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Clay cookers (also known as claypots) are pretty much self-explanatory. They are cooking vessels made of unglazed clay, usually large oval roasters with a lid. These are not to be confused with terra cotta baking pots that have a glazed interior and unglazed exterior.

It is important to use an unglazed clay cooker to avoid any potential problems of lead in the pot which can leach into the food and cause serious health problems. Normally this is not a problem in unglazed pottery such as clay cookers.

Clay cookers are pre-soaked in water before being placed in a cold oven. As the pot heats in the oven, the water evaporates causing a pressure-steaming effect to cook the food.

The clay cooker is a wonderful addition to your kitchen for making one-pot meals. They are a real time-saver, with the added bonus of very flavorful and tender results due to the cooking process. Better yet, it is great for those on a fat-conscious diet, since you can cook foods without fat, yet still get all that wonderful flavor.

It is energy-efficient because you begin with a cold oven and usually cook the whole meal in one pot, much like a crockpot.

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