Tag: cooking

The Safest Pressure Cooker for Nourishing, Non-Toxic Cooking

Why it’s time to rethink the conventional pressure cooker?

When it comes to fast, efficient cooking, pressure cookers are hard to beat. But traditional pressure cookers come with their own set of risks, some visible, some hidden. From dangerously hot exteriors to leaching metals and heat that damages food’s delicate and vital nutrients, there is inevitable and dangerous compromise to both health and flavor — it’s time to rethink the conventional pressure cooker.

At Miriam’s Earthen Cookware, we’re reimagining pressure cooking through the lens of non-toxic cooking, safety, and ancient and time- tested wisdom. Our 100% pure clay pots provide a clean, nutrient-preserving, and energy-efficient alternative to metal cookware. And yes, they function beautifully as pressure cookers.

Why Traditional Pressure Cookers May Not Be the Safest Option?

Modern metal pressure cookers are widely used because of their speed and convenience. But these benefits often come at the cost of health, safety, and even cooking quality. Here’s why:

  • Toxic Leaching from Metal Surfaces: Most metal pressure cookers are made from stainless steel or aluminum. When subjected to high heat and pressure, these metals can leach into your food. For example, aluminum is a known neurotoxin, and even stainless steel can leach trace amounts of nickel, chromium, and iron under pressure, particularly when cooking acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus, or vinegar-based dishes.
  • Extreme Surface Temperatures: Conventional pressure cookers heat up fast. The result is a cookware surface that becomes dangerously hot within minutes. Many users (including Miriam herself!) recall burning their fingers when handling or opening these pots.
  • No Visibility or Flexibility: Once a traditional pressure cooker is sealed, there’s no peeking inside. You can’t check texture, flavor, or moisture levels. If you misjudge the timing, you’re left with overcooked or burnt food. This inflexibility makes precision cooking almost impossible.
  • Loud, Stressful Cooking Experience: Traditional pressure cookers hiss, steam, and sputter with high pressure. This not only creates a loud kitchen environment, but also adds a level of stress and caution to your cooking process.
    Here’s a little bit of history of the Pressure Cooker:Clay was humanity’s original cookware, and the original pressure cooker. Long before metals entered the kitchen, people cooked in clay pots that naturally retained steam, gently infusing food with moisture and preserving its nutrients.When cookware shifted to metals, manufacturers tried to mimic clay’s steam-locking ability. But metal conducts heat harshly, and the intense pressure forced them to clamp lids tightly just to keep steam inside. This aggressive cooking method damages delicate nutrients, stripping food of its natural value.They started making them first with aluminium,  a metal later found to pose serious health risks. As concerns about aluminum’s toxicity grew, manufacturers quietly transitioned to stainless steel. But this switch didn’t solve the problem.Unlike aluminum, which is a single metal, stainless steel is an alloy, a mix of several metals, each with its own reactivity. These metals readily interact with the hydrogen, oxygen, acids, and bases naturally present in food. Under heat and pressure, they can leach into the food, compromising its purity and safety.So while stainless steel may seem like a safer alternative, it still introduces chemical reactivity that clay cookware avoids entirely.Also, while metal pressure cookers may retain steam, they fall short of replicating the wholesome results of clay. Not only is nutrition compromised, but the food also risks contamination from metal leaching, especially under high heat and pressure.That’s why Miriam’s Earthen Cookware is committed to bringing people back to the original pressure cooker, reimagined for modern stoves. Our pots are designed with a unique lid that locks steam in naturally. As the food cooks, steam rises, circulates gently, condenses, and returns to the food, preserving flavor, nutrients, and purity without force or toxins.

The Miriam’s Difference: Pure Clay Pressure Cooking

What makes Miriam’s the safest pressure cooker alternative? It starts with the clay itself. We use 100% primary clay, sourced and tested for purity. No glazes, no metals, no additives. Here’s what that means for you:

Safe, Breathable Material: Unlike metal or glazed ceramic, our clay is completely inert. It won’t react with acidic foods, and it doesn’t leach any harmful substances, even under pressure or high heat.

Natural Pressure Cooking with Clay: Miriam’s pots, when used with their dome lids and gentle, low-to-medium heat, create a natural pressure environment. Moisture is retained within the pot, circulating as steam and enhancing flavor and nutrient absorption.

Lower Heat, Better Efficiency: You don’t need high heat to reach cooking pressure in Miriam’s pots. Because clay holds onto heat and releases it slowly, medium or even low heat is often sufficient. This means less energy use and reduced risk of burning your food, or your fingers.

Open the Lid Anytime: One of the most unique features of Miriam’s clay pots is that you can safely open the lid mid-cook. Curious about your lentils? Want to check your rice texture? Go ahead. There’s no pressure lock, no dangerous steam release. Just easy, intuitive cooking.

