How to Bake Ceramic Stoneware
Stoneware is a type of ceramic pottery fired at especially high temperatures to yield a harder, less porous and more stone-like ceramic. Stoneware is prized for its ability to evenly cook food and retain heat to keep food warmer longer. Casserole dishes, pizza pans, deep-dish cooking plates and flat baking trays are common stoneware creations. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Mid-range or high-fire stoneware clay
- Ceramics glaze
- Clay molding utensils
- Melted wax
- Ceramics kiln
Instructions
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Choose clay specially mixed to create stoneware. These clays are gray in color when raw, and when fired, range from grey to brown depending on the firing temperature and duration. Mid-range and high-fire are two types of stoneware clay whose maturation temperature ranges to create different colors.
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Knead clay to remove air bubbles and mold clay into the desired shape. Whether creating a casserole dish or flat stoneware tray, molding is one of the most important parts of making stoneware.
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Bisque fire the dish in a kiln oven. These ovens are specially created to bake ceramics at extremely high temperatures. Through bisque, firing imperfections like oil are baked from the dish at a low temperature. The result is a terra cotta-like finish.
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Glaze the dish in desired color or design. Do not allow the glaze to touch any portion of the dish that meets the kiln. If the kiln surface and glaze meet, the glaze will melt the dish into the kiln, ruining both the dish and a portion of the oven. Dipping the bottom rim of the dish in melted wax before glazing ensures a buffer between the dish and the kiln.
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Fire the piece again to increase the dish's strength and allow the glaze to acquire a glasslike finish. Stoneware is fired at temperatures over 1000-degrees Celsius. When using mid-range stoneware clay, the piece will mature between 1160 and 1225-degrees Celsius. High-fire clays will mature between 1200 and 1330-degrees Celsius.
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Allow the piece to cool inside kiln after it has reached maturity. Transferring the piece to a cooler space immediately is dangerous, and it could cause the piece to crack. When it cools, the piece is ready for use.
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Season unglazed stoneware by lining the dish with vegetable oil or cook high-fat foods during the first few uses. The oil and fat will seep into the stoneware creating a natural non-stick lining and making the dish more effective.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are unfamiliar with creating ceramics, seek assistance from an experienced potter when molding and using a kiln.
Follow all kiln safety precautions including protective gloves and eyewear.
Do not handle stoneware while it is still hot.
Do not wash stoneware with soap.
Do not microwave stoneware.
References
Resources
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