Two popular words that you’ll most likely come across are oven and pottery. And this is thanks to their wide application within the kitchen. Your pottery allows you to house various substances, while your oven allows you to heat various substances. As long as you bake or cook, you’ll typically have much use for them.
However, have you wondered how a combination of both will fare? Precisely, have you wondered if you can use your pottery as you try to heat that next meal? Well, you’re not the only one.
In this article, we’ll tell you all about putting your pottery in the oven. You’ll also learn about other places you can and can’t put your oven in.
Dive in!
Can Pottery Be Used Inside the Oven?
So, can you put pottery in the oven? Yes, you can put your pottery inside your oven. However, you need one that is oven safe. As such, it would be best to avoid pottery with heavy decoration or adhesive signs.
Also, while glazed pottery might not be the best, not all are bad. All you will need to do is check out the manufacturer. Then, ensure they provide that their pottery is good to go for ovens.
You will need to ensure you avoid preheating. That is, do not heat your oven before you put your pottery into it. It is always better to ensure that your oven is cool as you place your pottery.
Then your oven and pottery can heat up at the same time. This way, your pottery avoids sudden changes in temperature, which can crack it.
Also, do not place your frozen pottery directly into the oven. It is still that sudden temperature change we were talking about. It would be best to place the frozen pottery in warm water first.
Then after some minutes, you place it in a cold oven. Then, it can get heated up with your oven and stay safe. Also, ensure you do not place it on a wet or cold surface after getting it out of your oven. It would be best to place it on a surface with a regular temperature.
You will also want to avoid stacking your plated inside your oven. This is also while avoiding putting empty pottery into the oven. It is always best to ensure your pottery is at least half-filled as an extra precaution before you get it into your oven.
Can You Fire Pottery in an Oven?
Well, since you can use your pottery in an oven most times, you’re considering making one. And in an oven at that.
Well, just before that, here’s what you need to know. You can definitely fire pottery in an oven. However, your home oven cannot possibly get as hot as the industrial kiln used during commercial production.
As such, while you will get functional pottery, it will not be as durable and hard compared to kiln-fired products. However, that does not mean it will be of low quality. The fact is that with enough care and expertise concerning heating temperature and duration, you can do magic. Yes, you can create a good and robust oven-fired pottery.
Furthermore, you cannot do this with the regular clay you are used to. You will need a special clay, usually oven-dry. Then, ensure you pre-dry it before putting it inside your oven.
Also, ensure you place it at the center of your oven. Then, provide enough heat, at least 3250 F, and let it stay long. You will then need to ensure it cools for a minimum of four hours.
Can You Put Pottery in a Fish Tank?
Another thing you are probably considering is whether to choose a fish tank. That is, whether you can put your pottery in a fish tank.
Well, the answer is not so straightforward. It is both a yes and no.
The fact is that it’s more likely a wrong choice to put your pottery in a fish tank. And especially if it is a ceramic you cannot eat from. This is because they will usually be harmful to various species.
However, there are some clay-product that you can put in a fish tank. Usually, this will involve those potteries that are dinnerware safe. That is, plates you can typically eat from.
The rule is simple. Since they are safe for you to eat off, they are also safe for your shrimps in your fish tank.
However, it is essential to pay attention to the pottery you use. This is because, according to research, some of this pottery can contain lead. Unfortunately, this lead is harmful to humans and members of your fish tank.
As such, it would be best to avoid lead-laced pottery. Also, you will find some pottery to be highly decorated, dyed, or painted. Or sometimes glazed even though it is a terra cotta clay made pottery. In such cases, you might want to be careful.
This is because they are most likely to contain lead, which is harmful to your aquarium. And in time, they can leach, releasing harmful chemicals that can harm your fishes. So, avoid them.
Also, it is never a good idea to go for old pottery. There is the fact that fertilizers, bug spray, and various other dangerous chemicals have contacted them. So, best to avoid them.
Can You Put Pottery in the Dishwasher?
You are most likely considering how to keep your pottery clean. As such, you are wondering if you can just place it in your dishwater.