Cooler Exteriors, Safer Handling: Clay retains heat within the pot instead of radiating it outward. The result? The outside of your Miriam’s pot remains comfortably warm, not dangerously hot.

Longer Heat Retention: Once cooking is done, your Miriam’s pot continues to hold heat for much longer than metal, keeping your food warm without additional energy input.

Pressure Cooker Recipes that Work Beautifully in Miriam’s Cookware

The benefits of pressure cooking, fast cook times, tender textures, and flavor development, are all achievable in Miriam’s cookware. Here are a few examples of popular pressure cooker recipes  you can make in your clay pot:

Bone Broth: Extract maximum collagen and nutrients from bones without the use of high-pressure metal. The broth gels beautifully in MEC.

Beans and Lentils: Chickpeas, black beans, and split dals cook fully without splitting or sticking to the bottom.

Spanish Rice, Brown Rice, Basmati: Our customers consistently say rice made in clay tastes better, fluffier, more aromatic, and never scorched.

One-Pot Curries & Stews: The even heat distribution enhances slow-simmered dishes with rich flavor and perfect texture.

Because clay is breathable, steam is allowed to circulate in a balanced way. This helps concentrate natural flavors while retaining nutrients that often get lost in high-heat metal pots.

Healthier Food Through Gentler Cooking

Many people are switching to clay cookware not just for safety, but because of how it makes them feel. Clay cooking supports better gut health, improved digestion, and less exposure to heavy metals.

The lower cooking temperatures mean vitamins, particularly water-soluble ones like B and C, are better preserved. The absence of synthetic materials and glazes also ensures you aren’t unknowingly ingesting endocrine-disrupting chemicalsor other toxins that migrate from cookware into your meals.

Innovation with Ancient Roots

At Miriam’s Earthen Cookware, we’ve fused ancient knowledge with modern needs. While our cookware is shaped using age-old techniques, it’s backed by modern testing and safety standards. We don’t just make pots, we support a growing movement of conscious, health-aware cooks who want cookware that matches their lifestyle.

Using clay for pressure cooking might sound old-fashioned, but when you try it, you’ll find it’s more intuitive, more peaceful, and ultimately more nourishing than anything an electric or metal cooker could offer.

Who Should Make the Switch?

If you’re someone who:

  • Is concerned about non-toxic cooking
  • Wants to avoid heavy metals and synthetic coatings
  • Prefers checking and adjusting food during cooking
  • Cooks for family or for health reasons
  • Cares about sustainability and energy efficiency

Then Miriam’s cookware is for you. You’ll find that cooking becomes less stressful, more flavorful, and deeply aligned with how food should be prepared.

Ready to Try a Safer Way?

You don’t need to give up the convenience of pressure cooking, you just need a healthier tool for the job. Miriam’s pots allow you to make the same nourishing meals, with more peace of mind and less risk to your health.

Explore our full range of handcrafted safest clay cookware, and reclaim your kitchen, one pot at a time.

Slow Sundays: Reclaiming Rest Through Clay Pot Cooking

In a world that moves too fast, Sundays, or Saturdays for many, offer a sacred pause. A day to breathe, reflect, and nourish both body and soul. For some, it’s a day of worship and rest; for others, it’s a space to unplug and reconnect with family and food. Whether it’s Saturday or Sunday, the intention is the same: to care for what sustains us. At Miriam’s Earthen Cookware, we believe these days deserve meals that reflect that same spirit. Slow, intentional, and made from the earth.

Let’s celebrate the art of Slow Saturday’s and Sundays, and how clay pot cooking can make them even more meaningful.

What Is a “Slow Sunday” Meal?

It’s the pot roast that simmers gently for hours. The herbal broth that fills the kitchen with calming aroma. The roasted vegetables cooked so tender they fall apart with your fork.

It’s a meal that requires no rush, no timers, just intention. And with Miriam’s pure clay cookware, slow cooking becomes even more rewarding.

Our pots retain moisture and cook at an even, gentle heat, preserving flavor and nutrients without the harshness of metal or synthetic materials. This means less stirring, no scorching, and more time to truly enjoy the process.

The Healing Power of Clay Pot Cooking

Cooking in clay isn’t just about the result, it’s about the process. The way food simmers without scalding. The way steam rises, softly, as nutrients stay intact.

Clay is alkaline in nature, and when food is cooked in MEC pots, it helps neutralize the pH balance, aiding digestion and acting as a natural detoxifier. The gentle heat also allows for the release of natural mineralslike calcium, magnesium, iron, and even rare nutrients like Vitamin B12, all naturally present in the clay.

This kind of cooking supports wellness from the inside out, letting your food do more than satisfy hunger. It becomes a form of nourishment and care.

For many, Sundays are a time to reconnect, with family, faith, and food. A slow meal invites conversation, laughter, and togetherness. Miriam’s cookware, with its natural beauty and warm tones, is also beautiful to serve from, turning your table into a place of peace and hospitality.

