Is It Safe To Use Clay Pots For Cooking?

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To improve your food’s quality and daily diet, you must consider cookware made up of the finest materials. A healthy cooking vessel directly influences the taste and nutrition of the food.

Is it safe to use clay pots for cooking healthy food?

Clay pot cooking is the best method of cooking authentic food with no toxicity. If you are using an unglazed clay pot, then make sure to soak it in water before cooking.

Clays pots and cooking reflect the best traditional cooking without disturbing the authentic taste and nutritional proportions.

In this post, we will clear all myths and doubts related to clay pot cooking. Clay pot cooking requires certain precautions for a safe and stable cooking experience.

Are Clay Pots Healthy?

Yes, cooking in a clay pot is far healthier than normal cookware. It offers individuals multiple health benefits. It improves the overall food quality and serves the best-looking food with a natural taste.

As you all know that clay pots are porous and do include natural insulation properties. These features help in retaining both heat and moisture with the clay pot. The clay allows the hot air to smoothly across the clay pots.

Clay is alkaline, and when you cook food in a clay pot, it effectively neutralizes the pH level of the food. For food, a clay pot acts as natural detox and offers multiple vitamins and Vitamin B12.

Do Clay Pots Contain Lead?

No, clay pots don’t contain any lead in them as clay pots are precisely formed with natural clay with the best manufacturing technology. Traditional all types of cookware, including terra-cotta and unglazed clay pots, are free are toxic lead contains.

It is always important to consider using unglazed clay cookware4 for cooking as they don’t contain lead. Never try to cook food using glazed ceramic cookware as the polished surface may contain lead in them.

As per research and observation, it was found that ceramic cookware with lead leaches toxins into the food at higher temperatures. So, this cookware is only safe for storing cold food.

Are Clay Pots Toxic?

No, clay pots are free from toxic elements as the manufacturing process of clay pots is free from toxic materials and chemicals. The making technique is 100% natural and eco-friendly. The clay pots are safe and perfectly suit all kitchens.

Clay pots are truly meant for cooking all types of dishes at variable temperatures. A clay pot manages to hold the moisture and circulates the heat uniformly across the cookware. These pots are porous which need to be soaked in water before cooking.

What is Special About Clay Pots?

Clay pots offer various special advantages to their users. These pots offer various nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfurs, and iron to your food. The mentioned nutrients are extremely beneficial for your health and well-being.

The alkaline properties of clay pots neutralize the acidic level of the food. It also enhances the digestion efficiency of your body and keeps you healthier all the time. Clay post reduces heat intensity and offers a perfect for a slow-cooking dish with minimum oil.

Is It Good To Cook In Clay Pots?

Yes, it is good to use clay pots to cook food. With clay pots, you can cook and prepare delicious stews, curries, and various other dishes. It not only neutralizes the acidic concentration of the food but also adds an aromatic smoky flavor.

The aroma added to your food can be achieved by any other means or cookware. The authenticity of the taste will mesmerize your soul and mind. Meanwhile, these clay pots are super affordable and easy to maintain with some careful handling.

5 Benefits of Cooking in Clay Pots

The top 5 benefits of cooking food in clay pots are:

• Clay pots add a special aromatic and nice flavor to your dish
• Clay pots are best for retaining the nutrients of the food
• The food cooked in clay pots is perfect for a healthy heart
• Clay pots hold the authentic flavor precisely
• The clay pots come in affordable options

Are Clay Pots Microwave Safe?

Yes, clay pots are 100% microwave safe as these pots work flawlessly to distribute heat uniformly and retain heat for a long period. You can use an unglazed clay pot directly inside the microwave for cooking food.

But clay pots are not suitable to perform directly on top of the stovetop. It is recommended to add a heat diffuser between the burner and the clay pot.

If you are using a clay pot for the first time with a microwave, make sure to soak it in water. Heat the clay pot gradually from low to high heat as clay pots demand time to heat uniformly. This technique will keep you protected from pot breakage or cracking issues inside the microwave.

How Do You Make Clay Food Safe?

There is a simple technique to find out whether your clay pot is food safe or not. First, you have to squeeze some fresh lemon on the clay pot’s cooking surface, to begin with, the test. After that, place the clay pot safely without disturbing the lemon juice inside at least overnight.

On the next day, wash the lemon juice and rinse the clay pot with water. In case you notice any change in color, then your cookware is not safe for foodstuffs.

If you still want to make your clay pot suitable for cooking, you must fire the clay pot at extreme temperatures. The high temperature will make multiple changes including, reduction, shrinking, oxidation, fusing, and various other things. This technique is not feasible with the help of a household oven or microwave.

What Can You Cook in Clay Pots?

With clay pots, you can cook various types of food. All clay pots are safe to perform high-temperature cooking with beast steam retention capabilities.

There are some dishes that are particularly best if cooked in a clay pot which include:

• Baked potatoes
• Baked ziti or lasagna
• Baked cheese, such as feta, with olives and fresh oregano
• Whole-grain bread
• Whole chickens, Cornish hens, and ducks, along with vegetables
• Vegetable ragouts and ratatouille
• Meatloaf
• Bread puddings
• Whole-grain bread
• Fruit cobblers
• Stews and casseroles

In case you are willing to cook flavor-rich recipes of fish or meat which contain strong-flavored ingredients. So, to retain all flavors, you have to soak the pot in water.

How Do You Test For Lead in Clay Pots?

There is always the risk of lead contained in clay pots, especially those with a glazed surface. Sometimes these glazed surfaces may have lead content in them.

In that case, you need to perform various lead swab tests to ensure whether your clay pot contains lead content in them or not.

On the other hand, you have to soak the clay pot in vinegar for a few days. After a couple of days, analyze precisely whether there is any color difference. Vinegar is a perfect reactant to leach barium, lead, copper, and other materials from your clay cookware.

Final Verdict

It is very rare to find people using clay pots for cooking daily household meals. In this modern area, we mainly prefer to have metallic cookware for fast and hassle-free cooking. But these metallic pots leach various toxic elements into your food.

Consuming toxic food can cause serious health problems for your kids. So, it is always safe to use clay pots for cooking.

Always examine your clay cookware for lead content with authentic methods and prefer to have unglazed cookware variants. Clay post not only serves healthy food but also adds an aromatic smoky flavor to your food.

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