A lot of people make the mistake of assuming that donabe and tagine are the same thing. They aren’t. A donabe is more versatile and much simpler to use. Some would say that it is also easier to store.
A donabe is the perfect vessel for cooking those one-pot meals that you can just set on the stove and forget for a while. Although every Japanese household has at least one donabe, it has made a comeback in the American food scene, especially with the country’s renewed obsession with Japanese cuisine.
If you are looking to buy a donabe, read this to know all about how to buy, use, and take care of it.
What Is a Donabe?
In Japanese, donabe means clay pot. According to the author of Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking, Naoko Takei Moore, it is one of the oldest Japanese cooking utensils. These earthenware pots are made out of naturally porous Iga clay, which is found in the Iga province. This clay has small air pockets that allow for excellent heat retention, which makes the pots ideal for use at high temperatures, including during cooking.
How To Buy the Right Donabe?
You can find a wide variety of donabe, all available at different price points. Their price starts at around $100 and goes higher, but you can find a premium-quality handmade donabe at around $200 - $300. If you are buying your first donabe, it is recommended that you start with an iga-yaki rice donabe, which is great for cooking simple homestyle Japanese foods, including rice, stews, soups, and so on. There are some donabe that are designed for grilling, smoking your food, and more.
How To Use a Donabe?
A donabe works like a slow cooker, gradually cooking the food with gentle and even heat distribution. It also cools down slowly, which allows all the flavors to really blend in. The best way to use a donabe is to put the ingredients in – start with rice and any broth – and turn on the stove to a low flame. Then you can gradually add the other ingredients like vegetables, tofu, fish, and meat, and turn up the heat to medium high. It might take you around an hour – or sometimes, more – to cook a donabe recipe.
Taking Care of Your Donabe
Donabe can be expensive, which is why you should make sure that you take care of it and keep it in good condition. Here are a few things you should do:
- Cleaning
Always handwash your donabe. Avoid putting it in the dishwasher. Clean it using a mild dish soap. Make sure the bottom is completely dry before you store it or set it over the heat.
- What if there are cracks?
Seasoning the donabe can sometimes help repair small cracks on the inside of the donabe. But if there is more noticeable damage, you might want to stop using it altogether.
- Removing odors
Simmering green tea leaves in water can help get rid of any lingering odor in your donabe.
At Greener Grass Design, discover a wonderful selection of iga-yaki donabe by Iga Mono, a family-owned brand that has been producing ceramic ware for over two hundred years. Browse through our online store to take your pick from a wide range of colors, finishes, and designs, including the popular iga-yaki rice donabe.
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