Looks like it’s time to go back to the basics. (Source: Pixabay)
Back in the day, earthenware was a constant in Indian kitchens. Right from storing water to cooking, women managed it all with a single pot or ‘handi’, as it’s called in rural India. And, despite the availability of fancy and expensive cooking utensils, looks like it’s time to go back to the basics.
We often see terracotta sets, mostly serving as showpieces, at home decor outlets, but a proper earthen pot is hardly ever put to use in the kitchen. However, it comes with a host of health benefits, since it cooks the food slowly. It also scores over aluminium, as studies point out. “As a result of their frequent use in private households, a study was undertaken to detect migration of this metal to foodstuffs from drink containers, coffee-pots, grill pans and camping cookware made of aluminium. An estimate of the health risk to consumers is calculated, based on the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) specified by the European Food Safety Authority of 1 mg/kg body weight for all groups of people. In some instances, the TWI is significantly exceeded, dependent upon the food contact material and the food itself,” read a study ‘Migration of aluminium from food contact materials to food—a health risk for consumers?‘ published in Environmental Sciences Europe journal.
You could also check the weight of aluminium cookware when it’s purchased and after a couple of years, and you’re likely to spot a marked difference.
“The food cooked in earthen pots are high in iron, calcium, magnesium and sulfur which plays an important role for the well being of a human body. Cooking in earthen pots is a slow process and involves the use of a minimum amount of oil thereby helping in retaining food’s natural oil and moisture. Beyond being good just for food, unglazed earthen pots hold lots of promise for the environment. Hence, it is highly recommended to use earthen pots while cooking as it has multiple benefits in keeping the body healthy and fit”, says Rinki Kumari, Chief Dietician, Fortis Hospital Bangalore.
While it may be difficult to find a pure clay pot, but here are some reasons to include it in your kitchen.
Maintains the nutritive value
Due to slow cooking, clay pots allow moisture and heat to circulate through the food, thus retaining the nutritional level. In metal utensils, this tends to get lost. When cooking meats especially, the thermal inertia helps the muscle proteins denature and collagen break down completely, hence keeping it tender for a longer duration.
Neutralise the pH level
As clay pots are alkaline in nature, it interacts with the acidity in the food, hence neutralising the pH balance and making it healthier.
Cut down oil consumption
As they are heat-resistant and the dish cooks slowly, you can cut down on extra oil, such as vegetables. Earthen pots retain the oil and give moisture to food so you don’t add unnecessary fat to make your food tastier.
Adds more nutrients
It is said that clay pots add many important nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and sulfur to food, which are extremely beneficial to our body.
Add an earthy flavour
The aroma that your food will have after being cooked in an earthen pot is unbeatable.
Economical
Clay pots are affordable and easy on your pocket. Moreover, as the tradition of cooking in clay pots is almost dying, by purchasing one you indirectly help a family financially.
FAQs
Earthen pots are porous in nature which helps in spreading the heat equally throughout your dish. They take longer than usual cooking time and retain the moisture and nutrients of your food inside the pot. Besides this they add an earthy flavor too your dish along with the blend of slow cooking.
What are the advantages of an earthen pot? ›
Earthen pots, or matkas, offer natural cooling properties, enhance water taste, alkalize water, preserve nutrients, and support cultural traditions. Embracing them aids digestion and connects to sustainable living practices.
What are the disadvantages of cooking in clay pots? ›
In conclusion, cooking in clay pots offers several advantages and disadvantages. They retain moisture, enhance flavors, promote health, and are eco-friendly and versatile. However, they are fragile, require seasoning, can take longer to cook, may not be readily available, and can result in uneven cooking.
Why are clay pots good for cooking? ›
Clay cookware heats up more slowly and more evenly than metal, and it holds and distributes heat more diffusely. Those qualities are what make it ideal for simmered soups and curries, for braises or tender baked meats where the juices create self-basting steam, and for evenly and perfectly cooked rice or beans.
Is cooking in earthen pot healthy? ›
So, the earthy taste of your food comes with the goodness of health as you consume less oil and more of the nutritional value. Earthen pot or clay pot is alkaline in nature which means it neutralizes the acidic nature of food, retains the pH balance and makes food easy to digest for you.
What is the difference between clay pots and earthen pots? ›
Earthenware pots are made of low-fired clay. They are not as durable as pots made of high-fired clay. They are water-permeable unless glazed. Earthen pots refer specifically to water vessels low-fired clay, used to store and cool water.
Why do I crave earthen pots? ›
Geophagia is a type of pica, a condition in which people regularly and deliberately eat nonfood items. People may crave dirt due to nutritional deficiencies, pregnancy, cultural customs, or other reasons.
What are the pros and cons of clay pots? ›
Clay pots have thick walls that protect plant roots from rapid changes in temperature which can be destructive. They also have a fair amount of weight and do not blow over as easily as some plastic pots. Clay does have the disadvantage of drying quickly.
What are the cons of earthenware? ›
It is fired at a relatively low temperature compared to stoneware. This means that earthenware is highly porous compared to other clay bodies, resulting in a higher susceptibility to chips.
What are the side effects of clay pots? ›
Clay cooking pots are porous in nature. This means food will pass through the vessel and interact with the vessel. This is generally healthy and expected. However, if there are heavy materials like Lead and Arsenic it ruins the benefits of earthen pots.
“It most likely has to do with the even diffusion of heat, soft heat that creates great alchemy in the kitchen. Think of bubbles rising from within a stew, hatching slowly on the surface to the rhythm of a slowly ticking clock."
What are the benefits of earthen pots? ›
Additionally, the slow and even cooking provided by earthen pots helps prevent overcooking or burning of the food, which can also affect the pH balance. The clay material of the earthen pot also helps to retain the natural moisture of the food, which further helps to maintain the pH balance.
Do earthen pots last long? ›
Porous in Nature: Clay pots are porous, which keeps the moisture and heat retained inside, which makes sure food is more evenly cooked. Durability: If seasoned properly, Earthenware can last for a very long time.
Are Mexican clay pots safe to cook in? ›
Some Mexican clay pots may contain trace amounts of lead, which can leach into food if not properly treated. Before using a new clay pot, it's a good idea to soak it in water for several hours and then boil water in it for several minutes to help remove any potential impurities.
Why is an earthen pot better than a glass pot? ›
Porous in Nature: Clay pots are porous, which keeps the moisture and heat retained inside, which makes sure food is more evenly cooked. Durability: If seasoned properly, Earthenware can last for a very long time. Environment friendly: Clayware is made from Mother Earth and is completely natural, inert, and non-toxic.
What are the four qualities of an earthen pot? ›
Expert-Verified Answer
It keeps the water that is stored in it cool. It also resists any type of damage done by the insects in the water. They are made up of water and clay. They are environmentally friendly that keeps the water fresh.
Why do many people keep water in an earthen pot? ›
In an earthen pot, water gets evaporated quickly through the pores. Cooling is caused by evaporation. Some heat energy is utilised during the process of evaporation. Since this energy is taken from the water itself, it leads to a lowering of temperature in the remaining amount of water.
What does earthen pot symbolize? ›
The earthen pots made of the earth's soil are symbolized as the womb, nurturing and associated with fertility. There are legends of either the characters taking origin in the earth or being born in earthen pots. The association of these Ghada and the womb doesn't end in ancient age.
Looks like it’s time to go back to the basics. (Source: Pixabay)