 Slow Sunday Favorites in Clay

These dishes are perfect for slow weekends whether you start your rest on Saturday or Sunday. Here are a few favorites our customers love to prepare in clay:

Each dish cooks gently, locks in moisture, and tastes deeply satisfying. These aren’t just recipes, they’re reflections of love and care.

Did you know? Miriam’s pots can double as natural slow cookers. You can place a Sunday roast in a Large Pot and set it in the oven for the first half of the day. After a few hours, turn the oven off, the passive heat stored in the clay will continue to cook your food to tender perfection. By evening, your meal is ready, without fuss or constant supervision.

And don’t forget: leftovers taste even better the next day thanks to clay’s natural flavor-preserving qualities.

Reclaim Your Weekend

You don’t need a special occasion to make the weekend sacred. Whether your day of rest is Saturday, Sunday, or somewhere in between, a good pot, a busy kitchen, and time to slow down is all you need.

With Miriam’s Earthen Cookware, even the simplest meals become an act of gratitude, and every week becomes a chance to restore. Whether you spend your day in quiet reflection, joyful worship, or simply savoring time with loved ones, let your kitchen reflect what’s sacred to you.

Because real nourishment takes time, and time well spent is never wasted.

The Role of Heirloom Clay Pots in Family Cooking 

Some meals don’t just feed you, they stay with you. Your grandmother’s lentil stew. Sunday rice and garlic with your parents. A pot of spiced tea shared with siblings on a cool evening. These moments of generational cooking are more than routine, they become part of the legacy passed from one kitchen to another.

At Miriam’s Earthen Cookware, we believe that cookware can hold just as much meaning as the meals it helps create. Our pots and pans, made from 100% pure, non-toxic clay, are designed to last for decades. They’re not just tools, they’re heirloom cookware built to carry memories.

Why Clay Makes the Best Heirloom

Unlike metal or synthetic cookware that warps, flakes, or degrades, Miriam’s clay pots age gracefully. With proper care, they become even more seasoned with time, just like a well-loved family recipe. Because we use unglazed, intentionally-harvested primary clay, every pot is naturally durable and safe to pass down through generations.

We’ve heard from many families who pass Miriam’s cookware from mother to daughter, aunt to niece, grandmother to grandson. In this way, pure clay cookware becomes part of the family tradition, not just a means to an end, but a cherished companion through years of meals and memories.

Meals That Link Generations

What happens when you teach a child to cook in a pot you’ve used for 15 years? Or serve a holiday dish from the same pan your grandmother once used? These moments ground us in something lasting. They help us feel connected to each other, to our culture, and to our past.

Popular family recipes that thrive in Miriam’s Earthen Cookware:

Whether you’re starting fresh or honoring decades of tradition, Miriam’s cookware offers a timeless foundation. Gifting a Small Pot to a recent graduate. Passing a well-seasoned Large Pan to the next home cook in the family. These are the kinds of gestures that are truly meaningful.

Unlike trendy gadgets or disposable kitchenware, Miriam’s pots are made to endure, not only in form, but in purpose.

Cookware with Meaning

Cooking isn’t just about the food, it’s about the hands that stirred the pot before yours. About the memories that simmer with each batch. With Miriam’s heirloom clay cookware, you’re not just making dinner, you’re making history.

Let your meals tell a story. Let your cookware carry it forward.

The 5 Time-Honored Secrets to Healthy Living: A Journey with Clay Pots and More

ou are what & how you eat!

If you’ve ever pondered on the phrase “You are what you eat,” perhaps it’s time to take it a step further and consider: “You are how you eat.” Today, amidst a plethora of modern kitchen gadgets, there’s an unsung hero quietly making waves, a timeless vessel that has carried the secrets of health & wellbeing of our ancestors into our contemporary kitchens – clay pots. Specifically, the earthenware from Miriam’s Earthen Cookware.

The essence of healthy living lies in the choices we make daily. While we hustle to procure organic foods and adopt balanced diets, the importance of the right cookware often gets sidelined. However, it’s a pivotal component in the wellness puzzle.The essence of healthy living lies in the choices we make daily.

Miriam’s Earthen Cookware: More Than Just Clay pots

When we talk about living a healthy lifestyle, food and its ingredients become the focal point. Yet, just as crucial as the quality of our ingredients, is the medium in which we cook them. Miriam’s Earthen Cookware’s clay pots are not mere vessels; they’re a commitment to genuine health.

In a world swarming with metal and non-stick pots, the question arises: Why clay? And more specifically, why Miriam’s?

While there are myriad cooking vessels available, few can boast of the nutrition-preserving qualities that Miriam’s clay pots can. These aren’t your typical pots; they’re masterpieces of culinary engineering.

Why so? Because they prioritize the health of those who use them.

