Hakan Suphan Handmade 7.6-Quart Large Clay Cooking Pot with Lid, Natural Unglazed Cookware, Terracotta Cazuela, Casserole Dish, Rice Cooking, Stewpot, Korean, Indian, Mexican Dish 7.2 L

Very smart functional design and well made. I use it strictly for cooking soupy pinto beans with bacon or beef/pork short ribs in it... delicious flavor. High quality... very well packaged. IMPORTANT TIPS: To avoid cracks, it must be cured properly(immerse in water for 2-3 days... don't rush the process. ALSO, increase the heat gradually and low boil or simmer. AVOID high heat... there is no need for it, unglazed clay retains very good heat. To avoid mold: Wash with coarse salt and water ; dry it well(sunlight helps). Do not store it with the lid on it. Occasional immersing in water helps avoid cracks. FIRST TIME USE: Just low boil water with garlic, etc and discard... get rid of impurities. THEN start cooking in it. Hope it helps avoid disappointments.

Like how it can be used for several cooking methods i.e. open flame, in oven and even in microwave. Note: follow instructions to season it (oil well) BEFORE use then it will serve you well. It does give off oil smell while being seasoned in hot oven, but no "odd" odors or flavors imparted when cooking. No need to soak in water before using like the German clay Romatopf. Cooked dry kidney bean recipe and lamb dish recipes with great results. If seasoned properly, clean up is easy.

Used it only 3 times and this pot got a huge crack. I was trying to cook and noticed smoke coming from under the pot. Thank God, I was there since the leaked grease caused a smal fire under the pot which i wad quickly able to put out. For an expensive pot like this, i expected years of use but only got 3 uses..very dissapointed.

It's been 18 months since we got the largest size and I would give it a 5 stars. We knew, going into it, that it will require a lot of change in how we usually clean pots. With enough research, we felt confident in taking on an un-glazed pot like the good old days. Right away, I want to confirm that it does take a lot of effort and there is an initial smell. However, after about 5 uses, the smell pretty much goes away completely. Even when it was present, it didn't affect the smell of taste of the food inside. We chose this pot due to the completely flat bottom. Our bright idea was to use this on a warming tray turned to the hottest setting and use it as a slow cooker. Well, it worked like a dream. Its size allows us to more than double our recipe whenever we want to slow cook something for a large one-pot meal with guests. The clean up after also takes getting used to but just scrape off the stuck food and scrub at it with course salt. Then let it dry all the way before putting it away. As we use it, the original color starts to get darker and the texture feels much smoother. Do your research before buying, learn how to take care of it. Much like how you would with a cast iron or carbon steel.

Wonderful cooking method.

The lid of the pot arrived broken, as shown in the picture. I also noticed a shimmer or glitter inside the pot. I initially thought it was a glaze, but when I looked closely at the chipped area, I saw that this shimmering substance is actually inside the material of the pot itself, within its composition. This is the first time I've seen this kind of shimmer in a clay pot made from natural clay without any additives. It's similar to what you find in cosmetics. I will be returning it.

The clay pot with a lid is amazing! It's well-made and looks beautiful, showing the craftsperson's talent in working with good-quality clay. The lid fits perfectly, keeping the food moist and making it taste even better. The pot spreads heat evenly, so everything cooks perfectly. It's strong and can be used for lots of different recipes. I love using it for cooking because it makes my food taste so good!

High quality.....retains heat well....can cook meats, soups, stews, make bread, etc......Awesome!

I am happy with this pot

Great product and delicious food cooking

I did follow very carefully all the "before first use" steps, to proof the pot. They say that a foul smell is normal during the process. Ok fine. But the smell is persistent and the pot gave a bad taste to the first dish that I prepared. I'll throw it away (since I used it I cannot return it) and buy another brand. Totally disappointed. My advice: don't buy. Don't.