How to Care for Ceramics

“Will boiling water hurt the bowl?”  A good friend recently asked me this when she purchased a lidded ramen bowl as a Father’s Day gift. Other Kalon Ceramics clients have inquired whether a casserole can go in an oven or how best to wash a large serving bowl. Read on to learn some guidelines to extend the life of your handcrafted piece.

DURABLE MATERIALS

Kalon Ceramics are made of stoneware clay and food-safe glazes. Stoneware is distinct from other types of ceramics like earthenware (picture a porous terra-cotta planter) or porcelain (as in a delicate teacup). When fired in a kiln, stoneware clay becomes solid and durable—like a stone. The glaze forms a vitrified surface, meaning the exterior has a glass-like layer bonded to it. These qualities allow stoneware dishes to withstand the typical bumps that come with home cooking.

However, this doesn’t mean stoneware pieces are invulnerable. Proper care will allow your ceramics to last and lifetime…and beyond!

OVEN SAFE

For Kalon Ceramics pieces, I fire the stoneware in a kiln to Cone 5 or Cone 6 (depending on the glaze), which is potter’s talk for 2167 to 2232 degrees Farenheit. So your ceramic pieces can withstand being warmed or heated to kitchen oven temperatures.

The key is to place your filled dish in the oven as it preheats and allow the dish to heat gradually along with the oven. (In a kiln, although the firing reaches high temperatures, the ware heats up and cools down over many hours.) At minimum, if you wish to put your item in a heated oven, ensure that your ceramic dish and contents are no colder than room temperature before oven use. A rapid temperature change can cause thermal shock which may cause your stoneware to crack. Similarly, to avoid this shock, don’t use stoneware on a burner or open flame.

MICROWAVE SAFE

Stoneware is generally safe for the microwave.

The processes of firing stoneware and vitrifying it with glaze aim to eliminate porosity of the items as far as possible. The most common cause of pottery breakage in the microwave is when water seeps into the item, expands when heated and then causes the pot to crack. For example, earthenware is porous and, as such, unsuitable for the microwave. However, glazed stoneware is designed to absorb negligible water.

Caution should be used when removing pottery made of terra-cotta or brown clay. The clay colour indicates a high iron content. Like a cast-iron pan, the material can reach high heat and scald. As with any item, metal cannot be used in the microwave, like gold embellishment on pots. 

DISHWASHER SAFE

The glazes I use are rated by the manufacturer as safe for the dishwasher. Again, reasonable care is the key. Load the dishwasher so that the pieces won’t knock into each other. Washing by hand avoids these bumps and the prongs of a dishwasher tray and will extend the life of your piece. Use regular dish soap and a cloth rather than an abrasive cleanser or scrubbing pad.

ENJOY EVERY DAY!

While using some care will enhance the longevity of your ceramics, also remember that Kalon Ceramics are durable enough to be enjoyed every day!

Photo by Matthew Henry.