How to Clean a Dutch Oven the Right Way

When it comes to classic cooking tools, you can’t get much more old-school than the Dutch oven. Everyone’s favorite pot may look simple from the outside—but it’s actually a kitchen game-changer. The Dutch oven can do it all: braise meat, bake bread, deep-fry chicken and make deliciously flavorful soups and stews. With proper care, a Dutch oven will last you a lifetime, says Malia Call, a culinary instructor based in Utah, “I will pass my Dutch oven on to my kids, and they can pass it on to future generations.” Cleaning your Dutch oven the right way will ensure you’re cooking up flavorful Dutch oven recipes (like these!) for many years to come.

How to Clean a Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Bare cast iron Dutch ovens don’t have a protective finish, and should be cleaned just like your cast iron skillet (a process which requires a little more effort than cleaning your other pans). Here’s how to clean an uncoated cast iron Dutch oven:

Step 1: Wash by Hand

Use a small amount of mild dish soap and a soft sponge to gently wash off any leftover food bits. Make sure that you’re not scrubbing too hard or using an abrasive sponge as it could remove the seasoning and open your Dutch oven up to rusting. Also—sorry, no dishwasher!

Step 2: Use a Plastic Scraper

For stuck-on food, fill the pot with a little water and simmer to loosen, then use a plastic scraper to remove the food after the pot has cooled. Then wash the pot in soapy water with a soft sponge. By the way, this is the cleaning tool we use to wash our cast iron pieces.

Step 3: Completely Dry

Dry the pot with a paper towel or cloth. Be careful not to leave any standing water in the pot (or leave the pot to soak), which can cause rust.

Step 4: Season Your Dutch Oven

Season the pot by rubbing a small amount of cooking oil or seasoning spray on the interior. Wipe with a paper towel to remove extra residue. If you see a spot of rust on your cast iron Dutch oven, or have noticed food sticking more than normal, you may want to fully reseason it. Take a look at our guide to seasoning a Dutch oven for the step-by-step instructions.

Step 5: Store

When not in use, keep your Dutch oven and lid in a dry area, like a cabinet or shelf away from the sink and stove. It’s best to keep the lid next to the Dutch oven, rather than on top of it, to allow for airflow.

How to Clean an Enamel Dutch Oven

An enamel Dutch oven is still made from cast iron, but features a nonstick and durable enamel finish. Cleaning enameled Dutch ovens are a bit easier, plus they come in all sorts of colors to brighten your kitchen. This is how to clean an enameled Dutch oven:

Step 1: Wash by Hand

Wash the pan with dish soap and a nylon or other non-abrasive brush or sponge. Never use abrasive cleaners or steel wool pads, which can scratch or damage the enamel.

Step 2: Overnight Soak

If your pot has stubborn food residue that won’t wash away easily, fill it with a little water and baking soda and let it soak overnight. This will loosen up the grime. Then gently scrub with soap and water.

Step 3: Bar Keepers Friend for Tough Stains

For really tough stains or food burns, try the always handy Bar Keepers Friend. Simply sprinkle the cleaning powder into the pot with a little bit of water and scrub. Then, wash and rinse as normal. Here are even more things you can clean with Bar Keepers Friend!

Now that you know how to clean your Dutch oven so it looks brand new, it’s time to get cooking! Here are some of our favorite Dutch oven recipes.

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Stovetop Cheeseburger Pasta

Cheeseburgers are delicious in any form, but I'm partial to this creamy pasta dish that seriously tastes just like the real thing. It's weeknight comfort in a bowl. —Tracy Avis, Peterborough, Ontario

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Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup

This chicken tortilla soup is as good as (if not better than) any I've had in a restaurant. I get so many compliments when I serve it: you will, too. —Laura Black Johnson, Largo, Florida

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Green Beans with Creamy Pistachio Sauce

I was asked to bring vegetables for a party and wasn’t feeling inspired until I remembered Mom served them with butter and evaporated milk. I love pistachios, so I added those instead of almonds. Everybody wanted the recipe, and I was really pleased—very little work and lots of happy family and friends! —Loretta Ouellette, Pompano Beach, Florida

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Mediterranean Pork and Orzo

On a really busy day, this meal in a bowl is one of my top picks. It's quick to put together, leaving a lot more time to relax at the table. —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York

