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A one-pot surprise for shabu shabu and different scorching pot dishes, conventional donabe (Japanese clay pot) is fabricated from particular earthenware and is one among Japan’s oldest cooking vessels. At this time, I‘ll present you methods to season and care to 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 the event you haven’t discovered a donabe but, try my donabe buying information first. Since I obtained a number of questions from my readers about methods to season and look after donabe, I’ll be overlaying some key factors at present.
What’s Donabe?
Historically fabricated from particular clay, donabe is a centuries-old cooking vessel from Japan. It’s a extremely versatile instrument for at present’s kitchen. As a result of it holds warmth exceptionally properly, it’s supreme for cooking scorching pot dishes, soups, stews, and braised dishes. They’re additionally great for steaming, roasting, and cooking probably the most scrumptious rice! Learn extra about this one-pot surprise in my publish How one can 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 will have to season it earlier than utilizing it. In Japanese, we discuss with this seasoning course of as medome (目止め). Why does it want seasoning? As a result of the pot is fabricated from 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 stop breakage and harm from warmth. Seasoning additionally helps stop odors and stains from the meals cooked in it. Subsequently, the medome course of helps lengthen the lifetime of your donabe, as does correct care.
Donabe that want seasoning:
Conventional earthenware kinds of donabe pottery that you could season earlier than first use embody:
Donabe that don’t want seasoning:
In contrast to earthenware donabe, ceramic pots (セラミック鍋) don’t switch odors they usually soak up nearly no water. Subsequently, you do not want to season ceramic donabe earlier than first use, together with the next:
How one can Look after 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.
- Make certain the underside of the donabe is fully dry earlier than utilizing it on the range. It is going to crack in case you don’t dry it.
- DO NOT warmth an empty donabe with out liquid or meals inside.
- Keep away from speedy temperature modifications, equivalent to utilizing excessive warmth or soaking the new donabe in chilly water.
- Begin from medium-low warmth, then progressively improve to medium warmth. As soon as the liquid begins boiling, scale back the warmth to low to take care of the cooking temperature.
- DO NOT depart any leftover meals within the donabe. Switch it to a container to retailer.
- Let the donabe cool fully earlier than washing.
- Wash the donabe with heat water and a mushy 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 beneath.
Donabe Seasoning Step-by-Step Information
Donabe seasoning takes time however all you want is raw (or cooked) rice and water. Learn the directions beneath to season your donabe earlier than the primary use. You too can use the identical seasoning approach to repair hairline cracks. I discuss extra about this within the Troubleshooting part beneath.
How one can Season Your Donabe (Japanese Clay Pot)
A one-pot surprise for shabu shabu and different scorching pot dishes, conventional donabe (Japanese clay pot) is fabricated from particular earthenware and is one among Japan’s oldest cooking vessels. At this time, I‘ll present you methods to season and care to 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 might 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 rapidly. 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 fully, preserving it the other way up in a single day, earlier than the primary use or storage.
Donabe Troubleshooting
How one can repair hairline cracks:
It’s regular to have hairline cracks. If you observe these cracks, you will have to re-season the pot. Utilizing cooked rice works greatest, because it incorporates extra starch and is thicker, successfully filling within the pores. If the water nonetheless leaks, you might want to think about buying a brand new one.
What to do when the donabe is burnt:
Irrespective of how cautious you’re, the pot might 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 mushy sponge.
- Repeat just a few occasions if the stains or burns stay.
How one can take away odors:
Donabe has many small pores that will soak up 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 below 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 below heat operating water.
Scrumptious Donabe Recipes
Listed here are among the scorching pot recipes that you just may get pleasure from!
Editor’s Notice: This publish was initially printed on February 9, 2016. It was republished with extra useful data on March 5, 2024.
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