Why Does Food Stick To My Enamel Cast Iron? 3 Reasons To Avoid Sticking

Do you find yourself frustrated when your delicious meal sticks to your enamel cast iron cookware? 

It can be quite disheartening to put in all the effort to cook a meal only to have it stick to the pan and ruin your hard work. 

But fear not, as there are several reasons why food might be sticking to your enamel cast iron, and simple solutions to prevent it from happening again.

Enamel cast iron cookware is a better version of regular cast iron due to its enamel coating. This coating makes the cookware non-reactive and non-stick which helps the cook to make items with ease.

One more thing, the enamel coating can’t be said as a replica of nonstick cookware because you can’t compare its smoothness. Yes, they are smooth but only compared to regular cast iron pans.

Read on to discover the reasons and solutions for food sticking to enamel cast iron cookware.

Why Does Food Stick To My Enamel Cast Iron?

Food may stick to enamel cast iron cookware due to high heat, insufficient seasoning, or using metal utensils. Enamel can also chip or crack, exposing the cast iron beneath, which can lead to sticking. To prevent sticking, preheat the pan on low heat, use non-metal utensils, and season the pan regularly.

It happens to most people as they are not aware of the fact that enamel cookware is not nonstick and it has to be seasoned before use for smooth cooking.

Not every time your food will stick to your cookware. In most cases, we use an enamel Dutch oven rather than a skillet.

So the Dutch oven heated up much quicker and the interior temperature becomes much higher if we supply the same amount of heat continuously and this is one of the main reasons for food getting burnt and stuck.

Now you are aware, so let us know how to avoid sticking food to your cookware.

Also Read – Does Enamel Cast Iron Chip?

How To Keep Food From Sticking To Enameled Cast Iron?

The best way to avoid food sticking to your enamel cast iron cookware is to season it. Along with seasoning, you have to maintain proper heat and be selective in choosing the food items.

As enamel cast iron cookware is perfect for searing meat or fish, cooking veggies, making pasta or noodles, etc but not for making perfect omelets. No matter how good your cookware is, omelets will always be perfect in a nonstick skillet.

Now, let’s learn how to avoid sticking food.

By Seasoning

Seasoning cookware will help you to achieve a much smoother surface. When the oil is heated at high heat, it polymerizes with the pan means it fills the pores of the cookware that makes the cookware smooth.

Most people think seasoning is a difficult process, but no it’s very easy to do so. It only requires some time like 30 to 45 mins for the complete process.

If you don’t know about seasoning, then this guide on how do you season an enamel cast iron cookware will help you.

Only seasoning the enamel cookware will not be enough to avoid the food sticking. It will lower your chances but if you do not follow the other instructions, then next time the food may stuck when you cook.

Types Of Food

Certain types of food items may stick to your enamel cast iron cookware. Yes, this cookware is designed to cook any items but it is always better not to cook the items that may stick to your cookware.

Some items like:

• High protein but low in fat (you have to use little oil to cook these items).
• Sugary Sauces
• Tomatoes
• Honey, Wine, Garlic, etc.
• Omelet

There are more but these items are especially very prone to stickiness. It doesn’t mean that you can’t cook these items. You can cook but you have to use a little bit of oil or butter and had to maintain proper temperature.

Also Read – Is Enameled Cast Iron Cookware Safe?

Maintaining Temperature

Maintaining the heat is very important while cooking because if you are not careful then it may burn your food and the food will be stuck to your cookware.

When you cook in an enamel cast iron Dutch oven, the interior becomes very hot after some time due to its high walls and even heating. So, try to adjust the temperature whenever necessary to avoid food burning and sticking.

If you are cooking on a stove, cook at a higher temperature first, and then slowly adjust it to medium to low temperature.

Cleaning The Cookware

Only seasoning, selecting the food items, and adjusting the temperature will not be enough to maintain your enamel cast iron cookware. Once you cook, you have to properly clean and care for your pots and pans to maintain them.

Don’t rinse the pan directly after cooking as it will ruin the surface of the cookware. After cooking, let it cool down and then you start cleaning it.

For cleaning, don’t use any abrasive materials. Always use a soft sponge and a dishwashing liquid to clean your cookware. After cleaning, wipe it with a cloth or a paper towel to dry it completely before storing it.

These small tips are lifesavers to protect your pan from getting ruined. If you maintain your enamel cookware like this, then it will last you for decades.

