Claypot: What to do?

When buying claypot, make sure you get the size that fits your cooking style. For example in my case, I have a problem cooking in small quantity hence I got the biggest one out there which was about 10-12" diameter. Ideally, a medium size probably around 8" will do for most people. At the store, make sure to check for cracks and most importantly that it has a steel wire caging the pot. This provides a better support for the pot according to many of my sifu (cooking instructors).

Once it gets home, immerse the claypot completely in water for at least 15 hours. Ideally would be 24 hours. If you observe carefully, you will notice little bubbles rising from the pot. Before any use of the claypot, heat up the claypot with water filled up 1/4 way at low heat. The first few times (make it 5) should be used at low or medium low fire. Once it has "broken in", you may abuse it with high heat but its always best to heat up the pot slowly treating it almost like an oven.

Do not soak claypot in soapy water as it will absorb some of it. I've read in some websites to use salt to clean it. I personally soak the pot in hot water to allow the "burnt" stuff to soften up and then remove it with a steel scrubber. Once all the sticky stuff has been removed, I quickly was it with some dish detergent and rinse off immediately. Eating soap won't kill you not in small quantity.