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With a growing interest in health and wellness now, lots of people are starting to make better choices. More individuals are using earthen pots and pans as healthy cooking options. For many years, clay pots have been a must in kitchens due to their name for keeping food warm and adding unique tastes to meals. However, compared to more modern options like stainless steel or non-stick surfaces, cleaning clay cookware requires extra caution.
Since clay is porous, it readily absorbs harsh chemicals and soap, which can then be added back into your food when you use it again. Strong detergents and abrasive scrubbers might damage the sensitive surface. This is the reason that natural and gentle cleaning techniques must be used for your clay pots and pans so that they remain intact. Proper cleaning prolongs their longevity, avoids contamination, and maintains their cooking quality. Find six simple but effective ways to keep your clay pots and pans in great form so you can still enjoy the benefits of cooking with this old material.
Cool Completely Before Cleaning
After using clay cookware, letting it cool naturally is one of the most crucial cleaning procedures. Cookware made of clay is susceptible to abrupt temperature changes. A hot clay pot may break or crack if submerged in cold water due to the temperature change. This kind of damage can be avoided, and handling is made safer by letting the pot cool. After cooking, just take the cookware off of the burner and place it on a surface that can withstand heat. It can take from half an hour to an hour, based on the thickness of the clay and the meal that you have made.
Use Gentle Scrub
Scrub the earthenware's surface with light, warm water using a soft brush or nonmetallic scrubbing pad. You may also use a normal or coconut fibre scrub, soft sponges, microfiber cloths, or nylon brushes to clean the inside of the cookware. Stay away from scrubbing pads and aggressive cleaners since they might clog the clay's pores and harm the porous surface.
Use Baking Soda For Odour Removal
When cleaning clay cookware, baking soda is the best option. Put two tablespoons of baking soda in the pot with light warm water and soak for at least 15 minutes to eliminate the odour. In order to thoroughly clean the pot, soak the pot in the mixture with the use of three tablespoons of baking soda for each litre of water for the entire night. You can also mix baking soda with water and turn it into a paste that will work great as a tough stain remover.
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Use Vinegar For Deep Strain & Grease
Vinegar can work great for oil residue or tough stains. Soak the clay pot or pan in a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar for a few hours or overnight. As an alternative, add around ¼ cup of vinegar to the container and scrub carefully to remove any remaining oil. The pot will begin to absorb the vinegar's acidic solution, so don't leave it on the clay for too long. Just use vinegar to wipe the insides and then quickly rinse with warm water to remove the vinegar.
Lemon And Salt Scrub
Split a lemon and sprinkle salt on the cut side. Scrub the earthenware's surface with the lemon and salt, pay particular attention to any spots that have residue or stains. After scrubbing, rinse well with warm water. Lemon acidity and salt's abrasive properties work together to remove tough residue naturally and successfully without the need for harsh chemicals.
Avoid Soap & Dishwasher
It's important to stay away from aggressive cleaning agents that could harm clay cookware when cleaning it. Your clay cookware will absorb soap and leave an unpleasant, soapy flavour in your next meal if you put soap or detergent on it. Similarly, don’t put earthen pots and pans into the dishwasher because the high heat and harsh detergents might damage the surface of these pots and pans.
As clay is porous, it will collect moisture unless it is dried adequately, which can lead to mould growth or offensive odours. You need to make sure the moisture in the cookware’s exterior and interior is gone by patting it dry with a soft and clean towel after washing.
Additionally, the cookware can be allowed to air dry after a while in a well-ventilated area. In fact, if you can, put it in such a sunny location to further remove moisture and eliminate any dangerous bacteria.
Image Credit: Freepik
