HOW TO SEASON A NEW UNGLAZED CLAY COOKING POT BEFORE FIRST USE | 4K UHD 

You are more than welcome, Maria! Stay connected. xx

Glad to know 🙂. Thanks for watching 💕

You're very welcome! Thanks for having a look :D

Glad it was helpful 😁 Enjoy your culinary journey! ❤

Mr.Jones, that's awesome to know! Yes, too much information can be overwhelming. Enjoy your new clay pot! 😊

Thanks for your kind comment! Glad it helped 😀

Thank you so much! I am so happy to know the video was helpful. Enjoy clay pot cooking, and be sure to browse some claypot recipes on this channel 😊.

You are more than welcome MA dar. Thanks for connecting!

Thanks Hiramya! I bet there are many ways to season without soaking too. It's just too bad we don't get to see how these things were traditionally done in rural kitchens. My late grandmother spent her time in the kitchen from morning till night. And when she had dementia, she could remember recipes and cooking related information but not anything else :)

Hi Dil, glad it was helpful! Yes do let me know how it went :)

You are so welcome Indi B! Clay pots are wonderful for rice. Stay in touch :)

Hi! Where did you buy your pots?

Hi Michelle, this is what I got from Sri Lanka and we also import them. Our next shipment is due in 3 weeks. Check back later this month when we upload on www.paradisetradingllc.com :)

Lynn, thank you for watching and your sweet comment. You are too kind ☺❤

My pleasure 😊 Rakhi!

Wonderful! You're going to love cooking in it :)

Sure! Glad you found it to he helpful 🙏

Basically fill in the pores with something non toxic, water resistant, that wont spoil. Eventually the outer pores will collect/fill with carbon. Making the pot stronger and more resistant. Feels like harmony :)

Wow, thank you!

Exactly 💯

Yes, never stop learning. Thanks for watching! :)

You are very welcome and glad you enjoyed it!

You're welcome 😊

You are very welcome 😊

Thank you kk :)

Glad you liked it sara! Stay connected xx

Susantha, that's wonderful! Glad to be of help and thank you for your kind words. Grandmothers knew best and we will surely miss their amazing hands-on knowledge.

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching! :)

Thank you 😁

Oh my Cecil! Thank you!! I don't have a team to do my videos so I get to keep all your high compliments :) Thank you for sharing your lovely memories of your mom's clay pot seasoning. Once the pot has been soaked it can be used to make anything for the final step in seasoning. We too used firewood too and food is extra delicious when made that way. Stay in touch. xx

@AasaiRasaiRecipes Can you identify the music please? It would be great for yoga practice

Hello @marthatierney449, this music is from the RU-vid Creator Studio. I am unable to locate the information and it may have been taken down. Sorry that I cannot be of much help.

Oh no! You should get back to loving clay pots xx

You are more than welcome! Thanks for checking it out.

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

Glad you found it to be helpful Salma. Thanks for watching 💕

Hi Kevin, I am with you on this! It's amazing that you make your own pots and fire them yourself. How fun!!! :) Stay connected.

How can unglazed clay be non-food-safe? If you use the wrong clays, maybe, but unglazed clay pots are older than history.

@@mrjones2721 except I thought it was the opposite. Unglazed is healthier, no?

@@mrjones2721 u can easily find people online that says that clay pot is unsafe. They say that the the fact that it is porous makes it easy for mold to developp inside the pot as it can retain moisture

@@imnotkidding6768 sometimes the clay is naturally high in arsenic (supposedly this is true in Pakistan), but either the soil or the glaze can contain lead. Mexico seems to be more likely to make and sell pots with lead in it. Maybe it is naturally occurring in their soil? idk.

You are now than welcome 😁

🤫Shhhhh... Let's not spoil the fun 🤭😆

Really amazing hubby of yours 😂👌

Thank you Salma for your kind words 🙏

🤗🤗🤗

Hi Nazia, thanks for checking it out. Like the Kerala fish curry? :) Yes, you are right food is amazing when cooked in clay pots. xx

Thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated 🙏

Glad you agree! 🙂❤️

Now that's brilliant 👏 😀

Evan thank you so much for your kind comment and for subscribing. Glad you found the video to be helpful. Welcome to the tribe!

