How to Care for and Use Handmade Pottery

To care for handmade pottery, hand-wash it in warm, soapy water unless the maker says it's dishwasher-safe, avoid sudden temperature changes, and keep metallic-decorated pieces out of the microwave. Confirm the glaze is food safe before eating or drinking from a piece, store pieces with padding between them, and retire any food vessel with interior cracks or chips that expose raw clay.

Is Handmade Pottery Food Safe?

Usually, but always ask. Food safety in ceramics comes down to the glaze.

Food-Safe Glazes

A food-safe glaze doesn't leach heavy metals, primarily lead and cadmium, into food or drink. Many contemporary craft potters use commercially prepared food-safe glazes, but it's still worth asking. Red and orange glazes historically relied on higher-risk colorants; modern equivalents are made to be safe, but it's a fair question for vintage or imported pieces.

Unglazed Clay and Porosity

Unglazed surfaces, such as the foot of a bowl or an unglazed interior, are porous and can absorb oils and bacteria over time. For food use, the interior surface should be fully glazed. Some rustic or decorative pottery isn't meant for food contact at all, and a maker will tell you.

Hand-Wash After Each Use

Hand-washing is the most protective habit you can build:

1. Use warm water and a mild dish soap.
2. Skip abrasive scrubbers that can scratch glazed surfaces.
3. Rinse thoroughly and air-dry or dry with a soft cloth.

Why avoid the dishwasher? Some potters design pieces for the dishwasher and will say so. Otherwise, the heat and detergent cycles take a toll over time:

• Glaze crazing: a network of fine cracks in the glaze surface, usually cosmetic at first but able to trap bacteria over time
• Fading color over repeated cycles
• Thermal shock: rapid temperature changes that can crack the clay body, especially thin-walled pieces
• Luster damage: metallic finishes often degrade in dishwashers

Microwave Use

Pottery without metallic decoration is usually microwave-safe. Metallic glazes, gold or silver luster and metal inlays can spark and arc, so keep those pieces out entirely.

Even undecorated pieces can get very hot if the clay body absorbs microwave energy. To test a piece, place it empty in the microwave alongside a separate cup of water and run it for 30 seconds. If the pottery ends up warmer than the water, don't use it in the microwave.

Oven Use

High-fired stoneware and porcelain are generally oven-safe. Low-fired earthenware, such as terra cotta, isn't recommended for oven use.

The main risk is thermal shock:

• Never move a piece straight from the refrigerator into a hot oven or hot water.
• Put pottery into a cold oven and let it heat up gradually, rather than into a preheated one.

Store Pieces Thoughtfully

• Stack cups and bowls with a soft cloth or felt pad between them to prevent scratches.
• Don't stack heavy pieces on delicate ones.
• Keep rarely used pieces where they won't be knocked.

Check Food Surfaces Periodically

Look inside mugs and bowls for cracks in the glaze now and then. Hairline cracks can harbor bacteria. A piece with significant interior crazing may need to be retired from food and drink use, though it can live on as a plant holder or decorative piece.

Remove Stains

Coffee and tea can stain unglazed surfaces over time.

• Stains: apply a paste of baking soda and water, leave it for 10–15 minutes, then scrub gently.
• Hard-water mineral deposits: white vinegar can help.

Chips, Cracks and Repairs

• Small rim or exterior chips: sand carefully with fine 400-grit or finer wet-dry sandpaper so the edge won't cut your lip.
• Chips that expose raw clay inside a food vessel: a hygiene concern. Retire the piece from food use or have it repaired professionally.
• Structural cracks: the piece may break further with use, so retire it from functional use.
• Kintsugi: the Japanese practice of repairing pottery with lacquer mixed with gold powder turns damage into a feature. Some ceramicists offer it as a service, and it's worth exploring for a sentimental piece.

Hand-Thrown vs. Slip-Cast Pottery

Knowing how a piece was made helps you understand its character.

Hand-Thrown

Clay is centered on a spinning wheel and shaped by hand. Each piece is unique, shows tool marks and has the subtle variation of human touch. The base often has trimming marks from where excess clay was cut away.

Slip-Cast

Liquid clay (slip) is poured into plaster molds, which absorb moisture until a wall forms; the piece is then removed and fired. The method is common in production studios and produces very consistent shapes. It isn't less skilled, but pieces are more uniform and production is faster.

How to tell: flip the piece over. Hand-thrown pieces often show spiral tool marks on the base, while slip-cast pieces are more uniform and may show faint seam lines where mold sections met.

Buying Pottery at a Craft Show

The best time to ask care questions is at the booth. Ask the potter whether the glaze is food safe, whether the piece can go in the dishwasher, microwave or oven, and what clay body they use. For more on why a handmade mug costs what it does, see why handmade products cost more, and find potters near you among craft shows this weekend.