How to Care for Enamel and What to Expect

Your new enamel is on its way - exciting! Here's all the info about how to care for it so that you're prepped if someone asks if it can go in the dishwasher...

Good news: it's built to last but there are definitely some tips you need to keep it glossy and useful for years.

What to Expect When Your Enamel Arrives

The first thing most people notice is the weight. That's the steel base doing its job.

The second thing is the finish. Vitreous enamel is fused glass, not a coating. It's fired onto the steel at high heat, so there's nothing to wear off or replace over time. (The full story on how it's made lives in this article and it's pretty cool if you wanna nerd out for a bit like us.)

Because it's glass on the outside, the best mindset sits similar to how you treat your glassware really.

Everyday Enamel Care: Washing Up Without the Fuss

Whilst we've popped it in the dishwasher (up to 20 cycles), we still recommend that you hand wash your Enamel.

Warm soapy water and a soft sponge is all it needs. Our Cellulose Sponge Dish Cloths pair nicely with a Lemon Myrtle Dish Soap Bar.
Definitely no steel wool! Abrasive scourers can scratch the surface, and that gloss is half the charm.
Stuck-on bits? Mix baking soda with a splash of water into a paste, spread it over the mark, leave it for 15 minutes, then scrub gently. Our dish brush is safe to use (but not the Pot Scrubber!)

What about the dishwasher? Our Enamel Baking Roaster Pan Set is dishwasher safe and has been tested to 20 cycles. Even so, hand washing is recommended to keep the finish looking its best over the long term. For the rest of the range, stick to hand washing.

Heat, Cold and the Things Enamel Doesn't Suit

Enamel handles heat well (but there are limits). And sudden temperature changes (just like glass) are best avoided~

Oven: the Enamel Baking Roaster Pan Set is oven safe up to 250°C. Hot enough for very golden potatoes and a proper roast chook.
Freezer: the roaster set is also freezer safe down to around -20°C.
The bit in between: avoid sudden temperature changes. Freezer straight into a hot oven, or a sizzling tray plunged into cold water, can stress the enamel. Let it settle before it moves on.
Microwave: not for enamel. There's steel underneath, so leftovers get reheated in something else.
Utensils: wood and silicone are your friends. Metal utensils can chip the enamel, so a Silicone Utensil Set earns its drawer space. Same goes for the bowls in the Mix & Measure Set: reach for a spatula over electric beaters or a metal whisk.

What Your Enamel Will Look Like in a Few Years

What stays the same: there's no coating to wear off or replace, and enamel is built for a long service life under normal household use. The surface is non-porous and non-reactive too, so fat and juices wipe away without leaving marks or smells behind.

What you might notice: the odd patch of baked-on residue. That's where the baking soda paste comes in.

What a chip looks like: enamel can chip if it's handled roughly, dropped or hit with a sudden temperature change, especially around the edges. If a chip goes down to the metal, stop using that piece for cooking or storing food.

Retired from food duty doesn't have to mean binned, though. A storage jar can take over pegs, pencils or the twist ties nobody admits to keeping. And when a piece has truly done its dash, the steel base can head to metal recycling, depending on what your local facility accepts.

Your Enamel Care Cheat Sheet

Screenshot this one for the next time someone else is on dish duty.

Always welcome:

Hand washing with warm soapy water and a soft sponge or brush
Wooden or silicone utensils
Letting hot pieces cool before they hit the sink
Baking soda paste for stubborn marks
A cloth or a Knitted Dishcloth between pieces when you stack them

Best avoided:

Steel wool and abrasive scourers
The microwave
Freezer-to-oven or oven-to-cold-tap jumps
Electric beaters and metal whisks in the bowls
The dishwasher (the roaster set is the one exception)
Cooking or storing food in a piece once a chip shows the steel

Adding to your collection or just getting started? The Complete Enamel Baking Bundle covers the oven side of things, and the Enamel Serving Bowl Set takes care of everything from cake batter to the big summer salad.