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Fire-Roasted Ziti with Sausage

We punch up our pasta with smoked sausage and fire-roasted tomato sauce. It's an easy recipe to switch up—use whatever noodles and spaghetti sauce are in your pantry. —Jean Komlos, Plymouth, Michigan

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Caribbean Potato Soup

My bright and hearty soup features an unusual blend of ingredients, including okra, kale and black-eyed peas. No kale on hand? Use spinach instead. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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Zucchini in Dill Cream Sauce

Like many cooks, I often combine the best parts of different recipes to come up with my own original, and that's how "Zucchini in Dill Cream Sauce" was created. It's a great way to use two of my favorite foods. My husband, Albert, and I were dairy farmers until we retired in 1967, so I always use fresh, real dairy products in my recipes. We recently celebrated our 50th anniversary. We live on 3 acres now and grow a small garden—with a couple zucchini hills, of course!

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Delish Pesto Pasta with Chicken Marsala

My easy, go-to chicken and pasta recipe is ready and on the table in about a half an hour. It's a fabulous option for those busy weeknights. — Lorraine Stevenski, Land O' Lakes, Florida

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Elegant Seafood Bisque

Creamy bisque is elegant enough for sit-down dinners yet hearty enough for casual gatherings.—Mike Payne, Hixson, Tennessee

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Hearty Vegetable Beef Ragu

This recipe is healthy yet satisfying, quick yet delicious. It's on the table in less than 30 minutes—and one that my children will gobble up! If you are not fond of kale, stir in baby spinach or chopped broccoli instead. —Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey

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Brussels Sprouts & Kale Saute

In an effort to add more greens to our meals, I created this dish—and my kids eat it up. The crispy salami is the "hook." —Jennifer Mcnabb, Brentwood, Tennessee

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Hearty Vegetarian Chili

Rich and flavorful, this chili is absolutely packed with fun veggies like mushrooms, beans and sun-dried tomatoes. It's so filling, you'll fool any meat lover. —Pam Ivbuls, Omaha, Nebraska

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Weeknight Pasta Squiggles

This zesty pasta dish is ideal for busy weeknights. It's low on ingredients and easy to prep, and it tastes so comforting when the weather turns cool. A salad on the side makes it a meal. —Stacey Brown, Spring, Texas

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Creamy Beef & Potatoes

One of my husband's favorite childhood memories was eating his Grandma Barney's Tater Tot Casserole. It's just as much fun making with O'Brien potatoes, too. — Heather Matthews, Keller, Texas

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Chickpea Tortilla Soup

This vegan tortilla soup recipe is healthy, filling and family-friendly! We love how hearty and flavorful it is. We like to play around with the different toppings we add each time it's served. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

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Creamy Noodle Casserole

My husband, Ronald, works long hours and frequently won't arrive home until past 7 p.m. This casserole is great for those late nights—it's just as tasty after it's been warmed in the microwave. —Barb Marshall, Pickerington, Ohio

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Buffalo Sloppy Joes

Lean ground turkey makes this a lighter sloppy joe than the standard ground beef version. A hefty splash of hot sauce and optional blue cheese provide an authentic Buffalo-style flavor. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts

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Makeover Creamed Corn

This healthy creamed corn has all the rich feel and flavor of the original, but only about half the calories and about a third of the saturated fat. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

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One-Pot Stuffed Pepper Dinner

Thick like chili and with plenty of stuffed pepper flavor, this dish will warm you up on chilly days. —Charlotte Smith, McDonald, Pennsylvania

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Cheese Chicken Soup

Kids won’t think twice about eating the vegetables that are incorporated into this creamy and cheesy soup. —LaVonne Lundgren, Sioux City, Iowa

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Hearty Sausage Minestrone

As a teacher, I appreciate quick and easy recipes. If I make this for just my husband and me, we have leftovers for lunches. But when there are more people at the table, every bit is eaten. —Tami Stoudt, Evans, Colorado

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Orzo Shrimp Stew

My husband and I really enjoy seafood, so I don’t skimp on shrimp in this mildly seasoned stew. We also adore the broccoli, tomatoes and pasta. —Lisa Stinger, Hamilton, New Jersey

