It is widely believed that dishes cooked in clay pots taste better and more flavoursome. However, if the pots are used for cooking as soon as they are bought, the food would taste of mud. Therefore, seasoning your clay pots correctly before cooking in them is very important. Besides, seasoning helps the clay pots to endure the heat in a better way and lasts longer as well. Here is how you can easily season the newly-bought clay pots.
The first step is to wash the clay pot properly. Soak the pot in water for at least 8 hours or overnight would be fine. The next day, take out the soaked clay pot and dry it under the sun. After the pot has dried completed, rub oil generously on all the sides of it. Keep it in the sun again. You will notice that the pot would absorb the oil completely. Now fill the pot with rice water and keep it aside overnight.
The next morning, boil this rice water in the clay pot itself. The rice water should boil rapidly. Turn off the flame and keep the pot aside. Allow the rice water to cool down completely before throwing it away. Now, wash the clay pot well using a scrubber. However, do not use washing soaps or liquids. You could use gram flour in case you need it. Now keep the pot back over the flame. Heat some oil and sauté some onion slices. Now, the clay pot is nicely seasoned and is ready for cooking
Not just new clay pots, this method could be used to season the ones that are already being used for cooking.
