Vitreous Enamel

The inside of Le Creuset Saucepans, casserole dishes or Dutch ovens, and the roasting dishes, is coated in vitreous enamel that is applied as the finish to the cast iron. It is the vitreous enamel surface that your food is cooked on, and it is this vitreous enamel finish that gives Le Creuset Saucepans the time honoured non stick cooking surface that they are famous for. This vitreous enamel cooking is hard wearing in that it can last for many years as a first rate cooking surface for your Le Creuset saucepans. However, you should not think that this means it can be treated in any fashion and will last the distance. The fact is that while the vitreous enamel finish of Le Creuset Saucepans will last for many years, it does require looking after and you do need to make sure that it is treated well.

Caring for Vitreous Enamel Le Creuset Saucepans

To find out more about looking after the vitreous enamel finish on your Le Creuset saucepans you should read our page entitled Care for your Le Creuset, the link to which is on the left hand side of this page, and every other page of this site. However, it would not be wise to mention vitreous enamel and Le Creuset saucepans without some words of wisdom about what to avoid using on your cast iron Le Creuset saucepans with vitreous enamel finish. Most people that are thinking of getting Le Creuset saucepans are familiar with non stick finishes and the limits that these have in terms of what to use on them, and in general terms vitreous enamel is much the same. Do not use harsh abrasive cleaners and cleaning utensils, do not use metal spoons and spatulas in your Le Creuset saucepans, and avoid anything that could scratch the enamel finish in any way.

Damaged Vitreous Enamel

Here at Le Creuset Saucepans we get many enquiries from understandably distraught people who have damaged the vitreous enamel coating of their favorite saucepans. Most of these people ask us if they are able to have the vitreous enamel finish restored on their cast iron saucepan set. The answer to this is no, you cannot have this done and expect anything like the result you had with your original enamel finish on your Le Creuset saucepans. The vitreous enamel finish on your Le Creuset saucepans is applied when the iron is hot and being cast, and these conditions cannot be created again with the finished Le Creuset saucepans that you are seeking to have repaired or refurbished. Our advice to people that have contacted us when they have left their Le Creuset saucepans unattended on high heat and burned the vitreous enamel finish, or dropped their Le Creuset saucepans and chipped the vitreous enamel, that they should simply seek a Le Creuset saucepan of the relevant size, color and style to replace the damaged saucepan. It is sad but true, and don't forget those that have allowed others to use their Le Creuset saucepans to find that a steel implement has been used and there are now marks all over the vitreous enamel finish. Take care of the vitreous enamel and it will last a lifetime in your Le Creuset saucepans.