Hakan Handmade Clay Pot with Lid, Natural Unglazed Earthen Cookware, Terracotta Pot, Casserole Dish, Rice Cooking, Clay Pot, Terracotta Pan, Korean, Indian, Mexican Dish, Large, 7.6 Quarts (7.2 L)

Very smart functional design and well made. I use it strictly for cooking soupy pinto beans with bacon or beef/pork short ribs in it... delicious flavor. High quality... very well packaged.IMPORTANT TIPS: To avoid cracks, it must be cured properly(immerse in water for 2-3 days... don't rush the process. ALSO, increase the heat gradually and low boil or simmer. AVOID high heat... there is no need for it, unglazed clay retains very good heat. To avoid mold: Wash with coarse salt and water ; dry it well(sunlight helps). Do not store it with the lid on it. Occasional immersing in water helps avoid cracks.FIRST TIME USE: Just low boil water with garlic, etc and discard... get rid of impurities. THEN start cooking in it. Hope it helps avoid disappointments.

It's been 18 months since we got the largest size and I would give it a 5 stars. We knew, going into it, that it will require a lot of change in how we usually clean pots. With enough research, we felt confident in taking on an un-glazed pot like the good old days. Right away, I want to confirm that it does take a lot of effort and there is an initial smell. However, after about 5 uses, the smell pretty much goes away completely. Even when it was present, it didn't affect the smell of taste of the food inside. We chose this pot due to the completely flat bottom. Our bright idea was to use this on a warming tray turned to the hottest setting and use it as a slow cooker. Well, it worked like a dream. Its size allows us to more than double our recipe whenever we want to slow cook something for a large one-pot meal with guests. The clean up after also takes getting used to but just scrape off the stuck food and scrub at it with course salt. Then let it dry all the way before putting it away. As we use it, the original color starts to get darker and the texture feels much smoother. Do your research before buying, learn how to take care of it. Much like how you would with a cast iron or carbon steel.

I really liked this clay cooking pot at first, it worked great and seemed to be high quality. However, after just six or seven uses, it developed a crack. I always used it on a gas stove with no more than medium heat, washed it by hand after each use, and let it dry completely before using it again. I mainly used it for cooking beans, so it was never placed on the stove empty. Unfortunately, despite careful handling, it still cracked, which was disappointing. If you're considering this pot, be aware that durability might be an issue.

High quality.....retains heat well....can cook meats, soups, stews, make bread, etc......Awesome!

FEB 22nd Review: I ordered the largest (7.6qt) and was a little worried to see a box marked "Fragile" on my terrace when I got home, this evening. The pot survived the battery, however, and when I opened it I almost wept at how beautiful it was. BUT ... when I put the perfectly round lid on the pot, it does not fit, rather, it sits at an angle, one side down on the lower lip where it belongs and the other side up on the upper rim. It's a luxury I could not afford and I regret buying it.APR 8th Review: The middle-sized pot (4.7qt) I just received, however, the top fits perfectly. Still haven't received any response regarding the larger one having an ill-fitted top, however, so I went ahead and seasoned it and will probably have to resort to using aluminum foil. Six weeks is enough time for the Hakan company to demonstrate quality customer service and they failed to do so.Glad to see readers finding this review helpful. I will change it if the company makes this right.