There are basically two types of clay pots used, earthenware and stoneware, determined by the clay bodies from which they’re made and temperature to which they’re fired.
Stoneware ceramic cookware, tableware, and serving pieces is the general name for the second oldest type of clay . It can be made by “throwing” on a potter’s wheel, casting from a thin watered clay, pressed in a hydraulic press or hand-built from slabs, coils and other forms.
The wheel is the fastest way to form pots, but requires considerable time to learn how to do. Your NewClay Pottery Stoneware ceramic cookware will last a lifetime and is strong, easily cleaned, and, with care, used in the oven to bake, broil and braise. In general, you can consider it to be like glass cooking utensils, except stoneware is less prone to breaking.
1. The glaze and clay are non-toxic and lead-free and don’t release any flavors into foods.
2. Dishwasher safe, any soap or detergent is fine, or it can be hand washed.
3. Microwave safe, the clay itself won’t warm but hot foods or liquids can make the pot hot. 4. Scratch resistant, can be used with any utensils. The glaze is essentially glass.
5. Non-Stick without synthetic coatings. A light spray of oil can help prevent sticking.
6. Oven Safe (Best put in a cold oven and brought to temperature). So it’s fine for pie dishes.
7. Can be frozen (thaw to near room temp before heating). Any time a stoneware piece has been heated, it is best to place it on cloth or a wood or metal cooling rack.
8. Doesn’t absorb food orders, spicing or fats.
9. A new type of stoneware called Flameware is a stoneware based clay but made to withstand stovetop direct flame or electric surfaces. All the above apply, but Flameware can also be used on a stove-top and there is no danger in applying heat too fast.
10. The down-side, like all ceramics and glass, it is breakable, but stoneware is extremely tough.
11. WATCH OUT FOR THERMAL SHOCK. BEST TO PUT POTS LIKE COLANDERS and MUGS, IN OR UNDER, OR FILL WITH, WARM WATER FIRST.
Sudden filling with boiling water can cause it to crack. I even had the burst of hot water from a single service coffee machine crack a cold mug. If you’re cooking something like pasta, it’s a good idea, just before the pasta is done, set the empty colander over the boiling water for a minute or two to warm in the steam or run hot water from the faucet to warm the colander a bit. Your New NewClay Pottery Stoneware Kitchen Ware Stoneware is arguably the most popular pottery used in the home and kitchen today. It is usually made from a combination of naturally mined clays, blended in to a “clay body” to achieve certain firing temperatures, fired color, and specific handling characteristics. It is fired to temperatures that melt the clay mix back into the component rocks from which they came millions of years ago. The temperature is high enough (at least 2100 degF) to cause the clay body materials to melt together and be waterproof. The Beauty of stoneware is its utility and ease of use. Stoneware Is Strong, Easy to Care For and Easy to Use. Handmade Stoneware Dishes and Tableware, are:
1. Oven-safe, casseroles, meats, Start with a cool oven and room temperature pot. Insert the pot and bring it all to temperature at the same time.
2. Microwave-safe,
3. Dishwasher safe, and
4. Have lead-free, non-toxic glazes.
5. Mix, serve, store all in the same pot. For warming, from room temperature, it can go directly into a microwave, or a cool oven.
6. Use any type of utensil
7. No pre-use seasoning needed.
The only thing you can’t really do, is expose it to direct flame, like a stove-top. For that you need NewClay Pottery All Ceramic Flameware Stove-top
Cookware.Stoneware is Made For Everyday Use at the Table, For Food Prep and Entertaining
Often designed and Made For Special Recipes, NewClay Stoneware pottery is designed for all types of food preparation and oven use. It is food-safe, microwave and dishwasher safe and oven safe with normal precautions.
Examples are pie dishes, chicken bakers, no-knead Bread Bakers, tagines, etc.
It is also very comfortable as every day dishes; plates, bowls, cups and mugs, platters, pitchers, etc
Because Stoneware is fired to the point of vitrification, it is strong, waterproof and, completely food-safe and non-toxic. Foods cooked in clay pots stay warm for a long time. For instance, veggies steamed in my veggie steamer will stay warm for 20-30 minutes. Same for chilling. Like potato salad, held in the refrigerator for an hour or so, will stay chilled much longer than in a metal or plastic dish.
Special Pots Many are designed to produce a certain recipe, like our take-off of the famous “beer can chicken” baker. Bowls are also shaped to their intended use. Deeper to mix bread or several ingredients like bean salads. Or multi-ingredient recipes like bread kneading and raising. Flatter bowls are for salads and serving foods like potato salads. And, finally fairly flat bowls for entertaining like the Chip and dip or for serving breads