Monsoon Kitchen Essentials: 10 Terracotta & Ceramic Picks to Beat the Humidity

Monsoon brings with it soothing petrichor, with rain showers that quench the thirst of parched soil, giving relief to life. You look at this beautiful view of the skies and earth while sipping chai when your kitchen is also getting affected by humidity.

In this moment, the two reliable kitchen accessories, ceramic kitchenware and terracotta kitchenware come to the rescue. Both are born from clay but have their distinct characteristics and meet their purpose in their own way.

How did the two humble kitchen accessories find themselves among monsoon kitchen essentials? How do they help maintain a humidity-proof kitchen? We have answered these questions below. Read and find out.

Common Kitchen Challenges During the Monsoon and How to Solve Them

Every Indian kitchen has some common ingredients such as spices, pickles etc. These often get tampered during rains because of increase in moisture. One might have observed some common occurrences during this season.

For instance, salt and sugar start clumping. Kitchen surfaces such as slabs and windows get sticky and smelly when moisture gets mixed with air-borne cooking grease. Spices such as chilli, turmeric and cardamom powder lose their aroma and catch fungus when left out in the open for long.

Different types of flours including suji, maida, and atta attract bugs like weevils and flour beetles. Humidity leaves biscuits, papad and other snacks soggy, making them soft and unappetizing.

When every corner of your kitchen is affected by the weather, you need to be prepared to save them before you lose fresh and savoury snacks to the weather of the rainy spell. Terracotta and ceramic can help you with that.

10 must-have terracotta and ceramic products for the rainy season

Terracotta and ceramic storage products can save your kitchen during the rainy season. Acting as kitchenware for centuries, these two have helped protect the cooking space from sogginess and fungal growth but also as a serveware. Some products that can be part of your kitchen are as follows:

1. Unglazed Terracotta Salt Cellar

absorbs excess moisture and keeps the salt dry.

2. Terracotta Curd Pot (Dahi handi)

maintains a stable temperature for longer to provide the perfect environment to make dahi.

3. Lidded Ceramic Garlic and Onion Keeper

protects them from light, encourages airflow and thus, provides the right environment to prolong the freshness of garlic and onions.

4. Heavy-bottomed Terracotta Kadhai

cooks food gently and evenly by providing the ideal environment for slow and flavourful food.

5. Glazed Ceramic Barnis (Pickle Jars)

provides a barrier between clay and pickles. Also, preserves their flavour, texture and shelf life.

6. Terracotta Roti Box (Chabba)

keeps rotis warm and soft for longer without making them soggy.

7. Ceramic Spice Shakers

preserves the taste and odour of the spices stored in it.

8. Ceramic Mortar and Pestle

is less affected by moisture and does not absorb odours or stains, making it ready to crush more spices.

9. Stoneware Ceramic Teapots

keeps the tea warm for longer and maintains its natural taste.

10. Terracotta Coasters

act as a base to manage condensation while also serving as an insulation for beverages.

Best Storage Solutions to Protect Food from Moisture and Humidity

Both terracotta and ceramic are perfect as storage solutions for multiple ingredients when moisture and humidity increase in the air. For example, unglazed terracotta is ideal for “clump-prone” goods such as salt, jaggery powder, brown sugar and many more. Terracotta’s porous structure made during firing absorbs excess moisture, keeping the ingredients dry.

Ceramic is similar to terracotta but has a glazed, glass-like layer on the surface. This layer prevents any interaction between the ingredient and the storage jar by sealing its pores. Therefore, elements like garam masala, turmeric, chilli powder, whole coffee beans, tea leaves, cloves and other dried herbs can be easily stored in it. It can be a sustainable home to oils, ghee, roasted nuts, and other acidic food that easily react with certain storage materials.

All one needs to remember is to not mix ingredients in a terracotta jar as it absorbs flavours and odours. Switching from one jar to another may affect the taste as well as the nature of the food stored. Hence, reserve the jar for one ingredient and don’t change it. Also, these jars have a limited capacity to keep food away from moisture, therefore, it is advised to place them under sunlight every 10 to 14 days for better preservation.

We have formulated a table to better understand how to store goods in an effective manner.