That's very sweet, Ros C! 💕

yes good and kind voice

Glad it was helpful, Swapna, Try the online or local Sri Lankan grocery stores.

You're most welcome 😊

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes Is it safe to use unglazed pot for oven cooking as well?

You are most welcome 🙏. Enjoy your new pot! 😊

Thanks Kaan! Happy to help. You do not need to season a glazed clay pot. They are ready to use 😁

You are most welcome darling xx

Thanks Jul! Glad it was helpful. Is it a serving pot or a cooking pot? Usually if it is a cooking pot, it will have a soft or hard glaze all over it and does not need to be seasoned. If it is an unglazed lid of a pot then it can be seasoned this way. However, I would not touch the pot if it is not meant to be seasoned.

thank you for your response! it's a cooking pot, where the inside part the food touches is glazed but I'm pretty sure the outside of the pot is not. it's meant for cooking on a fire because it has little feet to go over the coals.

Greetings! Thanks for checking out the video. How sure are you that it needs to be seasoned? If the pot is designed to fit into an electric slow cooker, it will be glazed to prevent liquid leaking into the housing. Or it may be a different kind of clay that is not porous, which does not require seasoning. An unglazed clay pot can 'sweat' during cooking or leak a little bit initially, even after seasoning. Just thought you should be aware as this can be hazardous. To your question: You do not need an oven. The step shown in the video is to further strengthen the pot, and it is optional. Soaking and cooking something once is enough to season a clay pot. Do not apply oil on the outside of the pot to season it in a slow cooker as oil is flammable. Hope this helps. 🩷

Sam, Americans don't think so 😅! Glad you found the video helpful 🙏

Thank you so much. Glad it's helpful. You only need do it once before using it the first time and never again 😊.

That's a high compliment but I'll take it 💅 😄. Stay connected ❤

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes I am from Kandy. Yea.

You are very welcome! I have used mine for reheating food occasionally and have had no issues.

Hi 👋, I'm glad it was helpful, and thanks for your questions! I have been using these clay pots all the time on an electric coil stove top without issues overall. The only downside is that the bottom is rounded out and it has less contact with the coil. This causes the pot to wobble and take a little longer to heat. Well, these pots are designed for use on a Dara Lipa so it is to he expected. Once the pot is heated, it holds the heat as it would if it were a heavy pan. I place the pot directly on the coil. 🙂

Thank you so much! Use only regular cold water to soak. The taste of baking soda or anything else you add into the water will be abosrbed by the pot, so avoid using. Water pots tend to get slimy on the inside after several weeks. So when washing it, use a scouring pad to gently scrub the inside to maintain the pot. Hope this helps.

You are very welcome 😊

Hi 👋, yes, you can use on a gas hob, and no, you do not need to put in the oven. Skip this step entirely if you wish. Only soak the pot and cook something in it after it has completely air dried. Or else the pot will crack due to thermal shock going from soaking to hot stove too soon.

Thank you Divya. Any unglazed clay pot meant for cooking will have to follow a seasoning process like this. Even a black clay pot 🙂

Hi Bertha, I got this clay pot from Sri Lanka :)

Thank you! 😁

Hi RM, thank you so much! You need to season the pot once,[ before first use only. It does not need to be seasoned this way ever again after that. Each time you take out the pot to use, there is nothing else you need to do.

Hi thanks for watching! You should go back and complete step 1 of soaking the pot for several hours. Once that is complete you can follow the next step of cooking some coconut in it or boiling water. Discard those. Baking it in the oven is just an alternate method.

Thank you! Coconut oil will not be a good substitute for the grated coconut refuse. Instead, boil some water or cook about a tablespoon of rice in a cup of water until the rice is cooked. Discard and do not use.

Hi 👋, I am so glad the video was helpful! You don't need to repeat the process unless you see a pool of water under the pot. I think your pot is ready to use. It is normal to see some liquid lost to absorption but it should not seep from under the pot on to your counter/table. It will finish seasoning when used.

