La Mexicana Olla De Barro Pot, 6-Quartbestus

This is simply the best deal around for a large clay bean pot. When I tried to purchase it on Amazon, it had some error about it being out of stock, so I went to the supplier - MexGrocer. Their website is fairly bland, but they shipped it quickly, carefully wrapped, and if you bump your order amount to $35, shipping is free. You won't find a better deal on such a beautiful pot - get one! I'm considering buying another one as well.

It's gorgeous with a light glaze and painted flowers. It's a big pot with a wide mouth, suitable for cooking all types of stews, soups, and beans. I slow-cooked a six hour Frijoles de olla (beans) with chorizo in the oven, and it was fantastic. Be sure to follow the care instructions included for soaking it first, plus no dramatic temperature changes, use a flame tamer if you have an electric or ceramic top stove, and be sure to put it in the oven BEFORE you turn the oven on and allow it to heat up slowly. If that sounds like high maintenance,... Read more

I like this pot. But . . . the quality is a bit weak. The glaze is thin and chipped in spots. The inside of the pot had clearly been dabbed to repair a weakness in the clay. And after the first use, some of the glaze is flaking off.

Having said this, I WOULD BUY THIS AGAIN. It is a handmade, so you have to expect some flaws. It's also inexpensive. Most importantly, it makes a good pot of beans: they don't stick (the pot retains moisture well because you soak it first), so you can use less water when you cook.

SOME CAUTIONS:

SOAK BEFORE EACH USE: I know the instructions say you only have to cure it once, but given how light this pot is, I would soak it before each use to protect from cracking. After the first "curing" per instructions and the next time you use it, I would submerge it completely in water or rinse it well and then fill it with water. 1/2 hour to 1 hour soak time should do it.

SUDDEN TEMPERATURE CHANGES: don't take it... Read more

This pot is not only beautiful, it's extremely useful and does a marvelous job cooking a variety of delicious beans.