Ceramic baking dishes: advantages, disadvantages and recommendations for selection

Modern manufacturers produce a huge number of kitchen utensils, which differ in size, purpose, price range and material of manufacture. Each housewife can choose those kitchen accessories that she needs. The wide assortment and oversaturation of the market of kitchen accessories often makes it difficult to choose inexperienced housewives and often leads to the acquisition of unnecessary things, the choice of which is based only on their aesthetic appeal.

Professional chefs recommend paying attention to ceramic dishes. Clay baking dishes will become indispensable assistants in the process of preparing tasty and healthy food.

Ceramic baking dish - clay kitchen utensils, which has been popular for many hundreds of years. Innovative technologies and modern equipment allowed manufacturers to improve fragile and short-lived clay containers and produce reliable and fashionable ceramic forms that will please the hostess for more than one year. Thanks to the special technology of firing, which involves processing the product at a low temperature, the dishes gain increased strength, thermal stability and preserves the porous structure.

To protect the dishes from grease, moisture and dirt, the inner surface of the molds is covered with a special protective glazed layer. Glazed surface also acts as a non-stick coating. Glaze is a low-melting glass composition, which covers the inner and outer surface of the mold. To fix the glaze, products are fired at very high temperatures in special furnaces.

Like any kitchen utensils, ceramic forms for the oven have their pros and cons. Advantages:

• universality;
• environmental Safety;
• wide range of;
• the presence of a heat-resistant protective layer;
• high antiallergic indicators;
• lack of toxic emissions and fumes;
• uniform heating of the entire surface without burnt areas;
• maximum preservation of all vitamins and minerals;
• high aesthetic indicators and the ability to serve dishes directly in a ceramic container;
• maximum preservation of the taste of products;
• the ability to cook without fat and vegetable oil;
• prolonged heat retention;
• high resistance to low temperatures;
• lack of chemical reaction with products.

Disadvantages:

• intolerance to sharp temperature fluctuations;
• the need for thorough removal of all food debris;
• a long cooking period;
• heavy weight;
• fragility.

Some housewives use ceramic containers to store cereals. This trick allows you to protect supplies from spoilage and the appearance of insects in them.

Particular attention should be paid to terracotta ceramic dishes, which are made of red clay.

These forms not only possess all the features of clay products, but also remove toxic substances from the body, and also prevent the development of dangerous diseases. You can cook vegetable, meat and fish dishes in these containers without the use of vegetable oil and animal fat.

On the shelves of modern stores you can see a wide range of baking containers, which can vary both in shape and size. Specialists identify several of the most popular types of ceramic products.

• Pots - small containers, the volume of which does not exceed 500 ml. This type of cookware is used for baking and stewing dishes while serving them in this cookware.
• Casserole - containers, which are made in the form of various figures of animals and birds. Lids may come with dishes.
• Kokotnitsa - Small pots with long handles that are used for poultry, crabs, as well as mushroom and vegetable dishes.
• Fondue - a container for making desserts with chocolate and fruits. An integral part of the set is forks and saucers.

Classical dishes for the preparation of sweet pastries, as well as vegetable and meat casseroles can be either rectangular or round in shape and have both small and large sizes.

To extend the life of the dishes will help not only the rules for their operation and storage, but also the rules for choosing the product when buying. Only high-quality kitchen items can last for more than a dozen years. High-quality forms should have the following characteristics:

• the presence of a white glazed layer on the inside and outside;
• lack of cracks, spider web chipping;
• absence of tubercles and depressions.

The type of the planned dish has a direct impact on the choice of the baking dish and its appearance:

• cakes and sweet pastries - low sides and the presence of a handle;
• cupcakes - corrugated surface of the sides;
• meat, vegetables and fish - deep containers of various shapes with caps;
• biscuits and souffle - round shapes with high sides;
• yeast and shortcake pies - round shapes with thick and low sides;
• lasagna and casseroles - low rectangular shapes;
• cupcakes and baskets - special small molds.

The list of parameters that must be considered when buying a form:

• shape, thickness and height;
• permissible temperature range;
• warranty period;
• size and dimensions of the oven;
• material of manufacture;
• appointment;
• cost;
• equipment;
• country of manufacture and brand.

Ceramic molds are universal containers that can be used both in an electric and gas oven, as well as in a microwave, but in order for the dishes to last for more than a dozen years, we must learn how to use them correctly.

To prevent product deformation and cracking, experts recommend Avoid sharp temperature fluctuations, and bring the temperature level to the necessary very slowly, trying to avoid sharp heat. It is strictly forbidden to place containers on gas burners with open fire, as well as on electric and induction stoves.

After complete removal of moisture, experts recommend lubricating the inner walls of the form with vegetable oil and calcining it in the oven. This trick will significantly increase non-stick properties. To increase the strength of the new product, experienced housewives recommend boiling it in clean water with the addition of a small amount of salt and vinegar.

In order for the cooked dish to have high taste and aromatic characteristics, professional chefs recommend placing it in water for several minutes before using the form. This procedure will allow water to fill the pores, thereby preserving the juiciness of the dish.

The porous structure not only absorbs water, but also the aroma of old dishes, which with poor quality care can be transferred to a new dish.

To remove contaminants it is undesirable to use chemical detergents, it is better to use natural compounds. The most effective cleaning agent is a mixture of soda and mustard; it removes fine food from fine river sand and wood ash. It is strictly forbidden to wipe off dirt with metal brushes and brushes, which lead to scratches on the glazed surface.

Experienced housewives do not recommend washing products in dishwashers, which can damage the containers.

Basic rules for using these forms:

• placing the container in a warm oven;
• exclusion of contact of dishes with the walls of the oven and heating devices;
• exclusion of contact of hot dishes with cold ingredients of the dish;
• installation of a hot mold only on a warm surface;
• use only non-aggressive creamy detergents.

To speed up cooking, experts recommend laying in the form of semi-finished components and pour them with boiling water. If you need to feed a large number of guests, it is better to distribute all the ingredients in small portioned pots, the food in which will be prepared much faster.

Experienced housewives do not recommend covering the dishes with lids., which impede the movement of air and can trigger the appearance of an unpleasant odor.In order to get rid of the musty aroma, it is necessary to wash the products with warm water with vinegar and salt. It is strictly forbidden to drop fragile containers and knock on them with metal objects.

If you still could not avoid the appearance of cracks and scratches, experienced housewives advise you not to rush to throw out the form, but try to solve the problem yourself. A mixture of clay, brick powder and varnish or sugar syrup, which must be poured at the site of damage, will help to repair the cracks.

Famous brands in the instructions for their product indicate detailed instructions for the care, operation and storage of ceramic containers, which must be carefully read and strictly observed.

The high level of employment of modern women often does not allow them to pay much attention to cooking. But, despite the lack of sufficient time, each housewife wants to please her household with a tasty and healthy breakfast, which ceramic baking dishes in the oven can help her to cook. The keeper of the hearth just needs to put all the purchased ingredients in the container and put the dish in the oven for the required amount of time. However, before operating these devices,ado carefully study the instructions for use and storage of ceramics, which will significantly extend the life of your favorite kitchen appliances.

See which baking dish to choose.