The clay pot from ancient times served to people, fulfilling the role of dishes for cooking, storing products and use on economic purposes. Dishes that are prepared in the clay dishes have a unique taste, differ in juit and fragrant odor, and also retain all the beneficial properties of food.
Advantages and disadvantages
For a long history of using clay as a material for creating dishes, its manufacturing technology has been significantly improved. Ceramic tableware has become more durable and acquired a modern appearance.
Among the unequivocal advantages of the material, the following facts can be noted:
- Environmentally friendly material, natural raw material, which is relevant for kitchen utensils;
- resistance to high temperatures;
- Porous air flowing structure;
- ability to keep a certain temperature for a long time;
- does not change the taste qualities of cooked dishes;
- Moisture resistance and ability to withstand chemical impacts.
The pots can have any style of design, and from a wide range of products presented can be selected an option that satisfies the taste of almost every person. Clay products are better than ceramic in the fact that they are more functional and do not block pores of red clay. Often used in everyday life, in the kitchen (used for cooking dishes on a variety of recipes for a pair).
However, traditional pottery ceramics are inherent in some drawbacks, due to which this material is inferior to other materials for the manufacture of dishes:
- fragility and need in careful;
- Complexity in the process of care caused by the need for neat cleaning pot in order to avoid damage to the glazed coating;
- Special requirements in operating conditions: Clay dishes are unacceptable to expose too rapid cooling or heating, it is also not recommended to be prepared in pots on open fire;
- The unglazed pots have the ability to strong absorption moisture, which in conditions of reduced temperatures can provoke the formation of cracks on the walls;
- The property is absorbed by unpleasant odors, which are very difficult to remove, so that the clay dishes are not suitable for storing strongly smelling products;
- Large weight of the product, which greatly complicates the process of transportation.
Production features
The shape of the pot, developed by potters many centuries ago, has been preserved until now. The design of the product is designed for uniform heated dishes from all sides. Immediateness of the ages of pots from clay were manually damaged, without resorting to the help of technical devices.
Such kitchen utensils was the perfect option for cooking in a Russian oven.
The clay is considered to be the dishes that passed the procedure of a single firing and does not have additional additives and coatings. The firing point is usually more than 7000 degrees. Move pots on a pottery circle, they have a matte one-photon structure.
After burning, the surface of the products is covered with glaze if you need to get the glazed pot.
Description of species
Large efforts in the preparation of food in the glazed pot from clay are not required.
If the product is glazed inside and from all sides, it does not need pre-soaking in water.
Baking pots that were not covered with icing make foods softer, as they are preparing for a couple with a long taking in their own juice. They are used, observing all the rules for the care of clay dishes.
Ceramic dishes differs from the clay used material, which may include mineral additives. Also, the difference lies in the technologies of production and the duration of the firing. For pots of clay, which have a simple form, use the stamping method, which allows you to get beautiful pots with even outlines of the same size.
Ceramic products made from inorganic materials hardened under the influence of high temperatures and subsequent cooling.
In appearance, clay pots often resemble ceramic containers.
Pots from ceramics can have a variety of colors, the decor in the form of drawings is usually applied to their surface. They have a stronger structure compared to clay products, however, they are also afraid of a sharp temperature difference.
By destination
Clay is an environmentally friendly material, and products stored in such a dishes longer retain their nutritional properties. The clay pot is suitable for storing dairy products, croup, fruit, vegetables and the other.
Loose products in clay tanks are not threatened by the appearance of bugs.
The pot is considered an excellent option for storing baked milk, cheese or cottage cheese. Products in it will remain fresh in it, being in a cool place.
For vegetables, there are special clay tanks in which there are ventilation holes. It is necessary to store vegetables, covering the dishes with a lid, such a technique will help them not start rotting for a long time. This container is also suitable for potatoes, because the air will circulate in it.
For honey, it is possible to use tanks from the treated clay. In such a dishes, sweet delicacy will stay vitamins and flavoring qualities.
This utensils are greatly loved by the gardeners that use it on their plot. For the garden, pots from clay can become a beautiful decoration and place for falling out flowers.
At the bottom of the tank should be drainage holes, as well as attached pallet.
In addition, the property of passing the air has a beneficial effect on the root system. The only disadvantage of the use of the clay pot in street conditions is its fragility.
In shape and size
Clay products differ in such parameters. However, all containers have a traditional configuration and have a narrowed neck. On the sides of the rounded pot are handles. Also attached the lid intended for the thick closing of the neck.
