Are clay pots dishwasher safe?

Clay pots are considered far from the most common cookware, yet every home cook has a few of these ceramic pieces in their cupboard. Some never use them, while others simply rave about cooking in clay pots using traditional recipes. This is precisely the question that fans of this type of cookware often ask: can clay pots be washed in the dishwasher? We'll answer this question in this article, including how to care for these pots to ensure their longevity.

A variety of pots

If you think a clay pot is a clay pot, no matter where you are, you're very wrong. A thousand years ago, clay pots around the world were virtually identical in structure, only varying in shape. Today, technology has advanced greatly. Clay is fired in a special way, various additives are added, and the pieces themselves are coated with a thick layer of ceramic glaze.

Pots with a special coating are unlike their "traditional" counterparts. They can easily withstand a dishwasher test without any problems. Other ceramics can also withstand the dishwasher test, but not all of them. For more details, read the article on the topic. Is it possible to wash ceramics in the dishwasher?, it will be useful. Traditional clay pots, which, by the way, are gradually becoming fashionable, are not compatible with the dishwasher and here's why:

• under the influence of hot water and steam mixed with detergents and coupled with vibration, the clay pot gradually deteriorates, becoming covered with cracks;
• clay absorbs detergents, which cannot be washed off afterwards, and during cooking the material will release chemicals into the food;

Just one wash in the dishwasher is enough to irreparably ruin the pots. After such a "water treatment," they will be unsuitable for cooking.

• Traditional paintings, and indeed any decoration on clay pottery, deteriorate in the dishwasher, and the item loses its appearance.

In short, to avoid ruining a regular clay pot, you need to wash it in a special way—never in the dishwasher. How? We'll tell you about that now.

Caring for uncoated cookware

Although traditional clay pottery has been used for thousands of years, it's still a bit too fussy for modern people. If used improperly and neglected, it quickly deteriorates, and clay pots are certainly no exception. What should you keep in mind when using traditional clay pottery?

1. Clay pots and other utensils don't like household chemicals, especially detergents. Even the most harmless dishwashing gel will soak into the clay that it's impossible to rinse it out.
2. If you place cold food in a clay pot and then place it in a very hot oven, the item may crack due to the extreme temperature change.
3. To remove burnt-on food from the inside of a clay pot, use a brush and hot water. Adding a little baking soda is acceptable, but never use vinegar.
4. If vegetable juice has soaked into the sides of your pot, or you've previously cleaned it with chemicals, you can try to restore it. Fill the pot with salt and place it in a cold oven. The salt will gradually heat up and absorb the dirt. You need to heat the pot with salt for about 1 hour.
5. Don't store your clay pot until it's completely dry. Mold can form on damp clay walls. If this does happen, scrub the pot with a brush and a paste of dampened baking soda. The mold will quickly disappear.

So, it's best not to wash clay pots in the dishwasher, especially if they don't have a special protective coating. Traditional clay pots should only be washed by hand, and they require special attention. If used and stored properly, a clay pot will always reward you with delicious food, but if you wash it with other dishes in the dishwasher, it will quickly deteriorate. Wash your dishes properly!

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