If you are an avid cook and equally enthusiastic environmentalist, then you probably already know all about pure clay cookware and all the accolades it has received over the years. So much so that it is hard to believe that there can be drawbacks to using pots and pans that virtually guarantee a healthy meal at all times.
Advantages of pure clay pots
Well, let’s start with the healthy eating aspect. Pure clay is inert, which means that it will not react with food. Even if that weren’t the case, clay is packed with nutrients like magnesium and calcium, unlike toxins and chemicals like metal cookware. None of that will seep into your food if you use clay pots. They are also unglazed, the pure clay ones, which is another health benefit. Also, the pot lid does not allow the steam to evaporate, so all essential vitamins and nutrients from the food you are cooking are lost. Instead, all the steam is sent back into the food, making it not only much more delicious, but more nutrient-dense.
Apart from the fact that cooking with clay is healthier for us, it is also healthier for the environment. First, the clay is not mined, so the soil is not stripped or damaged in any way. Second, making clay pots comes down to hard-working potters tossing them onto the wheel, so not much energy or resources are wasted in the process. Last but not least, they can last a lifetime, but even if they don’t, they are 100% biodegradable.
Cooking in clay also involves using little or no fat or oil. The containers are non-stick because all the steam is kept inside and the food releases its own natural juices. It works great for vegans, but anyone should enjoy fat-free and oil-free food.
Now when it comes to convenience, clay cookware is pretty versatile. This means you can use the same pot to make tons of dishes, whether they are cooked in the oven or on the stove. You can bake, roast, fry, sauté, whatever you want with the same crock pot.
Advantages of clay pots
So is something wrong with them? Well, hardly. The only downside, so to speak, of earthenware is that they can be a bit expensive. If you go for the 100% pure, unglazed, real clay, which you definitely should, then you can expect to pay a substantial price. The good news is, and counteracts the downside, that you will get your money’s worth. You can use these pots for decades as long as, of course, you take proper care of them. They are really the best kitchen utensils in the market!