As clay cookware becomes more and more popular due to its multiple benefits, both for taste and health, many people seem to equate clay pots and pans with terracotta cookware. While both are one type of earthenware, there are some essential differences between the two, which make pure clay cookware truly unique. The reason why clay pots and pans have become more and more popular lately is that they provide a very healthy way of cooking, without the need for fat or liquid and preserving the nutrients of the food. Therefore, if you want to enjoy all the benefits of a 100% healthy kitchen, then you should know these differences so that you can choose and buy the right kitchenware.
Terracotta is usually glazed
Terracotta is slow-fired and therefore must be glazed to provide items with a protective coating when exposed to direct sources of heat, such as open flames. It also helps make the glasses watertight. In that sense, all the benefit of having a crock is canceled out because the glaze itself has lead and cadmium and all sorts of other toxins and chemicals in it. It is this type of toxin that makes regular cookware harmful because it seeps into the food. Therefore, having terracotta cookware that has been glazed is pointless and adds no benefit to your kitchen. Pure clay cookware, on the other hand, is heated on high heat (up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit) and burnished by hand, so it doesn’t need any glaze.
Unglazed terracotta usually has additives
Even if you find unglazed terracotta pots and pans, it is likely that many additives have been added to the compound during the processing of the clay, such as extenders or plasticizers. Other substances used when processing clay for terracotta cookware include dyes (terracotta pots have a red color), feldspar, talc, deflocculants, and mica. However, if you buy 100% pure clay cookware, you will benefit from pots and pans that have absolutely no additives, toxins, or chemicals that can leach into your food as you cook. In fact, to be absolutely sure that you are buying the best cookware, you should choose products made from pure, proven clay. The pinkish-orange color of these pots is their own natural hue when fired.
Pure clay cookware retains excellent heat.
So, the main difference between terracotta and clay cookware is the rawness and purity of the material. Pure clay pots and pans are made from pure raw material, while terracotta pots are refined in one way or another. Because of this, the former retains excellent heat, which means you can cook all your foods over medium heat. Not only that, but the food will stay hot much longer without getting soggy.
