Scott Peterson wrote: >> Le Creuset is enameled cast iron. Except the ones that are Teflon. >> (yes, I KNOW it's blasphemy). > Not to me. I'm far to pragmatic a cook. The real answer to the > question is that while the smell lasts a long time, little or no spice > remains to contaminate food cooked in that pot. > Not all of them are coated. I've a couple Le Creuset pots (not frying > pans) that are plain iron on the inside. Photographs on request if you > don't believe me. <g> Hmmmmmmmm ... never seen but one raw interior Le Creuset. And that was one that had shed its non-stick (not really Teflon, but similar). I bought a little 7" blue Le Cru off eBay a few years ago and thought it was raw inside before I discovered it had the non-stick surface. The lid was the typical creamy white enamel on the underside. You learn something everyday, I guess. > The problem is that the chile oil works its way into the seasoning > surface on the pot. The only way to get it out is clean off the surface > and reseason. I've never had a desire to get chile oil out of a seasoned pot. It ain't hard - just time consuming. Put the pot in a garbage bag with a quart of household ammonia and leave it on the back patio for a week or so (in the sun). Take it out and hose the brown sludge off. If you still are not down to raw iron - pop it back in the sack and begin the process over again. Time is easier for me to spend than elbow grease. Once the vessel is back to gray iron - re-season as new. Worst one I had was a 10" frying pan bought new in the late 1920s and never had the exterior washed (that I could tell). There was literally 3/8" of crusted carbon on the sides of this guy in some places. Took four trips through the Bo-Peep laundry before it came clean. Once I got it re-seasoned and up to nearly non-stick status it has become one of my favourite egg pans. Just don't do Chorizo in it - the vinegar in the Chorizo (in my Chorizo, anyway) will attack the coating. -- ENJOY!!! -------- UNCLE DIRTY DAVE'S KITCHEN -- Home of Yaaaaa Hooooo Aaahhh!!! HOT SAUCE and Hardin Cider "You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." --Frank Zappa