A one-pot surprise for shabu shabu and different scorching pot dishes, conventional donabe (Japanese clay pot) is product of particular earthenware and is one among Japan’s oldest cooking vessels. At present, I‘ll present you the way to season and care in your new donabe.
As soon as you buy your first donabe (土鍋), a standard Japanese clay pot, it’s time to season it earlier than the primary use. In case you haven’t discovered a donabe but, take a look at my donabe buying information first. Since I acquired a number of questions from my readers about the way to season and take care of donabe, I’ll be masking some key factors as we speak.
What’s Donabe?
Historically product of particular clay, donabe is a centuries-old cooking vessel from Japan. It’s a extremely versatile software for as we speak’s kitchen. As a result of it holds warmth exceptionally nicely, it’s excellent for cooking scorching pot dishes, soups, stews, and braised dishes. They’re additionally great for steaming, roasting, and cooking essentially the most scrumptious rice! Learn extra about this one-pot surprise in my publish Methods to Select the Finest Donabe.
Why Season Your Donabe?
Clay pots have completely different traits relying on the fabric used. If you are going to buy a brand-new conventional donabe, you have to to season it earlier than utilizing it. In Japanese, we check with this seasoning course of as medome (目止め). Why does it want seasoning? As a result of the pot is product of clay, which is of course porous.
To deal with this, starch from rice or flour will fill the microscopic pores within the pot, serving to forestall breakage and injury from warmth. Seasoning additionally helps forestall odors and stains from the meals cooked in it. Due to this fact, the medome course of helps prolong the lifetime of your donabe, as does correct care.
Donabe that want seasoning:
Conventional earthenware kinds of donabe pottery that you should season earlier than first use embody:
Donabe that don’t want seasoning:
Not like earthenware donabe, ceramic pots (セラミック鍋) don’t switch odors they usually take in nearly no water. Due to this fact, you do not want to season ceramic donabe earlier than first use, together with the next:
Methods to Take care of Your Donabe (Should Learn!)
Take excellent care of your donabe and it’ll final a lifetime. Donabe is fragile, particularly with speedy temperature modifications. There are some things to recollect when you take care of your donabe.
- Be certain that the underside of the donabe is utterly dry earlier than utilizing it on the range. It would crack if you happen to don’t dry it.
- DO NOT warmth an empty donabe with out liquid or meals inside.
- Keep away from speedy temperature modifications, reminiscent of utilizing excessive warmth or soaking the recent donabe in chilly water.
- Begin from medium-low warmth, then progressively enhance to medium warmth. As soon as the liquid begins boiling, scale back the warmth to low to keep up the cooking temperature.
- DO NOT go away any leftover meals within the donabe. Switch it to a container to retailer.
- Let the donabe cool utterly earlier than washing.
- Wash the donabe with heat water and a delicate sponge. You should utilize a small quantity of mild cleaning soap however instantly rinse it. NEVER soak the donabe in (soapy) water.
For extra particulars, see the Troubleshooting part following my Donabe Seasoning Information under.
Donabe Seasoning Step-by-Step Information
Donabe seasoning takes time however all you want is raw (or cooked) rice and water. Learn the directions under to season your donabe earlier than the primary use. You may also use the identical seasoning approach to repair hairline cracks. I speak extra about this within the Troubleshooting part under.
Methods to Season Your Donabe (Japanese Clay Pot)
A one-pot surprise for shabu shabu and different scorching pot dishes, conventional donabe (Japanese clay pot) is product of particular earthenware and is one among Japan’s oldest cooking vessels. At present, I‘ll present you the way to season and care in your new donabe.
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Directions
To Wash the Donabe
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Your donabe have to be at room temperature earlier than washing; in any other case, it could crack. First, discard the thick porridge. Then, rinse the donabe with a sponge and heat water. You should utilize a small quantity of mild cleaning soap, provided that wanted, however rinse shortly. DO NOT soak your donabe in water (or soapy water) because the donabe has good absorbency.
To Dry the Donabe
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Instantly dry the donabe with a clear towel. Permit it to air dry utterly, conserving it the other way up in a single day, earlier than the primary use or storage.
Donabe Troubleshooting
Methods to repair hairline cracks:
It’s regular to have hairline cracks. If you observe these cracks, you have to to re-season the pot. Utilizing cooked rice works greatest, because it comprises extra starch and is thicker, successfully filling within the pores. If the water nonetheless leaks, it’s possible you’ll want to contemplate buying a brand new one.
What to do when the donabe is burnt:
Regardless of how cautious you might be, the pot could find yourself burnt from the meals you’re cooking inside. Right here’s a useful tip to take away stains or burns.
- Add water and convey it to a boil.
- Flip off the warmth and let the pot soak, cooling naturally.
- As soon as cooled, discard the water and gently scrub the burnt space with a delicate sponge.
- Repeat a couple of occasions if the stains or burns stay.
Methods to take away odors:
Donabe has many small pores that will take in smells from cooking sure meals. Right here’s what you are able to do to take away them.
- Tea leaves: Put water and used tea leaves in your donabe and convey to a boil. Let it sit for half-hour and rinse underneath heat operating water.
- Baking soda: Deliver water to a boil after which flip off the warmth. Add baking soda and put aside for half-hour. Rinse underneath heat operating water.
Scrumptious Donabe Recipes
Listed below are a number of the scorching pot recipes that you just would possibly take pleasure in!
Editor’s Observe: This publish was initially revealed on February 9, 2016. It was republished with extra useful data on March 5, 2024.