How to Care for Ceramic and Terracotta Kitchenware During Monsoon

Both terracotta and ceramic take care of the ingredients in the best manner possible. They also need some attention and time from you to perform well. To make this easy, we have curated some methods according to the elements.

Terracotta

It tends to absorb everything that it meets, therefore, washing it with soap is not recommended. Use hot water to rinse, a soft brush or coconut coir to scrub the excess. If you observe a white fuzzy layer of mould, deep sterilization is immediately required.

Scrub it off with baking soda or rinse it with vinegar and water solution. To keep the food crispy, the pores of the clay walls must be completely dry. In the wet season, air-drying it is not enough. Place it upside down on a warm stovetop burner or inside a preheated oven for a few minutes to get rid of any trapped moisture.

Ceramic

Grease gets accumulated on ceramic surfaces during monsoon season. To get rid of it, soak ceramicware in warm water mixed with white vinegar for 10 minutes before scrubbing. Ceramic jars may have unglazed bases, and regular friction may damage them. Another factor that can harm them is trapped moisture in the layers. It may cause musty odour or micro-cracks over time. Therefore, it is recommended to completely dry them before storing.

A few other practices to secure both terracotta and ceramic storage include avoiding closed cabinets where bacteria and fungus may remain for a long time. Use newspaper liners, as the paper absorbs excessive moisture. A small session under the sun for 2 to 3 hours can go a long way.

Comfort foods that taste better in Terracotta Cookware

After the scorching heat of summer, stormy weather brings the temperature down and that may enhance your craving for some wholesome recipes. Here are some that you can try this season of clouds.

1. Slow-cooked monsoon khichdi

Ditch the steel pressure cooker to prepare the khichdi in a terracotta pot where each grain will open up instead of turning mushy.

2. Clay-pot tea (kulhad wali chai)

Mix the taste of dried tea leaves with the smoky, rain-on-dry earth taste by pouring tea into a clay tumbler to enjoy it.

3. Tangy rasam or sambar

Cooking or storing these highly acidic dishes in a terracotta pot will not neutralise their acidity.

4. Smoked dal tadka/ dal makhani

Terracotta helps in cooking it naturally, helping maintain its creamy texture without excessive use of cream or butter.

5. Slow-cooked mutton or chicken curry

The self-basting phenomenon in a terracotta vessel allows flavours to develop with slow and even cooking, making the food savoury and delicious.

Monsoon Kitchen Maintenance Tips for a Clean and Hygienic Kitchen

Apart from saving your food from the increased humidity and excessive moisture in the air, there are some other practices that can help you in keeping your kitchen clean, dry and hygienic in the season of renewal.

For instance, sanitize your sink to prevent drain flies or foul odours. Use baking soda to wash away any persisting bacteria or fungus. Sticky countertops can be another problem in this season. Liquid dish soap or a solution of one part vinegar and water can keep the stickiness away, leaving a sparkling kitchen surface.

Sponges and cleaning scrubs become breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus as they remain damp most of the time during this season. The garbage bin is another place in the kitchen where things rot, and fruit flies persist. It is recommended to keep the bin closed and empty it as soon as possible. Also, keeping the utensils dry will be helpful in preventing unpleasant odours and unwanted bacterial growth.

FAQs

What kitchen essentials are needed during monsoon?

Airtight storage jars, ceramic containers, terracotta cookware, coasters, spice jars, and tea or coffee pots help keep your kitchen organised and ready for the rainy season.

How to protect kitchenware from moisture?

Clean and dry kitchenware thoroughly before storing it. Keep it in a well-ventilated space, avoid trapping moisture, and use airtight containers for dry ingredients.

Is ceramic suitable during monsoon?

Yes. Glazed ceramic is non-porous, easy to clean, and resists moisture absorption, making it a practical choice for everyday use during the monsoon.

Which storage containers are best?

Airtight glazed ceramic containers are ideal for storing spices, tea, coffee, sugar, and other pantry staples, as they help protect contents from excess moisture.

How to prevent fungus?

Keep kitchen surfaces and containers dry, store food in airtight containers, clean jars regularly, and ensure proper ventilation to reduce excess humidity.

Which cookware is ideal for rainy season?

Heavy-bottomed terracotta and ceramic cookware are excellent choices. They retain heat well, cook food evenly, and are well suited for comforting slow-cooked monsoon meals.