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Clay pots are used for slow-cooking dishes in many cultures. They are unglazed, porous, and absorb water, allowing for steam and gas exchange. Precautions include slowly raising the temperature and avoiding detergents.
A clay pot is a clay pot. These cookware can be used on the stovetop, but more commonly they are used in the oven to prepare special dishes, and can also be used in campfires and buried pits for various regional foods. A clay pot cooking tradition exists in many cultures, including Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America, and a wide assortment of dishes can be prepared in these pots.
Many kitchen stores carry clay pots, sometimes with different designs on offer. A typical pot is unglazed, which is critical to the cooking process, and usually comes with a matching lid that is used to cover the food as it cooks. Small amounts of decorative glaze or carving may be used on the outside of the vase and the handles are also made from clay.
To use a crock pot in cooking, cooks soak the pot in water for at least half an hour before cooking. Since the pot is not glazed, it absorbs water and releases it as steam during cooking. The porous texture also promotes gas exchange, ensuring that pressure does not build in the pot and allows the food in the pot to be infused with fire smoke, in the case of food prepared over or near an open fire.
Clay pots are ideal for slow-cooking dishes because they allow the flavors to slowly ripen without drying out the food. A slightly caramelized flavor often develops, with foods such as meats cooking to a tender texture and fully infusing with the flavor of other ingredients in the pot. Classically, dishes are served straight from the pot while still hot.
There are some precautions when using a clay pot. It’s important to slowly raise the temperature so the pot doesn’t crack or explode. Hot pans should never be placed on cold or wet surfaces, as the difference in temperature can cause the pan to break. These pans also get very hot and hold heat very well, so people should be careful when handling the pan to ensure they don’t burn themselves.
Once a clay pot has completely cooled, it should be washed in hot water and allowed to dry completely before being stored away. Ideally, detergents and soaps shouldn’t be used on these pans, because they can penetrate the porous clay and seep into foods, adding an off-flavor. If dirt is adhered firmly, the pan can be dipped to loosen it and then gently scrubbed with a non-abrasive cloth.
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