Japanese Cookers

Discover our range of Donabe

We would like to introduce you to a type of Japanese kitchen utensil that is essential, called "donabe," as well as its features and uses.

What type of kitchen utensil do you use? When it comes to preparing simple recipes, electric kitchen appliances seem to be gaining popularity. However, a traditional Japanese donabe is also suitable for simple cooking, as long as you know how to use it.
"After reading this blog and discovering the donabe, we hope you will include it in your selection of kitchen utensils at home."

What is a donabe?

A donabe (a compound word made up of "do" meaning "earth" and "nabe" meaning "pot") is a clay pot that is shaped and fired. In addition to donabe, there are iron, copper, or stone pots in Japan. Unlike metal pots, a donabe first heats up and then cooks food by distributing heat throughout the entire vessel. Furthermore, the donabe retains heat exceptionally well, meaning that most foods are well-cooked even after the fire is turned off. Cooking with residual heat also allows food to absorb more flavors as it gradually cools down. Therefore, the donabe is an ideal vessel for slow cooking. Thanks to its infrared radiation, the donabe cooks food efficiently. Although it takes longer to cook with a donabe, food stays warm for a long time once heated.

What to cook with a donabe?

The most common dish prepared with a donabe is hot pot. On a cold winter day, eating hot pot at the table warms the body and the mind. Besides hot pot, you can use a donabe to simmer vegetables or prepare soup and porridge. We also recommend cooking rice in a donabe. It's very easy, in just a few steps. 

What should not be cooked with a donabe.

Although a donabe can be used for various recipes, it is not suitable for preparing dishes that require a lot of oil, such as frying. The temperature of the oil becomes too high, which can damage the donabe.

How to use/cook with a donabe?

Before the first use, the donabe must be treated. This process is called "Medome" or "Mebari" in Japanese. As clay, the donabe has many microscopic pores that need to be coated. If the "Medome" process is not followed, cracks, leaks, and discoloration may occur.
To treat a donabe, boil rice water or water with flour or cornstarch in the donabe for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, completely dry the donabe. Medome is one of the methods to preserve a donabe for a long time and should be done not only before the first use but also periodically. Here is a video to learn more.

If you find a crack in your donabe, treat it immediately. Some donabe do not need to be seasoned, so check the product description or ask a salesperson in the store.

A donabe can be used on the stovetop, in the microwave, or in the oven. When using it on the stovetop, make sure the bottom is dry by wiping off any moisture with a cloth. Heating a donabe when the bottom is wet can cause cracks. If you are using a donabe in the oven, do not use the lid, as it is not suitable for oven cooking.

How to maintain a donabe

Donabe should be handled with care, as they are heavy and easily breakable. If food remains in a donabe after a meal, we recommend transferring it immediately to a container. They are indeed very absorbent and soak up the liquid from the food that has been left in them, which leads to odors and mold.

If you notice that your donabe is emitting an odor, try to boil water with the remaining tea leaves for an hour. After letting it cool, remove the liquid and rinse the donabe. The odor should then be gone.

Be sure to wait for the donabe to cool down naturally. Rinsing a still hot donabe can crack it, as it is sensitive to temperature changes.
To clean it, use only water and a soft sponge. Do not use soap or bleach, as they may seep into the pores of the donabe. However, if food is stuck to the donabe, you can use a small amount of soap and rinse it immediately. Do not put a donabe in the dishwasher.

If you want to clean burnt food off a donabe, simply add baking soda and water and boil it all for an hour. After letting it cool, rinse the donabe. The burnt food will then come off much more easily.

How to preserve a donabe?

Donabe are made of clay and are very absorbent, so it is impossible to completely dry them by simply wiping the water off their surface. Storing a donabe with moisture inside can lead to mold formation. After washing a donabe, turn it upside down and place it in a well-ventilated area to dry completely. If you do not plan to use your donabe for a while, store it in newspaper, which will absorb moisture.

"It is also important not to stack other pots on the donabe to avoid breaking it. If you notice any odors, boil water with vinegar or lemon juice in the donabe for an hour to eliminate them."