Use & Care of Your Foundry Pan.
For A Lifetime of Cooking
Welcome to your Foundry pan.
Every Foundry Pan will develop its own character through cooking and use. Small marks in enamel, seasoning changes and surface patina are all part of the process – and part of what makes cast iron so special.
Cook often, care for it simply, and it’ll reward you for decades to come, this piece is built to last a lifetime.
This guide will help you get the best possible cooking performance from day one, and keep your pan performing beautifully throughout its long life.
Enamelled Cast Iron Foundry Pan:

Enamelled cast iron is low-maintenance, durable, and easy to use – no seasoning required. It delivers excellent heat retention with a smooth enamel finish, making it simple to cook with day-to-day while looking beautiful in your kitchen. Marks will appear over time, but there's no need to worry, it's all part of the process.
QUICK TIPS -
- Wash before first use and dry thoroughly.
- Add a little oil and preheat gently over low–medium heat.
- Suitable for all stovetops and oven safe up to 260°C / 500°F.
- Use wooden or silicone utensils where possible.
- Let the pan cool before cleaning and hand wash for best results.
- Dry thoroughly and store carefully to avoid chips or scratches.
FIRST USE:
Before cooking with your pan for the first time – it's been on a journey, so let's think hygiene -
- Wash with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap
- Rinse thoroughly and dry completely
- Your pan is now ready to use
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No seasoning needed. Ever. You're ready to cook.
EVERYDAY COOKING TIPS:
To get the best performance & longevity from enamelled cast iron.
- Heating: Go Low and Slow – Enamelled cast iron retains and distributes heat exceptionally well. High heat is not necessary. So relax, and give it 3-5 mins to heat gently – this will protect the enamel.
- Cooking oil or fat: Add a good amount as the pan is getting hot and allow this to heat up first before adding food. It won't take long so don't let the fat start to smoke.
- Adding food: The secret to “non-stick” cooking in cast iron – Let the food do its thing, allow it to cook and then lift off the pan, when properly browned, it will naturally release, if it resists, it’s usually not ready yet. *Tip: most sticking happens when food is added too early.
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Deglazing is your best friend: If bits stick (and they will sometimes), that’s not failure – it’s flavour. Add a splash of wine, stock, or water & scrape gently with a wooden or silicone spoon.
WHERE TO USE:
One of the most versatile materials to cook with - From stovetop or oven, straight to looking beautiful and keeping food hot on the tabletop.
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Heat Source: Suitable for all hob types (including induction, gas, electric, and ceramic) as well as oven use up to 500°F (260°C)
CLEANING & CARE:
- Cooling: The pans hold heat - for ages. So let them cool before cleaning. Always avoid putting cold water into a hot enamelled pans, this can cause cracks in the enamel.
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Hand Washing: Wash with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge, cloth or brush. Avoid metal scouring pads, which can scratch the enamel.
Dry thoroughly, especially any exposed edges. - Soaking: Enamelled pans are fine to soak with hot water and soap to help remove stubborn dried food.
- Dishwasher: Our Enamelled Pans are dishwasher safe, but we strongly recommend showing some extra love & cleaning by hand. This will keep it looking better for longer.
- Stains: They will happen, and we like them, they give the pans character, show's they're used and loved. If that's not for you, from time to time you can fill with warm water and add a couple tablespoons of baking soda. Simmer gently for a few minutes, then wash with warm soapy water. *This may begin to dull the enamels surface.
- Utensils: We strongly recommend using wooden or silicone utensils. (coming from us soon). Metal utensils can scratch and damage the enamel.
- Scratches: Over time, these will happen. But don't worry, top surface scratches are simply cosmetic – they won't effect the use of the pan.
- Chipping: Always handle with care, but accidents will happen. For all external chips or ones around the rims, (most common) these are just cosmetic, annoying, but that's all. For any deep cuts or chips on the cooking surface, just ensure it's not gone down to the bare metal. If it has, it's still perfectly safe to use (unlike those forever chemical pans) but you will need to make sure that it's dried completely after washing and put a small amount of neutral oil on the exposed spot to reduce rusting.
HANDLING:
Cast iron is heavy, there's no escaping that – so always handle with care, especially when hot and full of food. Remember these pans are not for flipping, they're for gentle cooking. The handles are designed to not absorb as much heat as other cast iron cookware, but you should always use cloths or heat protective gloves.
Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Foundry Pan:

Pre-seasoned cast iron is built for everyday cooking with a naturally non-stick surface that improves over time. It delivers excellent heat retention and versatility, moving easily from stovetop to oven, and is designed to get better the more you use it.
