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...