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    You are here: Home / Sharmis Passions / How to season kalchatti, Soap stone seasoning

    How to season kalchatti, Soap stone seasoning

    Last Updated On: Dec 18, 2023 by Sharmilee J

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    bisi bele bath recipe

    How to season kalchatti, Seasoning soap stone pot.How to use kalchatti and how to maintain it.

    Kalchatti or Makkalchatti is a pot made by carving soapstones.It is a traditional cookware used to make sambar, curries, keerai kootu ,aviyal, vatha kuzhambu,paruppu urundai kuzhambu etc.It is a heavy vessel which retains heat for a long time which avoids reheating.Initially it is grey in color after seasoning and cooking for a while it turns black.The main specialty of this is cooking slowly and evenly, you can switch off the flame 5 mins before the final dish is done as it will continue to cook even after the flame is switch off(atleast for 5 mins).

    These chattis smaller ones can be used to make curd, store pickles etc.

    It was my dream to own this kalchatti since a year, finally found it in a local shop here in Coimbatore near airport forgot the shop whereabts as I missed the cover.They had both seasoned and new soapstone pots,I bought a new one as I wanted to season it myself but they were kind enough to tell me the entire process of how to season kalchatti for first time use.It is sure a tiring process yes it takes 10 days to season kalchatti and maintaining it is also a task as it is soo heavy.

    I bought this kalchatti few months back, seasoned and kept it ready for use.But few weeks back got this small soapstone curd pot from a local exhibition along with a mortar pestle which I’ve used here.So had to do this curd pot seasoning separately though the shopkeeper told if you are planning to use it only as a curd pot then no need of seasoning but in case later if you plan to keep on flame then you need to, so to be on the safer side I seasoned it too.

    Kalchatti is 500 Rs, Curd pot is 300 Rs and Mortar pestle is 100 Rs.I have heard these makkalchattis are very cheap in srirangam and madurai, if you get to go there do try to find the source.

    I have just started using this kalchatti, it takes time to get heated as its so heavy but once heated you can simmer the flame, it gets cooked faster.The flavour of cooking in these vessels is so good that you need to try it out and see.

    How to use kalchatti and to maintain it.

    • Seasoning process is aminly for durability and to avoid cracks while cooking.
    • Wait for the pot to come to room temperature then soak and wash.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.
    • 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.
    • Do not use any soap for washing.Use only rice flour or besan flour.
    • Atleast for first few uses do not use high flame cooking.
    • Do not heat an empty pot.Overheating the pot may lead to cracks so its better to maintain low medium flame while cooking.
    • Do not let food dry out completely while cooking, either add oil or water according to the dish you make.

    bisi bele bath recipe

    How to season kalchatti for first time use:

    1. Take castor oil in a plate, add turmeric powder to it.There is no measurement as such just mix and see it should be in spreadable consistency more like a runny paste.
      How to season kalchatti - Step1
    2. First lay a old newspaper ,place the soapstone pot on it.Using your fingers take little of the mixed castor oil turmeric paste.
      How to season kalchatti - Step2
    3. Apply on all sides.Make sure to spread even at the bottom which is important.
      How to season kalchatti - Step3
    4. If needed add more castor oil and turmeric powder and make a paste then spread.Let it dry in sun for a day.Next day repeat the same process.Mix castor oil turmeric powder paste and apply.So the castor oil turmeric powder process should be done and dried for 5 days in total repeatedly.Keep applying without washing in between.
      How to season kalchatti - Step4
    5. After 5 days wash it with hot water.Using a scrubber scrub it well to remove the oil.
      How to season kalchatti - Step5
    6. Then wash it well.Soak in starch water for the next 5 days.Change the starch water daily.If starch isn’t enough for the chatti to immerse fully then add rice rinsed water along with starch water.But make sure the pot is fully immersed.
      How to season kalchatti - Step5
    7. After the last 5 days, wash with mild soap, scrub well and wash it.This is the first and last time you are going to use soap for washing as there are pores even in kalchatti you should not use soaps for washing regularly.
      How to season kalchatti - Step6
    8. Wash well dry it completely for a day.Heat should be introduced slowly so simmer and boil water first.Switch off cool down and dry it, now your kalchatti is ready to start cooking.I first started with payasam as usual my sweet sentiment for new vessels 🙂 The chatti becomes dark in color after the seasoning process.
      How to season kalchatti - Step7How to maintain kalchatti
    9. Now after cooking, switch off.After transferring the dishes, soak in water for atleast 15-20 mins.In case if you have time then heat up the chatti along with soaked water for 5mins then bring to room temperature and scrub it.I usually just soak and wash.First scrub with coconut scrapper alone and wash well.
      How to maintain kalchatti - Step1
    10. Then add besan flour, scrub it well and wash it well.Dry it in sun until completely dried.Then store it.
      How to maintain kalchatti - Step3

