What should I do before using the casserole for the first time?

Chinese food can be said to be the best in the world. You can make a lot of delicious food in a casserole, such as tofu casserole and meatball soup. Food made in a casserole is more delicious and can lock in nutrients. However, you still need to pay attention to some treatments for the newly purchased casserole, such as soaking it in rice washing water for one day or three days before using it. The first time you use it, you must turn it on a low fire, otherwise it will easily cause cracking.

1. Things to note when using a  casserole for the first time

1. When using a newly bought casserole for the first time, it is best to cook thick rice porridge to block the tiny gaps in the casserole and prevent water seepage (some friends also suggested using soy milk, saying that soy milk is more effective, you can refer to it). If small cracks appear, cook thick rice porridge again to repair them. (You can also soak it in rice-washing water for three days or clean water for a week in advance, and the effect is also good).

2. The newly purchased casserole can be soaked in 4% vinegar water and boiled first, which can remove most harmful substances.

Things to note when using the decoction casserole for the first time

2. Precautions for decoction in casserole

It should be noted that cracks will form in the casserole if it is suddenly heated or cooled. When decocting the medicine, heat it gradually and do not burn it suddenly on a high fire to avoid swelling and cracking.

Do not wash the casserole with cold water immediately after the medicine has been fried. You can let it cool on dry wood chips or a shelf before cleaning the medicine scale. Do not soak the oil stains on the casserole with detergent to prevent sewage from seeping into the pores. You can drink it instead. Wipe the remaining tea residue, or soak it in rice water and heat it, and then scrub it with a brush.

3. How to get rid of odor in casserole

First, clean the casserole with clean water and remove the oil stains on the casserole to facilitate the next step of deodorizing.

The second step is to cook rice porridge in a casserole. Add more water to the casserole and add two handfuls of rice (you don’t need to wash the rice, because the porridge is used to "absorb" the odor in the casserole, not for consumption). Heat up the heat, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.

Pay attention to stirring constantly to prevent sticking to the pot. Finally, clean the casserole to remove the odor in the casserole.

Things to note when using the decoction casserole for the first time

4. Maintenance of decoction utensils

1. When using the decoction casserole, pay attention to the instructions for use.

2. When using the decoction casserole, pay attention to the condition of the electric plug to ensure safe use.

3. Pay attention to cleaning the casserole after use. As a medicine, it must be kept clean and hygienic.

4. Be careful to wipe it clean after use to avoid breeding bacteria.

5. Things to note when buying a casserole

The food stewed in the casserole has a unique flavor, and the decoction in the casserole does not change the original flavor. Therefore, the casserole is a daily consumer product favored by the majority of consumers. How to choose a casserole?

1. Look at the quality of the pottery. The pottery used in good casseroles is very fine and mostly white in color. The quality of the surface glaze is also very high, with uniform brightness and good thermal conductivity.

2. Look at the structure. A good casserole has a reasonable structure, is placed flat, the pot body is round, the inner wall is smooth, there are no protruding sand grains, and the lid is tightly buckled and does not deform.

3. When purchasing, fill the casserole with enough water and check if there is any leakage. You can also tap the pot body gently with your hands to see if the sound is crisp. If there is a hoarse sound, it means the casserole has cracks and it is best not to buy it.

Purchase casseroles as needed. Generally speaking, you don’t need a good ceramic casserole for decoction. Just choose a cheap casserole without leakage. The pot requirements for stewing food are relatively high, so it is best to choose a good quality white casserole.

Things to note when using the decoction casserole for the first time

6. Precautions when using casserole

When boiling Chinese medicine, it is very important to choose the utensils. Clay pots and earthen pots are the first choice for boiling medicine.

Next are enamel utensils and stainless steel pots, with iron and copper pots being the most taboo. The chemical properties of casseroles and earthenware pots are stable, they are heated evenly, and their heat transfer is slow. The water is not easy to evaporate when decoction.

Stainless steel pots transfer heat too quickly, so you need to stir frequently when decoction, otherwise the herbs will stick to the walls of the pot and the pot will easily burn if you are not careful. Traditional Chinese medicine experts remind everyone to pay special attention to the fact that you must not use iron or copper pots to cook medicine. Because iron and copper are active elements, they easily react with various chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine, causing toxic and side effects.

It should be noted that cracks will form in the casserole if it is suddenly heated or cooled. Therefore, do not wash the casserole with cold water immediately after the medicine has been fried. You can let it cool on dry wood chips or a shelf before cleaning the medicine scale. Do not soak the oil stains on the casserole with detergent to prevent sewage from seeping into the pores. You can wipe it with leftover tea leaves, or soak it in rice water and heat it, and then scrub it with a brush.

In addition, do not use hot water to boil medicine, use cold water. Also pay attention to the heat. Generally, use strong fire (rapid fire) to boil, and then use slow fire (low fire) to simmer slowly. If you encounter special requirements, you should suffer according to the doctor's instructions. Through the above introduction, you know which pot is best for cooking Chinese medicine.

The casserole will have a peculiar smell if it is used for a long time or stored improperly, for example, if it is placed in a humid place. Seriously it will affect the ability to use it again.