How to season claypot for firstuse | How to maintain claypots, burnt claypots etc.
I don’t really remember where this craze for clay pots started.I had bought one claypot(manchatty) long back for making fish curry as I’ve heard that fish curries made in clay pots tastes best.The only clay pot I had was that and I used for making fish curry and puli kuzhambu varieties.I did not season that pot just poured starch water for 2 days and started using it.I used it for almost a year then it started to crack at the bottom so had to discard it.
I soo love the aroma of the dishes while cooking in claypots, you should definitely experience it and am sure you will not look back.
You can start using the claypots as such after washing and soaking in starch water for 2 days.But then the steps of seasoning gives long life to the claypots.So I did a lot of research asking neighbors, shopkeepers this time.
Now I own these 3 claypots.If I buy more will sure update this post here 🙂 The black clay pot is also called as burnt claypot or karichatty .The top black one was gifted by a friend she even seasoned and gave it to me,the other 2 I bought it here in a local shop and seasoned it.When I went to buy these pots I asked the shopkeeper akkas for tips and referred here too for seasoning.So I took time and did the seasoning.It takes almost 5 days for the seasoning process but I tell its worth so do it.
Black claypots are nothing but the brown ones burnt for at least 3-5 days which gives it that black color.They said black claypots are more stronger and lasts longer as they are burnt.
How to buy claypots:
- Make sure its heavy and thick.
- Turn back knock and see, you should hear a nice shriek ‘tang’ sound.The louder the sound the good it is to buy it.If you try to knock a used pot the sound will be hollow or low pitched.
How do I know when to discard the claypot:
- Mild cracks will start to form at the back of the pot then it is not advisable to use it for cooking.You can use the pot for soaking ragi or kambu koozh or use for gardening.
- It may start to leak and ooze out oil at the back, then its time to discard.
- Either one or both of these are symptoms.
A big black claypot which I am using for nonveg dishes.
Tips:
- Cooking in claypots needs patience and practice as it takes time to get heated.And even after switching off the stove you can see it boiling that is the main specialty of claypots.
- It works in gas stoves and will not work in induction not sure of other heat sources.
- It is always better to have separate clay pots for veg and non-veg.
- Do not use any soap for washing.Use only rice flour or besan flour or chapathi flour.
- Be very careful while cooking for the first time after seasoning.If you burn it then the burnt smell will retain throughout and will show in any food cooked in that pot.Yes I ruined a new pot and had to discard it so experience speaks 😀 So make any curries first not any dry items to be on the safer side.
- Do not heat an empty pot.
- Overheating the pot may lead to cracks so its better to maintain low medium flame while cooking.
- Also after cooking do not pour water at once, the sudden change in temperature may lead to cracks.So wait for it to cool down for a while then soak in water and then wash.
This brown claypot which I use for everyday cooking like packing for mittus lunchbox and veggie curries.
You might have seen these pics of my dosa and chapathi tawa in my earlier posts too.
HOW TO SEASON CLAYPOT:
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- These 2 are the new claypots I am going to season for first use.First rinse and wash it well.Use a coconut scrubber.
- Scrub it well , rinse and wash the claypots well.
- After washing soak the claypots in plain water for 1 day.After you soak you can hear a slight sizzle sound if you note it keenly there are small pores in the claypots so when waters enters first time you can hear that mild sound.
- Next day again scrub and wash it, soak in starch water(rice cooked water) or rice washed water for 3 days.Daily make it a point to change the starch water.
- Wash it again sun dry it.Now add ghee or coconut oil.
- Spread it well on both the sides back and top.Sun dry it for 2 -3 hrs until the oil is completely absorbed and is dry.Now add ghee or coconut oil,switch on the stove.
- Add 1-2 tbsp grated coconut and saute it well so that the coconut and oil spreads all over the inside of the pan.Saute until golden.
- Do it for both the pans.Now remove the coconut add water along with turmeric powder let it come to a boil.Switch off and dry under the sun.Now your claypots are ready to use.
HOW TO MAINTAIN CLAYPOTS :
- After use let the pots come to room temperature then soak in water for a while.Then using coconut scrapper scrap the extras.The black one I used for making paneer fried rice today morning for packing mittus lunchbox and the brown one for making ragi koozh.
