Pottery Care and Use

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Prevent cracking:  avoid temperature shock. 

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When heating in the oven, place the casserole with food in a room temperature oven. Then turn the oven on.  Always allow food and pottery to heat or cool together.  I also recommend adding some water or sauce to cover the bottom of the pottery before and  during cooking to provide even temperature.

 

Do not place a hot pot into water or run water into it.  Allow it to cool to room temperature, then add water for washing.  Temperature changes in dish washers are safe for pottery.

 

Do not heat an empty pot in microwave or standard oven.

 

Use pot holders to handle pottery when heating.

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Pots will get hot with the food in the microwave.  

I have found newer models of microwave ovens to heat the small amount of absorbed water in the clay causing mug handles to get hot.

 

My pottery can be safely washed in the dishwasher. 

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I recommend hand washing pottery occasionally.  Rinse products can build up and hand washing can remove this film

Avoid heavy duty dish washer detergents. Use the minimum amount of detergent.  Dish washer detergent can degrade glaze over time.

 

Avoid metal or heavy duty nylon scrubbies which scratch and degrade the surface.  Soaking in soapy water will loosen food so it can be easily washed off.  

 

Tea stains are easily removed by putting 2-3 Tablespoons of  lemon juice in the mug then fill with hot tap water.  Allow to sit overnight and wash.

 

Prevent chips and scratches. 

 

Do not hit a spoon handle against a rim to shake off food. 

Load the dishwasher so dishes or flatware do not  knock against each other.  When storing, place a cloth between stacked pieces.  Store plates vertically, but be careful that plates do not knock into one another when moving one when multiples are adjacent.

 

Do not use a cracked pot for food. 

To check for cracks, flick the empty pot with a fingernail.  It should have a bright ring.  A dull sound indicates a crack.