Clay pot cooking guidlines

I dedicate this post for my first follower of my blog GB. Thank you GB! for asking me to create  a post for cooking in clay pot.

Cooking with clay pots is not new.
 Our ancestors used clay pot to prepare food this is evident from the potteries seen in museums. Lifestyle changes had made clay pot disappear from our kitchens.

While you  buy a clay pot, see that it doesn't have any cracks. The clay pot will be in earth colour and clay pots are even  available in black colour. I have seen black colour clay pots in my grandparent’s home and my husband's native village.

If you stay in USA you can find clay pots in Asian store or Indian grocery stores.

You have to prepare the clay pot before you start cooking food in it. For this, you have to clean the pot with plain water and immerse it in water for half an hour to one hour. My mother-in-law prepared my clay pot for me by pouring "ganji" as I say it or "kanji" (left over water after boiling rice).|You can cook rice with enough water and drain the excess water and pour it in the clay pot. Keep it for 8 hrs. You can repeat this process once again, if you feel that the clay pot is not clean.This will help to remove any dust and also this process makes the clay pot moist.

When you are done with this just wash it in plain water and start cooking your recipe.

See that you start in a slow flame initially, and then increase the heat.

Use a towel or an oven gloves to handle the pot when it’s hot.

I use the wooden ladle to saute the vegetables while cooking.Don’t use metal ladle it may cause scratches and break the pot.



My wooden ladle that I use with my clay pot

 

My other wooden ladles



Vegetables usually, cook fast in clay pot in about ten to twenty minutes. It’s the same with fish.

I use Gas stove for cooking. You can even cook with Oven but see that the oven is not preheated and increase the heat gradually. Clay pot cannot withstand sudden change in temperature, so there are chances that you may break it. Don't use it in microwave.

I cover the clay pot with a stainless steel plate while the food is being cooked.You can also use a clay pot lid if you get it.Once the clay pot gets heated, it retains heat and your food will be cooked fast.When the food start to boil, simmer it. Food in the clay pots can stay hot for some time. This helps to keep food warm for a considerable time. I think clay pot might have served as a hot pot in olden days.

Use separate clay pot for vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. You can cook gravies and dry roast lentils in clay pot.

If your clay pot doesn't stand on your kitchen counter top, use a folded towel as I do to place the clay pot over it. If you have a trivet use it.

Don't use dish cleaning soap solution for cleaning the clay pot because the pores in the clay pot can absorb it and you may get the soap taste in the food that you cook in it next time.

Allow the clay pot to cool and rinse it in water.

Clean it with salt and you can use plastic scrubber or a soft cleaning sponge that is not dipped in soap solution.

If your food is sticking to the pot, pour water in the pot and allow it soak. This helps to easily remove the food that is sticking.

After cleaning it, dry it thoroughly with a kitchen towel and store it by placing it upside down.

Your clay pot may look black in colour at the bottom or in the sides after using it for several times. Don't think that you have not cleaned it properly. Its a natural coating, this helps to add flavour to your food.

Can you see the coating in  my pot ?

Handle the clay pot gentle because it breaks easily.

Did you know?

Healthy cooking process is essential to retain the nutrients in the food; food cooked in clay pot is nutritious and tastes yummy!

Enjoy cooking in “ mann chatti”(this is how clay pot is called in Tamil and Malayalam).

Try it! Relish your dish and let me know if it came out well I will feel like getting a reward for my post.