Metal vessels, often crafted from varying types of metal, generate harsh heat that damages food tissue and diminishes nutritional value. Similarly, enameled and ceramic ware, glazed with a number of chemicals, including heavy metals, can’t compete with the gentle, nourishing heat of pure clay. Miriam’s pots, free from additives and crafted from 100% pure material, radiate a unique far-infrared heat, mirroring the natural warmth our earth and our bodies produce. This heat cooks food evenly, preserving nutritional bonds and ensuring that no nutrient is left behind. Unlike metal vessels that heat unevenly and can destroy delicate nutrients, these pots guarantee even cooking and nutrition preservation. And use them for all your cooking… from being a natural pressure cooker that cooks better than metal pressure cooker to a dutch oven, best yogurt maker, for making rice and other grains, there is practically nothing you cannot cook in them.

If you’ve found yourself here, there’s a good chance you’re on a mission. Perhaps, like many, you’re striving for a life full of energy, wellness, and vitality. Maybe you’re tired of quick-fixes that promise the world but deliver very little. You desire genuine health, rooted in the time-honored truths. Well, you’re in the right place! To truly embrace a healthier lifestyle, one must first understand these five time-tested secrets

1. Healthy Cooking with Clay Pots

What we put into our bodies undeniably influences our well-being. A balanced diet is of the most importance. However, while most discussions on healthy eating emphasize what to eat, let’s take a moment to consider the how we prepare it?

Sure, sourcing fresh, organic ingredients is essential, but what happens when we cook them? Traditional metal pots and pans strip foods of their natural nutrients. Even worse, they introduce harmful substances and metals into our meals.

Cooking with clay pots from Miriam’s Earthen Cookware, preserves the nutritional value of foods. The gentle heat from these pots ensures that ingredients retain their health benefits. More so, these pots don’t leach any toxins into your food. So, if you’re genuinely committed to a healthy diet, the right cookware should be an integral part of your journey.

2. Natural Exercise

Exercise isn’t just about hitting the gym or following the latest fitness fad. It’s about embracing activities that align with our biology, activities that our ancestors naturally indulged in. Walking, farming, playful pursuits—these are not just physical activities but a celebration of our natural design. Shunning over-dependence on machines—even for everyday tasks like chopping or washing—can reinvigorate your relationship with your body. Find solace in walking amidst nature, tending to a garden, or losing yourself in a sport. These endeavors don’t just sculpt your body; they rejuvenate your spirit.

3. Good Sleep

In our hustle culture, sleep often gets compromised. But it’s time we recognized its irreplaceable role in our well-being. Our bodies regenerate, heal, and grow during those restful hours. To truly embrace healthy living, cultivate a sleep-conducive environment. This means no screens before bedtime, a comfortable sleeping space, and perhaps, a cup of herbal tea or turmeric milk made in Miriam’s Small Pot!

4. Healthy Relationships

Being inherently social beings, our well-being is intertwined with the quality of our relationships. Bonds with family, friends, and the broader community don’t just offer companionship—they are lifelines that anchor our emotional and mental health. It’s vital to cultivate these bonds, to cherish the moments of love, to find our tribe where we truly belong. But remember, amidst these connections, carve out time for yourself. Seek solitude, relish moments of quiet reflection, and pursue activities that bring you peace and joy

5. Mindful Buying

Now, here’s a concept that doesn’t get enough attention. What we buy has a direct impact on our health. From the clothes we wear to the cookware we use, always aim for natural materials. It goes beyond aesthetics or mere preference; it’s a matter of health. Your skin, the largest system in the body, is also a breathing and detoxing organ. It takes in oxygen, expels carbon dioxide, and actively removes toxins. Consequently, it’s crucial to surround it with materials that aren’t chemically tainted or laden with plastics. 100% cotton, wool, linen, silk… just for clothing – the choices are many and the look can be beautiful if you choose through wisdom and discernment.

For instance, Miriam’s Earthen Cookware emphasizes the importance of natural clay pots, free from toxins and metals. Likewise, when thinking about your clothing choices, select materials that let your skin breathe and function naturally. Introduce this principle into your buying habits, and you’ll witness a notable difference in your well-being, just like we did.

The search for healthy living stems from a deeper yearning – a desire for authenticity, for practices that resonate with your core beliefs, and for genuine well-being. Incorporating Miriam’s clay pots into your kitchen is not just a nod to tradition, but a conscious choice for superior health.

The essence of healthy living lies in the choices we make daily. While we hustle to procure organic foods and adopt healthy practices, the importance of the right cookware often gets sidelined. However, it’s a pivotal component in the wellness puzzle.

Are you ready to embark on this transformative culinary journey? Dive deeper and explore the unique range of clay pots that Miriam’s Earthen Cookware offers, ensuring that your quest for healthy living is enriched and authentic.