How to Season a Tagine and Other Clay Cookware

Authentic clay or glazed ceramic Moroccan tagines are wonderful pieces of handmade cookware used to create flavorful Moroccan dishes. Unglazed clay tagines, in particular, impart a unique earthy nuance to tender, slow-cooked stews.

Whether you buy a tagine online or purchase one in Morocco, it should be "seasoned" before its first use to both strengthen it and, if unglazed, remove a raw clay taste. The same procedure applies to other types of clay cookware such as the tangia.

Before you start, make sure that what you have is indeed clay or ceramic cookware and not a decorative serving piece.

Step-By-Step Seasoning Instructions

You will need a large basin for soaking, olive oil, and an oven.

1. Soak the lid and the base in water for at least two hours, or overnight. As some clay cookware is quite large, you may need to get creative. Use a large bucket, a bathtub, a sink, a laundry room washbasin, a plastic basin. If you can't find something large enough to accommodate the top of a tagine, invert the tagine lid and fill it with water instead.
2. Drain the water and dry the tagine (or other clay cookware). If the cookware is unglazed, rub the interior and exterior of the lid and base with olive oil.
3. Place the tagine or other clay cookware in a cold oven. Turn the oven on to 300 F/150 C, and set the timer for two hours.
4. After two hours, turn off the oven, and leave the tagine to cool completely in the oven. Wash the cooled tagine by hand, and coat the interior with olive oil before storing or using.

Temperature Precautions During Use

Authentic Moroccan clay and ceramic tagines will crack if subjected to high heat. The same applies to other types of clay cookware. Unless otherwise directed, use a low burner setting or an oven temperature of no more than 325 F/160 C, and wait patiently for the tagine to reach a simmer. Heat diffusers are recommended for cooking on a burner.

Tagines and other clay cookware may also crack if subjected to rapid changes in temperature. Avoid this by not adding cold food or liquids to a hot tagine, and by taking care not to place a hot tagine on a cold surface. Similarly, don't add hot liquids to a cold tagine, or place a cold tagine in a preheated oven.

Washing and Storing

Hand wash your tagine with very mild soap, baking soda or vinegar, and rinse well. Leave the tagine to dry thoroughly, and then lightly coat the interior of the lid and base with olive oil before storing.

It's a good idea to store your tagine with the lid slightly ajar so that air can circulate. Glazed ceramic tagines have a tendency to mold, and this will help prevent that. If the interior does develop a little mold, simply wash the tagine and lightly coat it with olive oil before using.

Curing a Tagine

Some darkening or staining should be expected with the use of a tagine; this is a desirable characteristic. According to Moroccan cookbook author Paula Wolfert, you can speed up this darkening by "curing" the tagine instead of just seasoning it. This can be done by rubbing ashes along with oil on the tagine and then leaving the tagine in a slow oven for eight hours or longer. Sounds messy, but the tagine should take on a beautiful, aged look.