Hello 👋 and thank you for watching. When seasoning an (unglazed) water pot, you only need to soak it in water for 12 to 24 hours. Then wipe the outside and let it completely air dry. Fill with water and leave for several hours. Then discard this water and refill. You can now drink/use the pot starting with the refill water. Note that clay water pots should be cleaned very frequently to prevent it slime from forming. Hope this helps.

Thanks Lalita 💗. Clay pots are best used at medium temperature as they hold heat for a long time. It doesn't make sense to cook on high flame as it will not make a difference in the way the pot conducts heat. I would use a flame level of upto 3 or 4 for the most part, whichever is 'medium' on a gas stove.

Hi P S, you welcome! I have been cooking in this and my small clay pots (directly on the coils) everyday since this video in December 2019. So far I have had no issues. See my playlist for 'Sri Lankan Clay Pot Curries' for videos of using this pot even on very high heat. Hope this helps :)

Can I use a seasoned clay pot on an electric radiant ceramic stove??

Hi Annette, it is possible depending on the type of clay used for the pot. Some types of clay pots are not recommended to use on direct heat. The manufacturer's advice will best in that case. There are also risks of scratches on your stove top as clay pots are not comparatively smooth. Hope this helps.

Hi Sam Sung, thank you for watching and for the suggestion. Will do my best. God bless you too!

Greetings! To the best of my knowledge, an ancient Sri Lankan clay pot like the one in this video is loaded into the traditional kiln once, and then fired for several days before being taken out. Not sure if it is the temperature used in bisque firing, though. The traditional pottery makers in Sri Lanka don't use tools for measuring kiln temperature. They go by knowledge and experince handed down from elders.

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes I see. Thank you.

Hi Heather, this method of seasoning is only for an unglazed clay pot. I am sorry to hear of your damaged glazed pot. To be honest, it may not be safe to use for food. Have to tested it to check if the glaze contains lead (using a lead test kit)? It is better to use it for display unless the manufacturer can confirm that it is safe to use. xx

Oh no! Sorry, the food was undercooked. It is likely the pot absorbed the liquid. Depending on the size of the chicken, it can take anywhere from 1 hr & 15 mins or up to 1 hr 30 mins in a full sized conventional oven at 350F. Ovens can vary significantly by brand, size, and type. So this is only a guide. The thing to remember with clay pots is that they do retain moisture. You may end up with a lot of liquid (from the chicken). To help the unwanted liquid evaporate faster without drying out the chicken, use a higher temperature or low broil towards the end.

Hi Khurs D, It's awesome you're trying out bread in the clay pot. While I have not yet used the pot for baking bread, if the recipe calls for soaking then follow those instructions. Bear in mind that clay pots help retain moisture too. So it may not always be necessary to soak an unglazed pot each time prior to baking bread, depending on the type of bread you're trying to bake. For instance, dough that has a higher water content (shaggy dough).

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes Thank you for your prompt reply! I am going to be baking sourdough in this claypot and oven spring is best achieved through plenty of steam being generated in the closed pot during baking. Since every boule of sourdough bread baking for an hour will deplete the moisture contained in the claypot i was thinking that soaking it before every bake will replenish the much needed moisture that in turn helps to generate steam. The recipe only calls for the use of a dutch oven. No other details given.

I would not advise to keep the oiled pot on direct heat like a stove top. Oil catches fire and it could be a disaster! You can skip this step altogether if you have done the prior steps to seson the pot ❤

Thank you so much.

Thank you for watching! 🙂 Unglazed is always best if you are concerned about healthy cooking. These pots have no toxic chemical layer (glaze) to make it waterproof. Glazed pots are convenient because they don't need to be seasoned. They also look better with a sheen or shine and a brighter color from the glaze.

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes Many thanks

Hi Anita, use the same method regardless of what you are making xx

Hi Sarah, thanks for your question. Did you season it at all before you started using it the first time? 🤔 Once seasoned, you don't need to do anything else, really. You can still follow the directions in the video to strengthen the pot but if it has been previously seasoned, it may not make much of a difference.

