The Incredible Benefits of Using Clay Pots for Cooking

Have you ever tasted Handi Biryani or Handi Chicken? Have you ever thought what lends these dishes such aroma and earthy flavour ? If you are thinking of clay pots or mitti handi, then you are absolutely correct !! However that not it, using clay pots for cooking has many other incredible benefits as well.

In the days of yore, clay utensils were the ubiquitous choice of kitchen utensils. While Surahi and Matki were used extensively for storing water, handi was the choice for cooking utensil. This article highlights the incredible benefits of using clay pots for cooking.

Benefits of Using Clay Pots for Cooking

Cooking in a clay pot not only has a variety of health benefits but also makes for an easier cooking process and in the end, a more flavorful and nutritious dish. Due to its numerous health benefits, Ayurveda suggests cooking in a clay pot. 

Dr. Surya Bhagwati, Ayurveda Specialist at Dr. Vaidya’s

1. Clay pots retain Nutritive Value of Food

The clay pots get heated slowly and cooks the food slowly as compared to aluminium or other metallic utensils. Clay pot’s porous nature allows both steam and heat to circulate through the food, which results in thorough yet aromatic cooked food.

This lets the food retain more nutritive value than food prepared in other kinds of utensils. Also, meat prepared in clay pots remains juicy and tender.

2. Cooking in Clay Pots helps your Heart

The slower cooking process, helps to retain the natural moisture and natural oils present in the food, as a result you require comparatively less use of oil for cooking. When you use less oils, it is naturally better for your heart.

3. Earthen pots help regulate the PH balance of your food

Clay pots being alkaline in nature helps in neutralizing the PH balance of the food by interacting with the acid present in the food. The earthen pots not only make the food healthier but also add a nice aroma to it.

4. Provide Minerals

Clay pots contain iron, phosphorus, magnesium and several other minerals. The food cooked in earthen pots gets added iron, calcium, magnesium and sulfur which plays an important role for the well being of a human body. 

5. And Yes they are Environment Friendly too

Beyond being good just for food, unglazed earthen pots hold lots of promise for the environment.

It is highly recommended to use earthen pots while cooking as it has multiple benefits in keeping the body healthy and fit.

Rinki Kumari, Chief Dietician, Fortis Hospital Bangalore.

Clay pots are affordable and not so hard on your pocket. Moreover, as the tradition of cooking in clay pots is almost dying, by purchasing a clay pot you indirectly help a family financially.

We often see terracotta items but mostly as showcases and decorative items but an earthen pot is hardly ever put to use in the kitchen. However, when it comes to health benefits, it scores over aluminium.

While finding clay pots is not a difficult task. It is difficult to get products in their purest form, but it isn’t impossible. If you really want to start cooking in clay pots, make sure you do not buy any glazed or polished one, rather try and find unglazed clay pots.

Majorly because, the materials used for glazing pots may contain lead, mercury and many others that can be hazardous for health.