Can you put a clay pot into a preheated oven?
I was making salt baked chicken last night, and I didn't have a casserole dish big enough for the bird. So, instead I used a half glazed Chinese clay pot, and put that straight into a pre-heated oven of 250C. Mine is similar to this one.
To avoid any thermal shock I placed the pot onto a wire rack instead of the baking tray. But I read in lots of places you shouldn't put clay pot into a pre-heated oven as you will crack it. Is this people's experience? I put this clay pot over the gas hob with no problems, and I find it hard to imagine that the air to clay heat transfer rate is so fast that it will crack the pot, but a gas flame doesn't.
Best Answer
As a preface, understand that thermal shock (the phenomenon that causes ware to crack or even explode) isn't an all-or-nothing thing; often ceramic (and glass) cookware succumbs to thermal shock after being stressed several, or even many, times.
In your case, though, I wouldn't consider what you did a risky activity. Putting an earthenware pot onto the rack of a heated oven with a quantity cold food inside is generally considered safe. The mass of the food keeps the pot from heating too quickly. What would be risky would be either putting an empty pot in a hot oven, or putting the pot on top of a baking stone or other preheated solid surface. And even then, I wouldn't necessarily expect it to crack the first time you do it -- as you point out, the pot is designed to work on top of a direct flame (although also with food inside).
I hope the chicken turned out tasty!
(note: I am a potter who sells pottery for use in ovens)
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Quick Answer about "Can you put a clay pot into a preheated oven?"
Never put a clay pot in a preheated oven because it will crack from the shock of the heat. Bake at high temperatures (400º to 475º F) to let the moisture that's saturated the clay slowly turn into steam. Clay pot cooking does not require added fats. As with microwave cooking, use added fats only as a seasoning.Can you bake terracotta pots in the oven?
Small unglazed, unpainted, terra cotta pots (those used in gardening) can be used in place of loaf or cake pans for baking bread, cakes, or brownies. Just cut a circle of parchment to cover the hole on the inside bottom.Do clay pots break with heat?
Heat Gradually Clay cookware is sensitive to thermal shock (except some brands of flameware and Chinese clay pots insulated with metal wire), so take great care to avoid sudden temperature changes or pots will break when heated.Can pottery be used in oven?
Is your pottery oven safe? Sure is! Pottery is made in ovens! They must preheat WITH the oven to avoid temperature shock and cracking as a result.Can you put glazed clay pot in oven?
Steam rises and becomes trapped in the lid as the food cooks, keeping it moist. A large variety of glazed ovenproof cookware is available. These dishes can be placed directly in a hot oven, and they do not need to be soaked beforehand. Unlike their unglazed counterparts, they will not absorb strong flavors or aromas.HOW TO SEASON A NEW UNGLAZED CLAY COOKING POT BEFORE FIRST USE | 4K UHD
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