Right way to Clean & Maintain Clay Pots | How to remove molds, oil stains & food smell? Nisha Thaju, by Nisha Thaju on YouTube. 6 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Scrape out leftover food with a soft wooden spatula, then rinse the pot with warm water. Never use steel wool or a metal scraper on clay.
Wash the inside with a soft brush or coconut coir pad and warm water. Skip dish soap, because the porous clay soaks it up and releases it into your next meal.
For oil stains, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of salt into the pot, rub it around with half a lemon and leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse well.
For food smells, fill the pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and simmer for 10 minutes. Let it cool, then rinse.
For mold, mix baking soda with a little water into a paste, coat the spots and wait 15 minutes. Scrub with a stiff brush and rinse with hot water.
Rinse the pot twice with clean water and rub the inside with your fingers to check that no salt or soda residue is left.
Dry the pot upside down on a rack in direct sun for a full day, turning it once. The clay must be bone dry before storage.
Store the pot on a dry shelf with the lid off or a paper towel inside so air can move. Never stack it away damp.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pour boiling water into a cold clay pot, as the sudden heat can crack it.
Soak a very dry or new pot in plain water for a few hours before cooking so it does not pull moisture out of your food.
A faint earthy smell is normal, but a sour or musty smell means the pot was stored damp.
Questions
Can I use dish soap on a clay pot?
No. Clay is porous and holds the soap, which then leaches into your food. Use salt, lemon or baking soda instead.
How do I get rid of mold inside a clay pot?
Scrub the spots with a baking soda paste, rinse with hot water and dry the pot in full sun for a day before using it again.
How should I store clay pots?
Keep them dry and unstacked, with the lid off or a paper towel inside so air can circulate.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
