How to Buy and Care for Stoneware: A Sustainable Guide

Here are the things to pay attention to first before purchasing stoneware for your kitchen. Read the factors below.

Excellent quality stoneware will be weighty and semi-heavy. This weight is one of the best indicators of the density of the piece and therefore, how durable it is likely to be. As you pick a piece of stoneware, you should feel some weight in your hand as the piece feels heavy. Lightweight pieces are a pointer to poor quality stoneware and possibly lack the dense clay body responsible for the material's durable profile.

Stoneware is typically designed in neutral colors like whites, off-whites, beiges, and at times, dark tones of black, brown, and red. A quality stoneware piece should have an even color throughout with no blemishes or spots showing themselves. The finish should be smooth and either matte or unless it's designed to be glazed. Avoid such items where surfaces are rough or uneven, because this possibly indicates an issue of poor craftsmanship or simply lower-quality materials.

Stoneware should be smooth to touch. While some artisanal stoneware may come with some intentional texture, a smooth finish generally is one that has good quality. Rough or bumpy surfaces can be difficult to clean thoroughly and may host bacteria. Make sure that the piece you choose has a uniform texture that feels comfortable in your hand.

To keep your stoneware beautiful and useful for a long time, ensure the following proper care tips are taken into consideration. Below are some caring tips you need to follow for your stoneware.

Many stoneware pieces are dishwasher-safe, but frequent use of the dishwasher can sometimes dull the shiny gloss on the exterior. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to alternate between hand washing and using the dishwasher, especially for delicate or decorative pieces.

If you choose to use the dishwasher, keep these tips in mind:

• Be cautious when placing stoneware to avoid contact with other dishes, which can cause chipping.
• Ensure the stoneware is placed securely and not touching other items.
• Use the gentle cycle on your dishwasher and avoid high heat drying settings to preserve the finish.
• Periodically check your stoneware for signs of wear or damage from the dishwasher.

Thermal shock is a common cause of damage to stoneware, and it occurs when a piece experiences sudden changes in temperature. To prevent this, avoid moving stoneware directly from a hot oven to a cold countertop, or vice versa. Instead, allow it to cool gradually.

Here are a few tips to protect your stoneware from thermal shock:

• Always place your stoneware on a heat-resistant surface, such as a trivet or a wooden board, to help it cool slowly.
  
  
• When reheating food, place the dish in a cold oven and then set the desired temperature. This gradual heating process reduces the risk of thermal shock.
  
  
• Never cool stoneware by placing it in water or onto a cold surface immediately after removing it from the oven.

One of the most significant sustainable attributes of stoneware is perhaps its longevity. If you know how to care for stoneware, your piece can last for decades without wearing out and hence requires low replacement and reduced waste. This makes it a very wise investment and means that stoneware is quite durable. 

By exclusively choosing long-lived materials, you reduce your personal resource consumption and waste generation. 

Stoneware does not easily chip or crack, ensuring that it continues to look new for a long time. The durability is assured, unlike that of disposable or other low-quality items bound to be broken or damaged in no time. Protecting your investment for quite a long period ought to come.

Quality and strict adherence to sustainable practices can be ascertained by choosing products from popular brands. Here are top brands to consider when buying stoneware.

Carthage.Co is a highly reputed brand known for being able to come up with beautiful, handmade stoneware. Carthage.Co works in collaboration with the masters to ensure that every single piece is done under high standards of quality and sustainability. Most of their products have unique designs, assuring functionality and beauty, since the product shows tradition in that crafting of the piece. Essentially, when one opts to support or buy from Carthage.Co, they end up supporting other artisans out there. Carthage.Co is committed to sustainability which is manifested in its locally-sourced materials and fair trade practice in every one of their activities. Their stoneware extends from dinner sets to serving pieces and even drinkware. Each of them is skillfully done, taking care of the littlest of details.

Here, one can find an array of stoneware products that are elegant and sustainable. From material providers' point-to-point use in sourcing locally and energy-efficient production, stoneware from Convivial is a must-have for every person who wants to throw a touch of sophistication and still stay in their eco-friendly lane. Their minimalist designs whisper of items that are versatile and timeless. At the heart of the product development process at Convivial is the practice of sustainability and quality. Choosing Convivial stoneware gives a guarantee that the pieces will last long and will be produced with minimal impact on the environment.

This is a budget-friendly option in stoneware. They have made huge investments in ensuring the integration of sustainable materials and practices in their product line processes. All in all, IKEA offers functional and fashionable stoneware that appeals to many consumers. Even by committing to be more sustainable, IKEA reduces waste and uses renewable resources. It offers lots of stoneware collections (dishes, jugs, jars, etc.), and within the collection consumers can find different designs and colors, therefore, everyone will be able to choose something according to the taste and style of the kitchen. With the products of IKEA stoneware, you may enjoy the invention, quality, and sustainability at an affordable price.

Durable and multi-colored Le Creuset cookware is a leader in the high-quality market. Its stoneware is not an exception. Le Creuset stoneware is well-known for its bright colors and long-lasting quality in everyday use. It is crack, crazing, and rippling resistant. And since the company is strongly committed to sustainability, all of its stoneware is manufactured at high temperatures as well as it is crafted from solid materials. In addition, the production process is also monitored in terms of human rights, working conditions, and other factors related to the company's activity.

Pampered Chef is a well-known brand in the world of the home kitchen. Chefs worldwide love its stoneware for its practicality and cooking results. Its stoneware is designed in a way that it provides even heat distribution, which makes it perfect for baking and roasting. Stoneware from Pampered Chef is also known to be a perfect choice for those who are looking for a stoneware item with a natural exterior, which is not likely to be affected by sticking or damaging. With Pampered Chef, the feature and sustainability of the products manifest not only in the design but also in the production process. Their stoneware is made for longevity, and that means you will have age-long use with them. The value of products from Pampered Chef is in their durability.