They are very durable and it is very common to pass them on from generation to generation in French families. They may chip if you ding them hard or break if they fall on hard flooring like any other clay or ceramic material but with care they will last for generations. The more you use them the better the taste will develop when you cook with them, so old potteries actually produce the best meals. In my family we own three generations old of these cookware and even though they show signs of their old age, they produce the best meals ever.
I noticed that looking very closely the enamel seems a little cracked, is my cookware defective?
No, in fact this is one of the great characteristics of these cookwares and most other hand-glazed cookware. The enamel of industrially made cookware appears indeed completely smooth but that is what makes them just plain dishes, even for the most expensive of them. The micro cracks in the email of our products appear during the cooking process at over 2000 degrees F and is necessary for the clay to breathe when cooking with them. That is what is producing the wonderful flavor and odor that no other cookware in the world can give you. The cracks may become more visible over time if food burns on them but it will not affect the wonderful properties of your cookware and is a normal aging process. However, you can (should actually) seal these micro-cracks before the first use and you can rejuvenate the aspect of your pottery by doing so on a regular basis, how often depends on your usage. Please read in the FAQ "Before first use".
What are the advantages of your French clay cookware versus cheaper industrially made cookware?
- Our cookware is hand-painted and look beautiful whereas industrially made cookware is often not decorated or machine painted. You can use them as a decoration and a cooking item and when you bring it to your table, they look as beautiful as the food it contains taste good.
- Our cookware is slightly porous, allowing it to breathe and cook your meal better than any other industrially or semi-industrially made cookware. They will provide a unique flavor and odor to your food that is unique to this type of cookware due to the specific locally harvested clay that is used to make them.
- Our cookware is 100% hand-crafted; therefore each piece is virtually unique. It takes 4 to 5 weeks to produce them, which of course does not permit mass production. It explains why they are more expensive than the average cookware but each of them is a piece of art that people care about and are proud to display on their table and share it with family and friends.
- Have you ever thought about offering a cookware as a gift to someone? If so you certainly had a hard time finding the right piece for the occasion. Search no more, our cookware make the perfect gift for any occasion.
Clay Faitouts, stew pots, bean pots, serving dishes
