As we welcome the braai season back with joy, the excitement of gathering around the fire with friends and family for an evening of laughter and quality time paired with appetising potjie is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
But the hardcore labour that comes with having to clean the big iron pot can sometimes be a struggle, especially if you are struggling to get rid of those fatty stains and residue leftover from the delicious potjie kos.
But no need to stress! Whether you’re new to the potjiekos lifestyle or a pro, we’ve got some amazing tips on how you can sufficiently clean your potjie pot, so it lasts for years to come so you can keep creating those mouth-watering stews that everyone loves.
How to maintain your potjie pot for durability:
The before and after care of your potjie pot is essential to maintaining not only for its longevity, but to ensure that you can get the best quality and flavours from your pot.
Thus, it’s very important that you treat your pot with care:
- Use your pot as often as you can to form that non-stick element. Seasoning your potjie pot is important for its maturity. Each time you add heat to your potjie and season it with oil you add that non-stick consistency you need for a great potjie. Potjie pots are composed of cast iron, making them extremely porous. When heating, and adding seasoning to the pot, you will fill up those tiny holes.
- Make sure that the pot, when not in use, is always kept in a dry area with and seasoned with newspaper and a small bit of oil on the inside.
How to clean your potjie pot:
- Boil a kettle of water and place it into the potjie pot and add some dishwashing liquid. For a much-needed deep clean after each use, it’s important to wash your pot, in hot soapy water.
- Use a brush to scrub the pot and remove all the food and fatty bits then rinse.
- Once properly cleaned and all the residue from the food has been cleaned out. Dry your pot as best as you can with a handtowel.
- Remove any excess moisture, from your pot with a small bit of heat from your kitchen stove or braai.
- Before placing the pot back in its designated area, make sure that it has properly cooled down and is dry before storage.
- Once ready to be placed back in its dry area, make sure to first add a tad bit of oil to the pot with some newspaper to prevent rusting. This is a trick often called seasoning.
ALSO SEE: How to braai with wet wood
Feature image: Pexels
