How to prep clay pot before use
1460465
I used this information from the internet when curing mine:1 Check that the bottom is dry2 Fill 80 percent with water. Add COOKED rice to equal 1/5 the amount of water. (The end result will be porridge, NOT 'rice'. See below.)3 Cook over low heat until rice porridge gets thick and glue-like sticky.4 When finished, cool for at least one 1 hour then remove and wash donabe with water.(The 'glue' fills up invisible holes and make the donabe stronger)
1460466
We initially had to soak it for a couple hours I'm water before the first use. You can probably just do that once in a while as maintenance after.
1460467
You wash it, and it is also recommended you cook rice in it the first time to make sure it is sealed properly, otherwise it could possibly leak.
1460468
I used this information from the internet when curing mine: 1 Check that the bottom is dry 2 Fill 80 percent with water. Add COOKED rice to equal 1/5 the amount of water. (The end result will be porridge, NOT 'rice'. See below.) 3 Cook over low heat until rice porridge gets thick and glue-like sticky. 4 When finished, cool for at least one 1 hour then remove and wash donabe with water. (The 'glue' fills up invisible holes and make the donabe stronger)
1637675
I have been using this clay for years. Any unfired clay can be reclaimed to be used again. You need to let the scraps dry out, then place in a large bucket with water up to the top of the dry scraps. It should only take a few hours for the clay to absorb the water. Then you need to scoop it out and place it on an absorbant surface. Plaster slab works best, but you can use pressure treated plywood. Let the clay sit for a couple of hours until you can peel the clay back like a fruit roll-up. Put it in a plastic bag until you can wedge it to remove the air pockets...
370803
Use deep pot, put purified water and tea, boil then low heat 10-12minutes. Take pot from heat and let it stay 12 hours and heat again until the surface move.Use cloth for strain. Keep in ref.
492909
It's best to preheat with oven. Remember to sprinkle corn meal on when preheating. Just lightly cover the stone.
2020680
cover it with a towel- then place in boiling water for about 15 mins. use tongs to check that its liquid and to remove - then let cool for a few mins before you use it for heat
1508569
Here is a little trick. Get a ziplock bag and put the clay in it and then add either the apple cider vinegar or the filtered water. Once you have it all in the bag then get the excess air out and then re seal the bag. Mash it around and since the clay is confined and cannot move around as much it makes it easier to mix. Please try it and come back and let us all know how it works for you if you get a chance. Hope this helps!
1003357
Haven't tried it yet - wikipedia says:"Donabe however, can be used over an open flame as well as in an oven if three precautions are taken. First, the outside of the donabe should be dry before use, as moisture within the clay will expand in the heat and may chip or crack the pot. Secondly, the pot should be heated gradually to reduce the possibility of cracks due to heat stress. Third, the pot should never be left over the flame while empty." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donabe
362148
Depends on how much clay your using. I usually wait a day before I paint on it.
584543
I put corn starch or baby powder in the mole before I push the clay in. It releases the clay pretty easily.
185096
It is always good to soak your beans before cooking. I boil the beans in water, just for a minute, turn off the fire, leaving the pot covered the whole time, and leave those beans for an hour or several. Then wash them well and cook them in the bean cooker.
924607
You should only use a portion of clay one time. The grit gets stuck in the clay and will scratch. I throw out the fresh portion I cut off after every use.
1831923
Depends entirely on the condition of the paint. A clay bar typically preps a paint surface for the next step. If it's full of swirls, surface scratches or faded, then you'll want to use a compound and then a polish. If it's in fairly good condition, especially a newer vehicle, go ahead to waxing.
2055602
Because this is a clay pot, they cannot withstand immediate high heat. They will crack. The cooking temperature has to rise slowly. As an example, I would cook my beans by putting the pot in a cold oven with the food in it and let the pot get warmed as the oven warms to the temperature it's going to cook at. As for cooktops, I would think you could but you would need to use a good sturdy heat diffuser and start your heat low until the pot is warmed and then increase your heat to cook your food.
2241655
I am not sure what other people use, but I bake it, sand it, and spray it with Krylon clear acrylic spray. I believe that you can paint it with latex paints. I think you could find some good information on Utube and search Scupty. Another good idea is to do a Google search under the type of craft you are doing, or under the type of material you are using. Good luck. Things will probably be fine no matter what you use. I avoid any oil based paints because of unknown or bad chemical reactions with the clay.
2127218
It really depends. There are instructions on the package for .. leaving it to dry for x-amount of time depending on how thick the clay is. Otherwise you can definitely speed it up by baking it in the oven under 220 degrees.
1138890
A damp sponge and some Borax or baking soda. Keeps the insides of all stainless steel pots and pans looking like new, too.
1138887
I have several Cuisinart, stainless pots and pans. They replaced all my Teflons, happily. If you preheat on a very low flame, I believe that helps prevent burning. But any burn is easily removed with baking soda, or, if very bad, covering the burnt bottom with water and baking soda, and boiling for 10 - 40 minutes. My pots are many years old, and spotless.