For a new pot, the firing process could leave some residual clay, which comes out while wiping. This does not get into food though, because we have tested it cooking plain white rice and steaming milk – both these ingredients can quickly take from what is next to it or added to it, but in both cases, we did not find clay mixed with food. So, we can confirm that this is only while wiping after washing for the first 1-2 times.  It is however important to note that our clay is even purer than food grown today and is composed of essential nutrients so there is nothing to worry about.

The clay residue will stop coming when wiping after a few uses.

Here are some tips to extend the life of your MEC pots and pans:

1. Cook at low heat settings:
   MEC functions best at a low heat setting, converting the heat into an even far-infrared heat. Because of MEC’s heat retention, your pots & pans can cook at a low heat setting & meals will be ready in the same time or less, compared to high heat conventional cookware! Exposure to high heat settings can risk cracks & other damage to the cookware.
2. Instead of oil, use water before cooking:
   MEC becomes naturally non-stick with use; as a result, less oil is needed overall in the cooking process. As a comparison, oil is to metals as water is to clay. Always use half the amount of oil required in a conventional recipe, and you can add in the oil towards the end of the cooking process. This will result in healthier meals, because the oil will not be heated and cooking over a long time to break down into trans-fat!
3. Store MEC pots in well-ventilated areas:
   Miriam’s Earthen Cookware thrives in sunlight. Because of the earthen material, it is believed sunlight (or daylight, even) can enhance your cooking experience. You can read more about this phenomenon here: How MEC Increases Vitamin D Levels
   After using your pot, we recommend fully wiping the pot dry and storing it in a ventilated space. Keeping MEC in an enclosed cabinet may not work well; instead, we recommend storing it on a rack, on a windowsill, or on the stove itself. If the pot is not fully dry and stored in a poorly ventilated area, there is a risk of mold growing on the surface of the pot. In the case that mold does grow, it can be safely cleaned off, here’s how: Mold Cleaning Instructions
4. Avoid toxic ingredients:
   Clay naturally tries to remove any toxins when heated, as described here: MEC Toxin Removal
   This process occurs naturally, but the pot walls can end up saturated over time, which can affect its durability & longevity. To avoid this, pick ingredients that have the least amount of toxins possible, like non-processed, organic ingredients. Additionally, the purer the water, the better. Highly processed ingredients like chicken stock can be substituted for healthier ingredients (in this case, water can be used instead of stock, and you will still get a naturally created flavorful broth).

Choosing healthy ingredients benefits both the pots longevity and your own health, too!

There are several benefits to not using this toxic paint-like substance to coat our cookware. Here are a few:  Glazing blocks micro-pores and prevents the pots ability to breathe. A breathable pot is capable of so much more; for instance, it can make your yogurt naturally thicker, let rice cook fluffier & softer (not sticky), cook without using oil (can’t cook without oil or grease on glazed cookware), and extract toxins from food.

Also, they’re much easier to clean without the glaze on the walls: a seasoned, breathable pot repels food from sticking.  Glaze is toxic, and it doesn’t make sense to coat a 100% pure & non-toxic raw material, used for cooking with a toxic & potentially dangerous substance that’s neither time-tested nor proven to be safe.  Glazing also creates toxic waste &: it generates toxic fumes during firing that clearly would disqualify our product from being 100% non-toxic and safe!

There are so many things that make us special! Here are just a few things that distinguish MEC:

• The world’s first cookware makers lab testing the raw material AND proving our customers this information.
• Also, the world’s first to make 100% Non-Toxic Cookware, Bakeware and Kitchenware. Only one where absolutely no additives are used.
• Each piece of our hand-crafted cookware is unique and one-of-a-kind that is has no exact duplicates!
• MEC is also the worlds first 100% Green Product: Made from pure nature, without any additives, packed in green and bio-degradable materials, shipped green, functions green and can be disposed 100% green!
• It is also the first modern cookware made for stovetop, oven, outdoor grills, camping stoves, solar ovens… and more.
• We are a woman-owned business that ships worldwide!

For a new pot, the firing process could leave some residual clay, which comes out while wiping. This does not get into food though, because we have tested it cooking plain white rice and steaming milk – both these ingredients can quickly take from what is next to it or added to it, but in both cases, we did not find clay mixed with food. So, we can confirm that this is only while wiping after washing for the first 1-2 times.  It is however important to note that our clay is even purer than food grown today and is composed of essential nutrients so there is nothing to worry about.

The clay residue will stop coming when wiping after a few uses.

Here are some tips to extend the life of your MEC pots and pans:

1. Cook at low heat settings:
   MEC functions best at a low heat setting, converting the heat into an even far-infrared heat. Because of MEC’s heat retention, your pots & pans can cook at a low heat setting & meals will be ready in the same time or less, compared to high heat conventional cookware! Exposure to high heat settings can risk cracks & other damage to the cookware.
2. Instead of oil, use water before cooking:
   MEC becomes naturally non-stick with use; as a result, less oil is needed overall in the cooking process. As a comparison, oil is to metals as water is to clay. Always use half the amount of oil required in a conventional recipe, and you can add in the oil towards the end of the cooking process. This will result in healthier meals, because the oil will not be heated and cooking over a long time to break down into trans-fat!
3. Store MEC pots in well-ventilated areas:
   Miriam’s Earthen Cookware thrives in sunlight. Because of the earthen material, it is believed sunlight (or daylight, even) can enhance your cooking experience. You can read more about this phenomenon here: How MEC Increases Vitamin D Levels
   After using your pot, we recommend fully wiping the pot dry and storing it in a ventilated space. Keeping MEC in an enclosed cabinet may not work well; instead, we recommend storing it on a rack, on a windowsill, or on the stove itself. If the pot is not fully dry and stored in a poorly ventilated area, there is a risk of mold growing on the surface of the pot. In the case that mold does grow, it can be safely cleaned off, here’s how: Mold Cleaning Instructions
4. Avoid toxic ingredients:
   Clay naturally tries to remove any toxins when heated, as described here: MEC Toxin Removal
   This process occurs naturally, but the pot walls can end up saturated over time, which can affect its durability & longevity. To avoid this, pick ingredients that have the least amount of toxins possible, like non-processed, organic ingredients. Additionally, the purer the water, the better. Highly processed ingredients like chicken stock can be substituted for healthier ingredients (in this case, water can be used instead of stock, and you will still get a naturally created flavorful broth).

Choosing healthy ingredients benefits both the pots longevity and your own health, too!