When taken care of the right way, MEC pots can last a very long time. Some traditional clay cooks replace their pots once a year or at least once every 2 years, that is because it is believed that in this time the food would have extracted nutrients from the clay as needed (much of food today is nutritionally lacking to an extent because of the commercial growing and processing practices).

Another reason they replace the pot within this time frame is because the pot may have shrunk to a point where it can no longer fortify the food with oxygen. Being porous, the pot allows food to “take in” air, oxygenating the food while cooking, but it slowly shrinks over time and after many months of use the pores come together tightly allowing less and less air and oxygen to be taken in.

Those aware about the nutritional fortification and the pots ability to breathe change theirs every 1-2 years. However, the pot itself is functional and cooks your food even after this time period.

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!