack at it while it’s heating, it may take a couple few times of rise and repeat, be patient.

Caustic soda is hydrogen peroxide which would kill the surface, ok on steel but not a coated surface

12 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Caustic soda is hydrogen peroxide which would kill the surface, ok on steel but not a coated surface

Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) is an alkali and totally different from hydrogen peroxide, a mild acid.

5 minutes ago, treetops said:

Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) is an alkali and totally different from hydrogen peroxide, a mild acid.

Correct, i knew that, had a brain freeze. Caustic soda is great for steel

To those who gave me advice on my burnt saucepan. I tried all the recommendations. Baking soda. Vinegar. Mr. Muscle. Soaking in Mr. Muscle did help. But I finally resorted to Oven Spray. After a couple of applications. It worked, but with a few spots of removed enamel apparent. I think I can live with that by just being careful with what I use the saucepan for. Thank you all for the advice. The most frustrating part was trying to get the Large? Household rubber gloves on.

Edited July 20Jul 20 by Gandtee
Additional words

4 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

To those who gave me advice on my burnt saucepan. I tried all the recommendations. Baking soda. Vinegar. Mr. Muscle. Soaking in Mr. Muscle did help. But I finally resorted to Oven Spray. After a couple of applications. It worked, but with a few spots of removed enamel apparent. I think I can live with that by just being careful with what I use the saucepan for. Thank you all for the advice.

Thank you for your feedback.

And for going through all these different tests. 🧐

2 hours ago, Schoggibueb said:

Thank you for your feedback.

And for going through all these different tests. 🧐

Unfortunately, that means...nothing really works! One you've removed patches of enamel, the cast iron inside will rust. I owned a Victoria bathtub that did this. There's nothing that will restore that enamel.

57 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Unfortunately, that means...nothing really works! One you've removed patches of enamel, the cast iron inside will rust. I owned a Victoria bathtub that did this. There's nothing that will restore that enamel.

I understand. But I doubt rust will be a problem. Its not a bathtub. Things like milk and the like may catch, but I can deal with that. It's sixty years old. And like me at ninety-two, old but still good for some things.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Unfortunately, that means...nothing really works! One you've removed patches of enamel, the cast iron inside will rust. I owned a Victoria bathtub that did this. There's nothing that will restore that enamel.

Of course enamel can‘t be restored. That damage is not reversable.

In general we all don‘t know when the damage happened to the enamel coating. Was it during the „burn-in process“ with sugar and vinegar - or because of cleaning actions.

After cleaning with soap and water and dried, apply a timy bit oil onto the cast iron spots. You can then wipe the oil off with household paper.

Last but not least:

Iron cast doesen‘t just rust away if you take a minimum care.

Cast iron pans in general hold for generations if you don‘t let them rust away. No rust ever. Only a patina getting better.

We have both, Creuset and iron pans (and heaps of old WMF…).

They all will still exist when my wife and myself are dirt and dust.

32 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

I understand. But I doubt rust will be a problem. Its not a bathtub. Things like milk and the like may catch, but I can deal with that. It's sixty years old. And like me at ninety-two, old but still good for some things.

That, Sir, is a beautiful set. I hope you have a wonderful cook to leave it to. All the best.