Is it safe to use an enamel/cast iron Dutch oven with small cracks and worn enamel
I have a few-years old enamel/cast iron Dutch oven. I haven’t looked after it that well, and the inside is showing small cracks (crazing), and there is some grey discolouration which looks almost like the enamel is worn off in places. It isn’t chipped or visibly damaged, but looks worn.
Is this safe to continue using?
Best Answer
I see bare metal that is partially seasoned -perfectly fine
Crazing of enamel is also fine. Rule of thumb: if you can feel cracks with fingernail then that's too much a trap for pathogens.
An occasional soak in borax or vinegar to be 100%
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(And rest assured: If your enameled cookware does crack or chip, it's not the end of the world: There's just plain cast iron under the enamel, which is perfectly safe to cook with.)Can you use a cracked enamel Dutch oven?
Cracked Dutch Oven: Can You Cook with It? As long as the crack or chip doesn't sit along the cooking area, you can still cook with it. After all, you have cast iron beneath the enamel.Can you use a cracked cast iron Dutch oven?
Importantly: Do not use an enamel pot, pan, or dutch oven with a chip in the cooking area! The area with the chip could continue to chip, which means small, sharp pieces of enamel can get in your food.Is chipped enamel on a Dutch oven safe?
But the company offers a perk to make up for this that most people don't know about. Le Creuset guarantees its cast iron products for life. Yes, you read that right. That means, if your beloved cookware chips or cracks, the company will replace it for free.Chipped Enamel on My Le Creuset - What Do I Do?
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