How to season your Donabe (Clay pot)

Feb 09 2022 0 Comments

When you first get your Donabe, seasoning is an important process to make it last longer.

Donabe is made from clay and it has many microscopic pores in it. Seasoning helps it seal these pores and prevent cracks and damage when it’s heated over high heat. By cooking porridge, the starch of rice fills the fine pores of the Donabe. Here's how you can season your Donabe.

First of all, it is extremely important that the bottom of your Donabe is completely dry before heating it over the fire. Heating a wet Donabe may cause it to crack or even break in some cases. Also, Do NOT heat the empty Donabe.

Step 1

Place a bowl of cooked rice in your Donabe and fill it 3 quarters of the way with water, and spread the rice out.

You can adjust the portion of rice depending on the size of your Donabe.

Step 2

Turn the heater to low and cook slowly. Make sure you stir it once now and then to keep the bottom from burning.

Step 3

Once the porridge is cooked, turn the heat off and let the porridge and Donabe cool down for at least 1 hour. The porridge will become even thicker when it’s cooled down. (You can eat the porridge if you want to) 🍚

Once it's all done, remove the porridge, rinse it with warm water, and let it dry completely🌞. Face it upside down to ensure the bottom of your Donabe gets completely dried.

After seasoning, you may notice some small cracks or marks at the bottom of your Donabe but do not worry, it is normal😌👍 It is a sign of its use and aging. Also, it is ideal to season your Donabe every once in a while to make it last even longer.

［Having trouble getting off mold, odors and food sticks? ］These may help you solve your problem!

Mold👊Vinegar (2-3tablespoons)

Odors👊Tea leaves (1 pinch)

Food sticks👊Baking soda (1 teaspoon)

・3 quarters of the way with water and add the above ingredients for your needs.

・Boil it for about 10 minutes and turn off the heat.

・Let it sit until it gets cooled down and wash it with water.

With Donabe, you can enjoy a variety of dishes such as hot pot, Shabu-shabu, Sukiyaki, Oden, Udon, soup, stew, curry, and for steaming ingredients, making rice and many other cooking styles.

Sharing a hot meal out of one pot naturally creates a very warm atmosphere. Donabe is not just cookware for delicious dishes but it also warms people's hearts and that's the best part of it!

-Make It Memorable with Shoran Japan-

NAGATANIEN DONABE RICE COOKER KAMADO SAN 3- RICE CUP 24CM