Well, while you are thinking of just applying the earlier dinnerware safe rule above. It can turn out to be costly. This is because the fact that pottery is dinnerware safe does not make it safe for your dishwater.
It’s simple. Although you’ll find most cookware and dinnerware pottery to be safe in dishwater, you need to pack them carefully. You will need to ensure that there will be no contact with other materials as they get washed. This is because if they do, you are going to settle for cracks.
Still, some should not even find their way into your dishwater. Precisely, if your pottery is soft, or with a delicate glaze or ornate pieces, then no. It has no business in dishwater.
You will find that such soft pottery comes off less refined clays. Their creation process also has less heat involved. As such, they are more porous and fragile.
In turn, they absorb water when they are in dishwater, making them susceptible to breaking or cracking. They also absorb soap, which affects your food’s taste.
Also, if your pottery is likely to get cracked or chipped as it rattles around, then it is another no. This is also the case when you have oven-fired pottery that we discussed earlier.
So, ensure you confirm if your pottery is dishwater safe. You’ll find it stated underneath your pottery.
Then, remember that this only applies to plates. So do not place your sculptures in dishwater under any circumstances. It is simply a bad idea. Remember, “dishwasher” not “sculpturewasher.”
Can You Put Pottery in the Microwave?
Another thing you need to know is whether your pottery fits into your microwave. Well, the answer is that it depends. This is because pottery differs, and while one might work with a microwave, the other might not.
However, the fact is that you will find most pottery to be safe for use in a microwave. Yes, it will get warm. Still, it will stay firm and intact. Even more, there will be no harm to your food.
However, it would be best to ensure you look out for the label “microwave safe,” so you are extra sure. Regardless, you will need to watch out for the temperature changes we discussed earlier to keep them safe.
Then, avoid putting any lead-glazed ceramic inside your microwave. You should also avoid putting any pottery decorated with silver, gold, or other precious metals inside your microwave. You also do not want to get your oven-fired pottery into the microwave.
Can You Put Pottery in the Freezer?
Next up, you are looking at your freezer and thinking; this can be of great use with my pottery. Well, it is not a bad idea.
Yes, you can definitely put your pottery inside your freezer. However, you will need to exercise some caution as there are certain limitations. Do not worry. We will get to it.
First, as long as you got good pottery, you should not have any problem placing it in a freezer. However, you might have to be careful of moisture when it is freezing. However, this is not a problem if you have a porcelain ceramic.
Also, it would be best to confirm that your ceramic is freezer safe. All you need to do is check its body. You will usually find a label showing you.
However, generally, you can place earthenware in a freezer. However, remember that the freezing point should be less than 29o F. You can also put Pyrex in a freezer as long as the freezing point is less than 130 F.
You will also have no problem with high-fire and mid-fire stoneware. However, the freezing point must be less than -80 F and -100 F, respectively.
Can Pottery Be Recycled?
You will hardly use your pottery for life. You cannot even if you wanted to. So, the next thing you need to know is if you can recycle your pottery.
Well, the truth is that you can hardly recycle your pottery. We get that they are broken, and you need an environmentally friendly way to dispose of them.
Well, you will need usually need to look outside recycling, and look towards reuse. For instance, you could use a few of those broken pieces for your home designs. All you will need to do is arrange those pieces and glue them together to get a great design.
Alternatively, you could give a thrift store. They usually take chipped, broken, or cracked pieces and offer them for sale. However, we doubt you will have any luck if your pottery is seriously damaged.
Yet, if you still want to recycle, you will have to look out for commercial companies that recycle clays. However, you will most likely find it hard to get a company that accepts ceramics for recycling.
Still, ensure you avoid trying to recycle Pyrex. You will do more damage to your pile than good.
Conclusion
You will hardly come across a home without the use of pottery. That is how popular its use has become in recent years.
However, it can be quite tricky to maintain best practices when it comes to pottery. Well, not anymore. In this article, we have answered relevant questions that can help you maintain the best practices.
So, read up, and have a great experience using pottery.