Terracotta, literally “cooked earth” (terra=earth, cotta=cooked in Italian and Latin).
The experience of using terracotta in your kitchen is a heart-warming one. Using
terracotta cookware and bakeware is wonderful not only because it stirs up visions of
cozy country kitchens dating back generations, but it also adds considerably to the
flavor & experience of the food. The first time you use terracotta cookware you will
soak it for approximately four hours and give it a quick water rinse all subsequent uses.
Fine cracks, also called “crazing” will form inside the pot allowing steam to come
through the wet terracotta as it cooks, making it the perfect cooking vessel for all foods
you want to stay moist, juicy and tender. Imperfections in terracotta table top pieces
or cookware are a guarantee that the goods are hand-made and are proof of the
difficulties involved in producing a wide range of shapes and colors.