Claypot Preparation
Wash a new pot in hand-hot water adding a little mild dish washing liquid, and rinse it thoroughly.
Soaking : The first step in preparing a claypot recipe is to soak the pot in cold water for 15 minutes, or until you are ready to put the food in the pot. If the pot has never been used before, it should be soaked for 30 minutes. Place the pot and lid in the sink or in a washing-up bowl. Invert the lid on top of the pot to save space and fill the sink or bowl with cold water to completely submerge the pot and lid.
The unglazed, porous pot absorbs water during soaking. As the pot heats in the oven, the water which it has absorbed evaporates to create a moist cooking atmosphere. Not only does this prevent foods from drying out but it also encourages suitable ingredients to create a flavorful cooking liquor.
The moist atmosphere promotes tender results when roasting meat and preserves the natural flavor of foods such as seafood, poultry, meat and vegetables. When used for baking, the pot encourages items, such as cakes and breads, to rise well. The pot also helps to give yeasted bread a good crust which further crisps when the lid is removed for the final 10 minutes or so of cooking.
The material and moisture which is retained in the pot makes it unnecessary to add fat for basic cooking. For example, meat and poultry may be roasted without any additional fat and fish or smaller cuts of meat and poultry may be baked without adding oil or butter.
If you intend to use the same claypot for all types of cooking, do not cook fish as the first food in the pot. Once the pot has been used for other cooking, it can then be used for fish and seafood.