Also Read – Enamel Cast Iron: 6 Most Curious Questions You Should Know

Here are some tips to keep food from sticking

1. Preheat The Pan: Allow your enameled cast iron cookware to preheat on medium heat for a few minutes before adding any food. This will help to create a non-stick surface.
2. Use Enough Fat: Adding enough oil or butter to the pan before cooking will help to prevent food from sticking. You can also use cooking spray, but be sure to read the label to ensure it is suitable for use with enamel.
3. Avoid High Heat: Avoid using high heat when cooking with enameled cast iron cookware. High heat can cause the enamel to crack and can also cause food to stick.
4. Wait For The Pan To Cool: After cooking, allow your enameled cast iron cookware to cool completely before cleaning. This will prevent the enamel from cracking and will make it easier to clean.
5. Use A Gentle Scrubber: Use a gentle scrubber, such as a soft sponge or brush, to clean your enameled cast iron cookware. Avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaners, as these can scratch the enamel and cause it to lose its non-stick properties.

By following these tips, you can help to keep your enameled cast iron cookware in great condition and prevent food from sticking.

Why Does My Dutch Oven Stick?

There are several reasons why your Dutch oven may stick:

1. Not Properly Seasoned: If your Dutch oven is not properly seasoned, food can stick to the surface. Seasoning is the process of applying a layer of oil to the surface of the Dutch oven to create a non-stick surface. If you have not seasoned your Dutch oven or if the seasoning has worn off, you may experience sticking.
2. High Heat: If you cook at too high of a temperature, food can stick to the Dutch oven. This is because the high heat can cause the food to burn and stick to the surface.
3. Not Preheating The Dutch Oven: It is important to preheat the Dutch oven before adding food. If you add food to a cold Dutch oven, the food can stick to the surface.
4. Using The Wrong Cooking Utensils: If you use metal utensils on your enameled cast iron Dutch oven, they can scratch the surface and cause food to stick.
5. Acidic Foods: Acidic foods, such as tomatoes and citrus, can react with the enamel coating of the Dutch oven and cause it to stick.

To prevent sticking, it is important to properly season your Dutch oven, cook at a moderate temperature, preheat the Dutch oven before adding food, use the proper cooking utensils, and be cautious when cooking acidic foods.

Also Read – Cast Iron Skillet Gift Basket Ideas

How To Make Enameled Cast Iron Non-Stick?

While enamel cast iron cookware is not inherently non-stick, there are some steps you can take to make it more resistant to food sticking:

1. Season The Cookware: Just like with traditional cast iron cookware, seasoning can help create a natural non-stick surface on your enamel cast iron. To season, coat the inside of the cookware with a thin layer of oil and heat in the oven at 350°F for an hour. Let cool and wipe away any excess oil.
2. Preheat The Cookware: Make sure your enamel cast iron cookware is fully preheated before adding food. This helps to create a natural non-stick surface by allowing the cookware to expand and the pores to open up, reducing the likelihood of food sticking.
3. Use Oil Or Butter: Adding a small amount of oil or butter to your cookware before adding food can help to create a non-stick surface. Use just enough to coat the bottom of the pan and prevent sticking.
4. Use The Right Utensils: Avoid using metal utensils or abrasive sponges on your enamel cast iron cookware, as they can scratch the surface and damage the enamel. Instead, use wooden or silicone utensils that are gentle on the surface.
5. Cook At The Right Temperature: Cooking at a lower temperature can help prevent food from sticking to your enamel cast iron cookware. High heat can cause the enamel to become damaged and can make food more likely to stick.

By following these steps, you can help to make your enamel cast iron cookware more non-stick and prevent food from sticking.

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Final Verdict

Food sticks to your enamel cast iron when you are not using sufficient oil and supply excessive heat. Some food items, not much care, and maintenance are also responsible for this stickiness. If not maintained properly, the sticky residue builds up over time, and cooking in your enameled cast iron becomes difficult

If you want to avoid food sticking to your enamel cast iron cookware, then follow these tips:

1. Season the cookware before use. If you are feeling lazy, then heat the pan, pour some oil, and when the oil will be heated then start cooking.
2. Use a wooden or silicone spatula or accessories to avoid removing the enamel coating.
3. When you are cooking high-protein food like beef, chicken, egg, etc try to use some extra oil to avoid sticking.
4. After cooking, let the cookware cool down, clean it properly with a soft sponge and a dishwasher liquid and completely dry it before storing.

If you follow all these tips, your cookware will last forever and you will always feel like new cookware.

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