How to season claypot for first use | How to maintain claypots

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.

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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.

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Butter beans kuzhambu 

You might have seen these pics of my dosa and chapathi tawa in my earlier posts too.

HOW TO SEASON CLAYPOT:

1. 1. These 2 are the new claypots I am going to season for first use.First rinse and wash it well.Use a coconut scrubber.
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   2. Scrub it well , rinse and wash the claypots well.
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   3. 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.
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   4. 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.
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   5. Wash it again sun dry it.Now add ghee or coconut oil.
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   6. 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.
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   7. 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.
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   8. 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.
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   HOW TO MAINTAIN CLAYPOTS :

   1. 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.
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   2. 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.
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   3. Scrub it well and  wash it.
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   4. Sun dry it then store.
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   This is the way I seasoned my claypots and maintain it.Hope you find this post useful.

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   I store it like this in my kitchen shelf.

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