    Dry completely and then store.

    bisi bele bath recipe

    This is how it looks when you buy, it is light grey in color.

    bisi bele bath recipe


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    Filed Under: How to's, kalchatti, Recent Posts, seasoning, Sharmis Passions

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shilpa

      August 17, 2018 at 10:41 pm

      Wonderful post! How to season cast iron pans?

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        November 01, 2018 at 7:00 pm

        Kindly check season cast iron pan post

        Reply
    2. Yashasvini

      August 18, 2018 at 8:15 am

      Please post a guide on how to use curd pot as well.. I have curd pot and have tried making curd in them too.. it turns soar

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        November 01, 2018 at 7:00 pm

        Sure will try to post it…am facing trouble in maintaining it washing and drying as it gives a bad smell if not dried properly.

        Reply
        • Vijaya Srikanthan

          November 22, 2018 at 10:24 pm

          Ah. I just bought curd pot and started seasoning it. Wonder if I can soar curd in it after reading your comments

          Reply
      • Jayshree Ravi

        January 05, 2024 at 3:39 am

        Awesome post. I recently got a new kalchatti from India. Is only castor oil to be used or any other oil? I live in New Zealand and will have to go look for castor oil in the Indian store if available.

        Reply
        • Sharmilee J

          January 14, 2024 at 9:34 am

          You can use coconut oil alternatively

          Reply
    3. swathi krishna

      August 20, 2018 at 8:55 pm

      Is the shop’s name nattu marunthukadai by any chance? Is it on avinashi road towards airport or away from the airport? Thanks in advance

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        November 01, 2018 at 7:01 pm

        Yes exactly U completely forgot the name 🙂

        Reply
    4. Prema

      January 28, 2019 at 8:43 am

      What is the size of the kalchatti

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        February 05, 2019 at 7:51 pm

        Its 1 ltr capacity

        Reply
    5. Prema Sundar

      January 28, 2019 at 8:44 am

      Pls let me know the size of the kalchatti? Is it small, medium or large?

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        January 29, 2019 at 6:44 pm

        medium I guess

        Reply
    6. Rohini Challuru

      February 22, 2019 at 1:45 pm

      What’s the cost of kal chatti

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        March 16, 2019 at 6:19 pm

        550 rs

        Reply
    7. Sasi

      April 04, 2019 at 2:12 pm

      Which material is good for the health stone vessel, iron vessel or mud vessel please reply I have to replace all my old utensils

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        April 09, 2019 at 6:55 am

        Each has its own benefits…iron is best for roasting, claypots are good for tamarind based curries and stir fries.So buy one in each

        Reply
    8. Harini

      August 30, 2020 at 7:36 pm

      Hello Sharmi
      Thanks for the detailed post and i followed it to season my kalchatti. But after 5 days of soaking in rice water, i noticed brown spots. Is it rust? Should i use the pot or not?need your advice

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        December 24, 2021 at 9:38 am

        Scrub and wash it again then use it

        Reply
      • Vidhya

        May 16, 2023 at 9:35 pm

        Even I have got the same issue. Also when boiled water it released mud to the water. Now not sure if I can use this. Can anyone advise please??

        Reply
        • Sharmilee J

          May 19, 2023 at 7:17 am

          If its just slightly color change you can use it…if it has released more mud then try washing few times until clear water then start seasoning it.

          Reply
    9. Anu Shree

      November 07, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      Hi Sharmilee,

      thanks for sharing this .

      May i know how to make starch water for this .

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        March 04, 2021 at 6:25 am

        kindly check my cooking rice in open pot method have shown it

        Reply
    10. Ravi Subramanian

      January 16, 2024 at 8:10 am

      Can I use Corn Starch during seasoning?

      Reply
      • Sharmilee J

        January 27, 2024 at 8:01 am

        Not really sure if it will work as I have not tried it

        Reply

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