Our ancestors used to cook their food either directly over a fire or using pots made out of clay. With advances in technology, we have developed much better appliances and in doing so we have also lost the food’s real taste and nutrients.
People in South Asia specifically use clay pots for cooking Indian food. These pots are called ‘Meti Handi’ by the people of Odisha and the secret behind the delicious tasting food is not the recipe but actually the clay pots in which the food is cooked.
So how do pots made from clay develop taste? Granted, preparing food in clay pots might take a lot of time, but the food is without doubt much richer in flavor and nutrients.
Let’s discuss some of the benefits of cooking in a pot made out of clay.
Naturally sweeter food
Some meals require sweeteners to develop the desired flavor. For example, when cooking meat, potatoes, fish, and rice, the sweetener helps soften the meat and reduce the calorie intake.
This is the major reason why herbal teas are still boiled in clay pots because it enhances the taste by using the natural constituents of the clay rather than any steel or other metallic utensils.
Preserving nutrients
Clay pots for Indian cooking maintain the temperature and the moisture content of the food by preventing the steam from evaporating. The essence of the food is preserved with the natural element of clay. It absorbs the heat and provides the optimum environment for the process.
Non-reactive
The steel and aluminum utensils we use nowadays dissolve in our food while cooking and are dangerous for our health as they can cause illnesses like Alzheimer’s. Clay is a naturally existing material that contains no harmful material. A clay pot as you would expect are inert in nature and do not react with food components.
Cooking more slowly
Experts say that by cooking food on a low flame, the nutrients of the meal are properly extracted, and that is a vital step in producing flavor. It takes longer to cook, but as a wise person once said, the fruit of patience is sweet. Clay pots are tremendous utensils that can be used for this purpose without burning the food.
Keeps the food warm
Clay, by design, is an element capable of conserving heat which ensures that the food is kept warm for hours. Thus, there is no need to reheat your food in the microwave continuously. The radiation from the microwave could make the food radioactive and harmful to your health instead of benefiting it.
Conclusion
We should use clay pots in our daily routine to cook healthy food full of nutrients and taste instead of using hazardous aluminum utensils. Clay pots have various benefits besides conserving heat and taste as they also add to the aesthetics of your kitchen.
Article source: http://EzineArticles.com/10412753