QUICK TIPS -
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Wash before first use and dry thoroughly.
- Heat gently before adding oil or food.
- Suitable for all stovetops and oven safe up to 260°C / 500°F. Also suitable for open fire cooking.
- Always let the pan cool before washing with a little soap and water.
- Dry thoroughly immediately after cleaning and wipe with a thin layer of oil.
- Store somewhere dry to keep the seasoning in great condition.
FIRST USE:
Before cooking with your pan for the first time – it's been on a journey, so let's think hygiene, but it’s already been pre-seasoned so is protected.
- Wash with warm water (no soap needed unless really necessary)
- Dry thoroughly (always), then heat briefly on the hob to remove any moisture
- Lightly rub with a small amount of oil while warm (all over, inside & out) A neutral, high-smoke-point oil such as - Rapeseed, Sunflower, Vegetable or Avocado.
- Your pan is now ready to use.
EVERYDAY COOKING TIPS:
To get the best performance & longevity from pre-seasoned cast iron, a truly indestructible kitchen workhorse.
- Heating: Go Low and Slow – Cast iron holds heat extremely well. Medium or low heat is usually all you need, just wait for it to get & stay hot. Give it a 3-5 minutes to warm gently so the heat distributes evenly and protects the seasoning.
- Cooking oil or fat: Add before food once the pan is warm, or as it heats gently. Use a small amount — it doesn’t need much, and avoid letting the oil smoke.
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Adding food: The secret to natural non-stick cooking – let the food sit and brown properly before moving it. Once a crust forms, it will naturally release. If it sticks, it usually just needs more time, trust the process.
*Tip: rushing is the most common mistake with cast iron. - Deglazing is your best friend: If bits stick (and they will sometimes), that’s not failure – it’s flavour. add a splash of wine, stock, or water & scrape gently with a wooden or silicone spoon.
WHERE TO USE:
One of the most versatile materials to cook with - From stovetop or oven, straight to looking beautiful and keeping food hot on the tabletop.
- Heat Source: Suitable for all hob types (including induction, gas, electric, and ceramic) as well as oven use up to 500°F (260°C). The pre-seasoned version can also be used on open fire – be mindful that this could cause significant patina on the outer surface if left. Always use extra caution when cooking using open fire or flames.
CLEANING & CARE:
- Cooling: The pans hold heat - for ages. So let them cool before cleaning.
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Hand Washing: Wash with warm water and a little soap if needed, with a sponge, or brush. It's fine to use metal scouring pads in the pre-seasoned pans. Chainmail scrubbers are a great way to clean seasoned cast iron.
- Soaking: Do not leave water soaking for long periods of time, it's best to wash this pan hard and fast.
- Drying: This is very important for seasoned cast iron pans. Dry thoroughly and immediately after washing. This is one of the main ways to keeping your pan cooking great.
- Post Drying: We like to wipe a very thin layer of oil over the surface of the pan. This reduces the risk of any rusting.
- Dishwasher: Our pre-seasoned pan is not dishwasher friendly and will damage the natural seasoning and cause rust. Don't worry though, it's not difficult to re-season.
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Stains: Patina may happen across the pan both inside and out, but this is natural, the stains won't effect cooking ability. However, if you notice large differences, this may mean the pan needs a simple re-seasoning - Again, this should be done from time to time.
- Utensils: You can use any utensil with seasoned cast iron, the surface may mark when using metal, but that's nothing to worry about.
- Storage: Always store seasoned cast iron in a completely dry environment. Avoid any water contact or moist air conditions.
HANDLING:
Cast iron is heavy, there's no escaping that – so always handle with care, especially when hot and full of food. Remember these pans are not for flipping, they're for gentle cooking. The handles are designed to not absorb as much heat as other cast iron cookware, but you should always use cloths or heat protective gloves.
SEASONING:
If your pan starts to look dry, dull or food begins to stick, it's time for a quick re-season. This is needed from time to time, but is very easy to do using these simple steps -
- Wash and dry the pan thoroughly.
- Rub a very thin layer of neutral cooking oil (such as rapeseed or vegetable oil) over the entire pan, inside and out.
- Wipe away any excess with kitchen paper — the pan should look almost dry, not wet/oily.
- Place upside down in a preheated oven at 220°C (425°F) for 1 hour. Put a tray or foil on the shelf below to catch any drips.
- Turn off the oven and leave the pan inside until completely cool.
That's it, it's really that simple.
With regular cooking and the occasional re-season, your Foundry Pan will continue to build a naturally non-stick surface that only gets better with age.