I am excited for you! The beans will turn out excellent 👌. Keep checking though. Claypots tend to burn the food in the middle of the pot if not stirred frequently.

Hi Mentari Travel, you only need to do the first step of soaking the pot for several hours as shown in the video. It is enough to strengthen the handles. Then cook something in it like coconut or boiling a small amount of rice. You don't need to put oil and warm in the oven :)

Hi, it is not necessary. Also, there is no guarantee that any clay items will not crack even if you seaon it correctly. It all depends on the purity of the clay, if it was dried correctly and the firing temperature of the kiln. With that in mind, if you feel it is better to season the stand, only soak it in water. Then, completely air dry before starting to use to prevent cracking or thermal shock.

Definitely go for unglazed pot as it is the best and safest for health. Glazed pots look shiny and nice but the glaze can be toxic and it gets into the food.

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes Thank you for answer, it was very helpfull ,

Hi Avelina, thank you for watching. Please visit ParadiseTradingLLC for similar clay pots. Hope this helps ❤.

Hi lu Maha, you can definitely skip the oven. Do not apply oil and instead, once the pot has finished soaking and doesn't leak water, just use stove top to boil water or cook a little bit of rice in the pot. Hope this helps :)

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes Thank u 😺

Hi Pearl, this particular pot is from Sri Lanka. If you are looking for clay pots in general, there are many online retailers that sell them. But these ones are hard to find outside of Sri Lanka.

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes i would say, definitely you get outside Srilanka - India is where this is a common sight.

Yes they do make terracotta water filters. They are effective in filtering water.

Hi Ocha Lambana, you noted correctly. These are different methods I have shown and you can do both if you like or either. The coconut refuse method is commonly used where an oven is not available :)

Hi Rina, I don't think I understand the type of pot you have but I would follow the instructions that came with it. It's never too late to season an unglazed clay pot. If it is not seasoned, you simply cannot cook in it as it will leak pretty badly. I would check again why the instructions say to wash it instead of soaking it.

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes 🤗thank u Aasai for ur swift response,perhaps I could send u a picture and the instructions ,but I realized this pot has to be seasoned,how could I contact u please 😇

Hi Rina, feel free to message me on fb (Aasai Rasai) or aasairasai@gmail.com 😊

That's normal with some clay pots. It is not that the seasoning hasn't worked. Go ahead and start using the pot to cook in, as it will finish seasoning on its own. Since the pot is porous, it is normal that it absorbs any liquid even after it has been seasoned and used many times. This is the nature of clay. To prevent absorbtion, avoid keeping the food for too long in the pot after cooking.

Wonderful news, Thank you!!

Love that! I agree about the fish too. Amazing flavor!

I am not familiar as to why it turned silver. I am guessing it is the glaze. Not sure as to the safety. Glaze contains lead so I would not use it if there is a doubt.

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes Thank you

Yes Anthony, it is meant for that method of cooking (direct flame on gas stove top/hearth).

Hi Madu, that's a good question. Yes, they generally use 'pure' (this is debatable) clay but it depends on the place that make the pots. The industry is not very well regulated it seems, since this is a traditional craft and the artisans learn through apprenticeship under more experienced workers. We can look for signs of lead use, such as a soft or high sheen/shine and bright/ vibrant color which indicates they mixed something into the clay. All natural Sri Lankan clay pots look comparatively dull, have some imperfections and will likely have scuff marks. There can be other ways the clay can be toxic or contaminated. For instance, if they are sourcing the clay from areas near industrial and human waste. It's best to get clay pots from reputed or recommend sellers. Hope this helps.

@@AasaiRasaiRecipes I appreciate your taking time to answer me. It did definitely help .

That depends on the type of clay pot. If it is unglazed and is designed to cook on a traditional hearth, then it can be used on an electric coil stove too.

Fantastic!

Unfortunately there isn't a good way to fix a broken clay pot. Sounds like it is glazed (shiny surface) making it unsafe for food when damaged. Your best option is to repurpose it.

Mine is an electric coil stove top. The clay pot will scratch and damage the ceramic glass top so it is not advisable.