Enameled cookware is found in almost every kitchen: bright pots with berries and flowers are pleasing to the eye, but quickly disappoint in practice. Behind the beautiful facade lies a “capricious character”, since the enamel gets dirty easily, and it is almost impossible to wipe it off without scratches or aggressive chemicals.
Why is enamel so soft?
Unlike aluminum or steel, enamel coating is porous and sensitive. It instantly absorbs stains from borscht or coffee, and then does not want to part with the stains. If you rub with a hard sponge, scratches will appear, if you pour strong chemicals, it will eat into the pores. But there is one reliable and safe option.
How to clean enamel cookware
This method works ideally when the pan is covered in dark residue or burnt spots. We will need:
- 50 ml 3% hydrogen peroxide;
- 1 tablespoon of soda;
- 1 liter of water.
Stir peroxide and soda in water, pour the mixture into an enamel pan, put on fire and bring to a boil. Boil until the walls are clean. Sometimes it takes 10–15 minutes, sometimes more – depending on how neglected it is.
Then drain the solution, wipe the walls with a soft cloth or sponge and rinse well, advises experienced housewife Irina Polyanskaya in her blog (18+).
Personal experience
My old enamel pan, which was all blackened from borscht and stewing, became as good as new after boiling for half an hour. I liked that I didn’t have to rub anything and spoil my nails, and most importantly, there was no pungent smell of chemicals in the kitchen. Now this is the only way I save my favorite pots, and at the same time I throw cutlery into the solution – they are also washed.
