Leaving empty cast iron pot on a gas stove

I left empty enameled cast iron pot on medium high flame on gas stove top for about half an hour to an hour. It was actually filled with water which should be brought to a boil but i forgot about it, so after water evaporated it stood empty on a stove top. I don't see any cracks or any other signs of physical damage, it only darkened and it smelled burnt. I washed it with regular dish soap and use abrasive sponge (which I usually don't) but and enamel is still dark grey inside (it was white before).

I've read about other users similar experiences and it turned out not to be a big deal, but those pots weren't enameled inside. Since mine is I wonder is it health safe to continue using it for cooking. Any chances of something toxic could leak into food or something similar that could be health hazard.

cast-iron

Best Answer

I think you should be safe, but depending on the abrasive pad (plastic or metal?), you might have scratched the enamel.

Try the different methods to clean a burned enamel cast iron; most methods used boiling water with baking soda.

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-burnt-stains-off-enameled-cookware-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-217457

https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-clean-stained-enameled-cast-iron-pot-article

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Quick Answer about "Leaving empty cast iron pot on a gas stove"

Leaving your cast iron pan empty on your stove can burn off the seasoning. This causes flaking and potentially a bare spot in the pan's middle. You can repair this problem by completely stripping your cast iron pan and re-seasoning it to bring it back to its proper state.

What happens if you leave an empty pan on the stove?

Some people say it helps the subsequent fried foods not to stick. Don't know if that is true, but don't leave the room and let the empty pot get too hot, which can happen very quickly. Overheating can cause thin pots and pans to warp. An enamel coating on a pan can chip off, or even melt onto your heating element.

Is cast iron safe on gas stove?

Not So Recommended. Other cookware materials, like cast iron, carbon steel, and ceramic, have their benefits, but are not ideal for gas stoves. Cast iron is a good for very specific cooking needs. For example, it conducts heat evenly, and holds heat well, but only after taking a while to heat up.

Can you put an empty pan on the stove?

Cheatham prefers to place an empty skillet on nothing above medium-high heat. Over high heat, she says, you may shock the metal. Placing a skillet over too high of a heat also risks burning the fat or food, especially in cast iron, which is particularly effective at retaining heat once it has come up to temperature.

Can leaving an empty pot on the stove cause a fire?

It was determined by the HCFR fire investigator that the fire was a result of a pot left unattended on the stove. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

The Easy Guide On Seasoning and Restoring Cast Iron

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