- Scrub well and wash it in running water.Never use detergents or any soapy liquids.As there are small pores in the claypot there are chances for the soap to enter through the pores which in turn can mix in the food while getting cooked.So use rice flour or besan flour or chapathi flour to wash it.After washing in plain water then sprinkle rice flour.
- Scrub it well and wash it.
- Sun dry it then store.
This is the way I seasoned my claypots and maintain it.Hope you find this post useful.
I store it like this in my kitchen shelf.
- These 2 are the new claypots I am going to season for first use.First rinse and wash it well.Use a coconut scrubber.
Vatsala
Thanks a lot for this post
vandana
very informative.lot of effort goes into cleaning and maintaining these kind of utensils.
Swapna
Hello
If we have big size clay pot how can we prepare large quantity rice cooked/washed water required for pot to completely soak…Please reply….Thanks in advance.
Sharmilee J
You can use half rice cooked/washed water mixed with water in that case.
Suja
Thanks a bunch for this post Sharmi !
jennet fernandes
i have bought a new mud pot and seasoned it myself after following all instructions well, while washing the clay pot i still find a little muddy water. is it normal OR will it go gradually.
Sharmilee J
It should not…but still you can boil water daily for about a week to get rid of the extra mud and then use it
Sugandha Verma
Thank you for the post sharmilee ji. Very good post. I have one mud tawa and two curd making burnt clay pots. Should I season them both in the same way?
Sharmilee J
yes both bown and black ones season it the same way
Sugandha
Also how to tell if the black clay pot is actually burnt and not painted?
Sharmilee J
I am really not sure have heard from shopkeeper that while cooking you get a smell in orginal claypots which will be missing in painted ones
Prema
I just washed it two times and used it to cook daal and milk. Is it ok if I use like that
Sharmilee J
Seasoning by proper method ensures long life for claypots
Reena
Hi, can the seasoned clay pots be used to set curds?
Sharmilee J
yes but for curd setting you ccan rinse it well soak in starch water for a day then wash again and start using it.
Vasundhara
Hi!
Red the whole procedure.. I purchased a curd pot. Is it also needed to be seasoned before use?
Sharmilee J
yes
Garima Pandey
Hi
This post has been great help. I have followed the process step by step andseasoned my claypot. I have used coconut oil to season the pot. Can I use mustard oil for cooking in the pot? Will the taste of coconut oil remain in the pot or I should use another pot for cooking with mustard oil?
Sharmilee J
yes you can use any oil after seasoning
Mohamed akram
Hi I bought a glazed clay pot does it need any preparation before use thanks in advance
Sharmilee J
all claypots are to be seasoned unless if mentioned its preseasoned
Trisha
How to clean earthen clay water bottle before 1st use?
Does the water bottle also need some kind of pre treatment before use??
Sharmilee J
No no just wash it few times may be you can add starch water and wash it.
komal
Great post 🙂 Can you also please guide how the process would be different if I am not using the pot to cook but to store drinking water. Many thanks.
Sharmilee J
the process is same
Leka
I bought a black claypot, just washed, boiled some water in it and used it once. I made fish curry in the morning, it tasted good for lunch but felt some strange oily odour while we had it for dinner. Should I properly season this again and use or simply throw it away and buy a new one?
Sharmilee J
No no dont throw away. Wwash it well then again heat the pan until water dries up completely then add few drops of coconut oil let it smoke a bit switch off then try using it.
Anil
Hi,
Thanks for Post. Very Informative. I too bought a pot and started seasoning as you said.
My doubt is after statue of grated coconut , pot should be cooled or directly add normal water and turmeric? doesnt it crack as suddenly adding water?
And also in middle of cooking , we need to add water for gravy curries can I add normal water directly or should i warm that water to add in curry?
Sharmilee J
While cooking you can add normal water directly and it is absolutely safe. But after cooking let it come to room temperature or atleast warm before you wash.
Terracrafts
Thank you so much for sharing this great post.
Terracrafts
This is an excellent article. Thank you for sharing such useful information.