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.

MEC’s useful life cycle can span for decades, or even across generations. However, there may come a time where you can no longer cook with it due to damages or long-term wear. Despite this, there are several uses for your MEC product, even after it can no longer cook!

Note: Before writing off your MEC product as unusable due to a crack, please note that 90% of cracks can be healed, and you can use MEC for cooking again after healing a crack. However, there are rare instances where the crack does not heal, rendering the pot unusable.

Here are some recommended uses for your pot/pan after its useful life cycle:

Storing Fruits & Veggies: It can be used to store fresh fruits and vegetables in the fridge. Produce lasts longer and remains fresh because the inert pot prevents depletion of nutrients caused by EMF radiation (electro-magnetic field radiation).

Organic Sprouting: Your beans/lentils will thrive in the breathable, nutrient rich pot/pan and sprout more fully than in other vessels.

How To Use MEC For Sprouting: Soak your beans/lentils in a glass bowl for 12 hours. Drain the water and put the beans in your MEC pure-clay pot. Close the lid and put the pot in the oven. Your beans will sprout in these pots with just the heat from cooking on the stove top above. In the winter, if need be, leave the oven light on to give some additional heat. Your beans/lentils will sprout in 8-12 hours. Most other sprouting vessels are made of plastic, take 5-7 days to sprout, and need repeated meticulous water management.

Natural Refrigeration: Going camping? Or living off the grid and need a place to store fresh food for a few days? Your damaged pot can make a great natural refrigerator. Just wet the whole pot under running water for 2 minutes, drip dry, place the foods you need refrigerated inside, dip the lid in water, then close the pot. You can safely store milk, fruits, vegetables, bread, and so on for some time. The pot & lid will let the water evaporate very slowly, keeping the food inside cool and safe. How long food can stay without going bad depends on the weather and your location, so we recommend storing small quantities starting out.

Herb/Vegetable Planting: These 100% non-toxic pots make great planters in your kitchen or outside for all your herbs or small vegetable plants. Plant and see your vegetation thrive in them!

If you can’t find any extra use from your MEC product because it is too damaged, don’t worry! Since our pots are 100% compostable, you can safely dispose them by breaking them up into smaller pieces and using them as an all-natural fertilizer for your garden.