How should I clean this mess at the bottom of my wok?
I've been using my wok for about a year now, and recently it's developed a kind of patina around the bottom of the cooking surface.
I've tried to follow the care instructions as best I can, taking care to wipe it down after use, and only scrubbing it with cleaning fluid when it gets really dirty. If I have to scrub it down I typically wipe some oil over it whilst heating very gently in order to "re coat" the wok. I don't know if this is typical wok care procedure, but I'm following the care guide that came with this particular wok.
The wok is made of cast iron, and is sold by Le Creusset, information here.
The patina has gradually become more noticeable over time, but it is not flaky, cannot be removed easily by scrubbing and/or washing up liquid. It doesn't impart any kind of negative flavour into the cooking, so it hasn't put me off using it.
Does anyone know what this is, and how best to remove it?
Best Answer
A patina is expected in this type of cookware. Even the Le Creuset web site discusses it at this link:
http://www.lecreuset.co.uk/Help-Advice/Care--Use/Care--Use-Cast-Iron-Satin-Black-Enamel/
Don't try to remove it. It's the sign of a seasoned pan and is helping, not hurting.
If you really feel the need to try to remove it, Le Creuset makes a cleaner for their enamel cookware you could try. We've used it on our pots and it works quite well.
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/le-creuset-enameled-cast-iron-cookware-cleaner/s242309
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How do you clean the bottom of a wok?
Put your wok on a burner and heat over low heat until all of the water evaporates, about 1 minute. There may be a faint smell of the residue from the factory coating. Do not be alarmed if the metal changes color, darkens or even turns black. This is normal.How do you remove residue from a wok?
If you are sure that it is a patina, on the surface, and that the surface is not being damaged, you should be fine to cook on it. Perhaps you could carefully use a scotch-brite pad to remove the residue, but I would only do this if the pan were enamel coated, and still very carefully.How to clean a wok
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Answer 2
Some years back I cooked on a friend's Le Creusset but it had a teflon coating. Sure yours doesn't?
If it is bare metal then changes in color and carbon accumulation are normal especially in the area that receives highest heat.
Cleaning would be as per your wok/cast iron protocols -leave it hot and dry and lightly oiled- but looking new is not desirable.
So sorry, no advice how to remove marks but if you allow the wok to mature without aggressive scrubbing, it will eventually go nicely dark again (but never new looking)
Answer 3
I have one of these woks, the interior is black enamel. I'm sure a lot of people will be aghast at this solution but it works a charm.
I use Easy Off oven cleaner. Just spray it on and wait 1/2 hour or so, then use an old toothbrush to remove the buildup, and wash very well.
It will not harm the enamel. I use it on the outside too, to remove the baked on stuff. It will just take a couple of squirts, for your job. Comes out like new.
It will remove any seasoning. Not really necessary on enamel.
I have at least a dozen LC pieces and use this method all the time and have always had perfect results. Just clean very well, before use.
Answer 4
Its hard to tell from the picture, exactly what the surface of the wok is, and the website doesn't provide much help either. It seems that it is coated with something; Le Creusset seems to do enamel and teflon nonstick coatings. Both of these coatings are common and provide a nonstick effect, but neither work terribly well for high temperature stir-frying, which is traditionally done in an uncoated steel pan. If you are sure that it is a patina, on the surface, and that the surface is not being damaged, you should be fine to cook on it. Perhaps you could carefully use a scotch-brite pad to remove the residue, but I would only do this if the pan were enamel coated, and still very carefully. In fact, I would advise against trying to remove the residue, and instead remember to use a fairly liberal amount of oil, and to preheat the oil before adding food to the pan.
Traditional steel woks can, as mentioned, be cleaned with a harsh abrasive such as sand or a stone. I would not recommend treating your pan this way, however, unless you want to risk stripping the coating.
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