Also, thanks to such models, problems with the subsequent washing of the oven will be less.
For cooking, it is better to choose pots with a wide throat and round shape.
For colors, unusual samples can be used: as a triangle or trapezium.
Product volumes vary. You can find models from 200 ml to 30 liters, those that are less than 700 ml are used as dining room tableware, and large - for storing products and preparation of large portions.
Tips for choosing
Before buying a clay pot, it is necessary to determine its purpose. Based on the purpose of use, the desired form, size and volume of the product are selected. It should be carefully examined by the vessel for the presence of scratches, chips, cracks and other defects.
It is worth ensuring that the wall thickness and base is the same, otherwise the pot is cracking the pot when heated.
No less important is to check the integrity of the purchased clay product. To determine the quality of the hiring pot is checked for the nature of the sound. The published sound should seem ringing and clean.
Enamelled coating should be uniform, on the outer and inner surfaces - there are no spaces and implications. This is especially important during operation, since the perfect surface will be able to protect the porous texture from the penetration of fat particles, soot and moisture.
Ceramics with complex decorative elements will cause difficulties when washing and maintaining clean. In the presence of the lid, check if it approaches the neck.
The volume of the clay product is selected taking into account the magnitude of the portions that will be prepared in it. In pots having a large volume, you can prepare a family dish designed for several persons.
When choosing a container to disemboditate in room colors, it is worth focusing on the diameter and height of the vessel. Based on the type of root system, it is necessary to select the right dishes, then the plant will be able to develop normally and grow. For the urine root it is preferable to take wide pots for long roots - high and narrow products.
Despite the relatively high cost, such pots are stable and contribute to evaporation of excess moisture, provide an oxygen inflow.
The stores present a huge variety of forms and design solutions, which, together with the beneficial properties of natural clay, prompts to give preference precisely to the clay pots instead of artificial analogues.
Application and care
It is not recommended to put cold pots of clay into a preheated brass furnace, because they can burst, - the container must be heated simultaneously with the oven. Covered pots of pots are recommended to put on a wooden stand.
What can be washed in dishwasher clay products is considered a controversial assertion and depends on the coating. Clay tank with a cheated coating is designed for use in the oven, microwave and oven.
Only glazed dishes are allowed in the dishwasher.
It is possible to warm up in the microwave food in any pots, with the exception of products containing a conductive paint on the surface, that is, gilding, as well as paint coating. Just in case, you can familiarize yourself with the rules of operation of the microwave oven.
As for the dishes with a lid, you can take advantage of an interesting advice - replace it with a test. Also, after baking, the delicious bread will turn out.
The dish in the microwave or oven can not be made to complete readiness, and take a pot in advance - for 7-10 minutes ., After all, the heated walls have been driving heat for a long time, and the food itself will reach the desired condition. To quickly warm the food in a pot, you can periodically stir the content.
If you need to put several clay vessels in the oven immediately, you need to follow so that they do not come into contact.
If the walls of the pot are nothed away from fat, you should fill the container with cold water and add a small amount of vinegar to it. Then put the pot into the cold brand, gradually heating it. After half an hour, the dishes will need to be removed and cool. Next, the product is washed out and rinsing.
Processing dishes without enamel standing with extreme caution. In the process of washing, the use of wire washcloth is unacceptable, as it can damage the surface. Also, do not forget about the property of the unhappy pots to choose fragrances, so it is not recommended to wash them with the help of detergents in which there are chemical fragrances. It is preferable to use soap without flavors.
Household chemicals can be absorbed into the pores of the pot, and subsequently stand out in products.
The pot after washing should be completely dry, otherwise mold fungus may appear inside the tank.
Store utensils from clay is needed open and in a dry place. You can do completely without adding oil or fat or use their very small amount.
A purchased clay pot is recommended to be found in a cold-water container for one or two hours, thus it can be prepared for first use. This must be done so that the water penetrate into the porous texture of clay and the sudine did not proceed.
It should be borne in mind that the unjointed clay perfectly absorbs extraneous smells, so in one pot it is better to prepare the same type of dishes. If you still had to put something fragrant in a pot, you must lay out inside the parchment paper.
If you want to decorate the clay vessel and give it the original design you can paint it with acrylic paints, and then coat with an additional layer of varnish. The drawing drawing completely depends on the taste of the author and its imagination.
