Care of ceramic tableware

Ceramic tableware is both decorative and practical. They are used both for cooking and decorating the interior.

The benefits of ceramic

In terms of durability, ceramic cookware surpasses Teflon by several times. The main advantages are:

Resistance to mechanical damage, scuffs.
Resistant to minimum and maximum temperatures.
Durable if certain rules are followed.
In ceramic products does not burn food, does not form scale.
No impurities in it, it does not emit odors.

Products in environmentally friendly earthenware can be stored for a long time. Even milk does not sour for a few days, there are no bugs in the flour, mold on jams.

According to the method of manufacture there are several types of such kitchen utensils: faience, based on white clay, majolica, painted with colored glaze, fine and elegant porcelain.

Disadvantages of ceramic dishes

Although ceramic products have many advantages, there are also disadvantages. The main disadvantage is the fragility. On impact when falling crockery breaks, and the consequence of careless handling are chips.

Dramatic temperature changes lead to cracking. To prevent this, put it in a cold oven for gradual heating.

Rules of use of ceramics

Ceramic utensils, made in a modern style, can be placed in the microwave oven. The most used type is pots – ordinary and covered with glaze. If you need to bake or stew meat, vegetables, you will not find a better option.

In them the groats swell up well, so the porridge in pots turns out the most delicious. This is a good reason to buy ceramic dishes through the online store company “Bariton”. It will last a long time if you adhere to the rules of use.

You do not need to put kitchen utensils on a preheated stove. It should not be exposed to sudden temperature changes. Do not place chilled or frozen foods on a warm surface, and hot ceramic containers are extremely undesirable to put on the cold surface.

If you want to cook something in the oven, you must first put the pottery in it, and only after turn on. Taking out a hot baking dish or pot, you must use a completely dry oven mitt. It should not be placed on a wet one.

If you need to add water during the cooking process, you must use only hot water. Cold water will make hot pottery crack.

How to take care of ceramic tableware

Soak new cookware in water for 10 to 15 minutes before use. Then it is washed with hot water, adding baking soda or detergent.

After that, everything should be rinsed and dried. Ceramic dishes without glaze need to be dried particularly thoroughly. Cabinets, in which dishes will be placed in storage, should be ventilated as often as possible.

The tableware itself should be kept open. Otherwise, a musty smell will inevitably appear, and it will not be possible to get rid of it quickly.

What is the peculiarity of ceramic products

Making pottery is similar to molding clay. At first, the clay was fired over campfires at 600°C. Developments in technology made it possible to build furnaces in which air was blown in to increase the firing temperature. To make the product was not brittle, it was polished with wood or stone. Of course, now the technology of manufacture has changed, but the principles remain the same.

Pros and cons of ceramic

Advantages:

You can regulate the temperature of the food being cooked, as well as control the humidity. This is achieved due to the porous structure of ceramic cookware.
Ceramic does not form scale, no matter how long it is used.
You can store a variety of dishes for a long time.
Food cooked in ceramic dishes has a distinctive flavor and richer taste.
Environmental safety – ceramic does not contain heavy metals, respectively, when exposed to high temperatures does not release toxins and carcinogens.

Disadvantages:

Increased fragility.
Difficult to clean – ceramics absorb grease.
Long preservation of the smell of previously cooked food.
Negative effect of moisture.

How to wash ceramic tableware correctly

The main rules of care:

Uncoated enamel surface after washing it is necessary to wipe dry, otherwise the moisture will not evaporate and will penetrate into the dish during cooking.
To get the smell out of ceramics, you need to soak the dishes for a few minutes in cold salted water, and then rinse well.
Store washed dishes outdoors if possible, and you should not put plates or mugs on top of each other. If you do not have space, you should put napkins between the plates, and only then put them on top of each other. Otherwise, there is a risk of scratching the top layer of the items.
Do not use metallic or abrasive sponges when washing, as they can damage the top protective layer of the dishes. For the same reason, it is advisable to remove rings from your hands when washing.
Do not soak the dishes in hot water – this can spoil their pattern.
Ceramics are afraid of sharp temperature changes, so immediately after cooking you should not put the dishes under cold water, you should first let them cool down.
Coffee stains on ceramics can easily be removed with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar,
To restore the whiteness of the dishes you need to go over them with a soft cloth soaked in tartaric acid.

Can I wash ceramics in the dishwasher?

In principle, you can wash ceramics in the dishwasher, but it’s better to do it by hand. If you still want to run ceramic dishes in the machine, you’ll need to run a dishwasher on the economy setting.

Can I use detergents?

If ceramics are coated with glaze, you can use ordinary detergents when washing them. The main thing is not to rub it with harsh sponges. For more thorough cleaning, you can use mustard and baking soda, and from time to time you can also soak the ceramics in cold, salted water.

Types of stains and their removal

Utensils with ceramic coating are characterized by stains that are not typical for other kitchen products. However, dishes with typical only ceramic pigmentation are not as difficult to clean as it may seem at first glance.

Coffee stains are a frequent guest on ceramic cups and mugs, characterized by a rich dark color. To eliminate them, it is enough to wipe the surface with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar.

Over time, the inherent distinctive whiteness is lost, without which such utensils lose their zest, especially when used on the festive table. To restore it is not difficult at all – it is enough to go over the surface with a cloth soaked in tartaric acid.

What must not be done with ceramic cookware?

Ceramic cookware can only be used to bake food in the oven, oven. It must not be placed on an open fire (gas or electric stove with burners).

How to deal with ceramic tableware?

Never put them on an open fire, do not put them into a hot oven, and wash them in warm water with a little washing-up liquid. Ceramic dishes can be used in the microwave oven (except kettles, coffee pots, pitchers).

Can I pour water into ceramics?

It is afraid of sudden changes in temperature, so it is put only in a warm oven. Also for this reason, you cannot pour hot water, drinks or soup into cold ceramic containers.

Conclusion

In general, caring for ceramic products is not as difficult as it may seem. Treat it with care, keeping it from striking hard surfaces as much as possible. If possible, wash it by hand, do not use hard brushes and sponges, which can damage the surface, and after washing, wipe it dry. Remove coffee stains with vinegar and general discoloration caused by time with tartaric acid. These simple rules of care will allow the ceramic utensils to please your kitchen for years to come.