FAQ'S

CERAMICS FAQs

Is the pottery food safe?

Yes, all our pottery is food safe and lead and cadmium free meeting FDA recommendations.

 Is it microwave and dishwasher safe?

Yes, except for pieces with gold, silver, or copper trims! Our non-trimmed precious-metal pottery is microwave safe, oven safe* (to 400°) and dishwasher safe.  All handmade pottery has a longer life and retains its beautiful designs longer when used lovingly. 

To retain the quality of your piece and ensure longevity, hand-washing with a non-abrasive cloth or sponge in warm soapy water is always recommended. Corrosive detergents, softness of the water, too much detergent, very hot water, and other factors beyond our control can lead to deterioration of the glazed (glass) surface.

Heating and Cooling Your Ceramics

We use clay with a low iron content (non-toxic) and lead-free glazes.  They are safe to use in the microwave, but it is recommended to use an oven mitt. The dishes retain heat very well.

Please take care to avoid exposing the pottery to radical temperature changes which could result in fragility and cracking and/or breakage. Example, avoid putting a cold dish into a hot pre-heated oven or a hot dish onto a cold surface or into the sink. We recommend setting hot plates on a rack or onto potholders or pads when it’s pulled from the oven.

To prevent a baking dish from breaking during baking, cover at least two-thirds of the surface area with food. It is recommended to preheat in the oven before baking. However, do not preheat an empty dish in the oven, because this may cause the piece to crack or break.

Never boil liquids in them or pour boiling water directly into your ceramic pieces.

Safe for Food Contact

Clay that has passed purity testing is naturally inert and safe for preparing, cooking, and storing food. Food doesn’t react with pure clay and there are no toxic products to leach into your food. Lead free glazes, when properly mixed and applied, are safe for food contact.

Our kilns have never been used to fire pottery containing lead. This assures your ceramics have not been cross-contaminated from residual lead lingering in the kiln.

A Few Other Things to Know

Do not store highly acidic items such as vinegar in glazed ceramic pieces.

To remove marks left by silverware, we recommend hand-washing periodically with Bar Keepers Friend, which is available in most major grocery stores.

Please note that flatware marks actually sit on top of the glaze rather than cut into it. The ceramic glazes are stronger than the soft metal in the flatware, which causes forks and knives to occasionally leave a superficial residue.