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Apple Barbecue Chicken

My husband and I had just moved to Dallas when I first made this recipe. Everything was new—new city, new home—but this dish felt familiar and comforting. —Darla Andrews, Schertz, Texas

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Turkey & Noodle Tomato Soup

Turn V8 juice, veggies and ramen noodles into a wonderful soup that takes just a few minutes to make. I like to serve it with biscuits. —Jennifer Bridges, Los Angeles, California

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Black-Eyed Peas with Collard Greens

Time to gather round the table, y'all! This dish has special meaning on New Year's Day, when Southerners eat greens for future wealth and black-eyed peas for prosperity. —Athena Russell, Greenville, South Carolina

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Turkey Linguine with Tomato Cream Sauce

I love an easy weeknight meal! This meal comes together quickly and uses up that half block of cream cheese that ends up in the fridge. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota

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Minestrone with Turkey

I remember my mom making this soup; now I make it for my kids as often as I can. It's a good way to use up leftover vegetables. Sometimes I add a can of rinsed and drained kidney or garbanzo beans. —Angela Goodman, Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Beef Noodle Soup

This only takes a few minutes, but this beef noodle soup recipe tastes like it simmered all day. —Margery Bryan, Moses Lake, Washington

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Pork Noodle Soup

My daughter created this soup when she needed to use up some leftover pork. You can use more water for a thinner soup or less water for a noodle dish. It’s good with mushroom flavored ramen noodles, too. —Eleanor Niska, Twin Falls, Idaho

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Tangy Barbecued Beef Sandwiches

Every year for our church ice cream social, we'd fill six roaster ovens with these ingredients and let them simmer all day. Boy, did that barbecue smell good. —Janet Sipes, Monmouth, Illinois

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Chili Beef Pasta

Right after I got married, an aunt gave me her recipe for skillet spaghetti and told me it was ideal for a quick weeknight meal. Over the years I’ve tinkered with the ingredients and played with the seasonings to make it a healthier dish that my family truly loves. —Kristen Killian, Depew, New York

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Hearty Italian White Bean Soup

A bowlful of this soup is so satisfying, it's hard to believe it's actually good for you, too. I crave it all the time. With lots of beans and potatoes, it's filling and even hits the spot with meat lovers. —Kristina Krummel, Elkins, Arkansas

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Shrimp Pasta Alfredo

My son loves any recipe with Alfredo sauce. When he cooked as a bachelor, shrimp pasta was one of his first recipes. Now his children ask for it. Gail Lucas, Olive Branch, Mississippi

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Weeknight Taco Soup

This soup turned out delicious on the first try, when I was working without a recipe. You could also add cooked ground beef or cubed stew meat dredged in seasoned flour and browned for a heartier meal. —Amanda Swartz, Goderich, Ontario

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Spicy Chicken Stew

When you're craving cozy Mexican flavors, try this spicy chicken and chickpea stew. It couldn't be easier to make—just round out the meal with a fresh tossed salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Herbed Artichoke Cheese Tortellini

This flavor-packed meatless recipe features tomatoes, black olives and artichoke hearts tossed with tender cheese tortellini. —Karen Anzelc, Peoria, Arizona

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Chicken and Dumplings

Perfect for chilly winter nights, this main course is speedy, low in fat and a delicious one-dish meal. —Nancy Tuck, Elk Falls, Kansas

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Chicken Pesto with Pasta

Prepared sauce accents this warm chicken pesto pasta. Keep pesto in the freezer for the next time you have leftover chicken. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Simple Taco Soup

We first tried this thick-as-chili soup at a church dinner. It’s a warm dish ideal for a cold day and easy to prepare with kitchen staples. So what are you waiting for? Dig in! —Glenda Taylor, Sand Springs, Oklahoma

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Cauliflower Soup

Every other cauliflower soup recipe I tried lacked flavor, but this cheesy recipe packs a tasty punch! We like it with hot pepper sauce for a little extra kick. —Debbie Ohlhausen, Chilliwack, British Columbia

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Pear & Turkey Sausage Rigatoni

The sweet pear, salty sausage and creamy blue cheese are a wonderful combination in this dish. It tastes just like something you'd get at a great restaurant. —Debby Harden, Williamston, Michigan

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Erica Young