DINNER & OVENWARE

Our dinnerware and ovenware are made to withstand daily use. They are made with food appropriate glazes. 

DISHWASHER
Our everyday, functional pottery is safe to be put in the dishwasher. Be sure to avoid touching other items as they could knock into each other and cause chipping. It is also recommended not to use an abrasive detergent. If you choose to wash by hand, be sure to use a nonabrasive cloth, brush or sponge.  If your piece has gold luster or other lusters, hand washing will keep it shiny longer, but it will not hurt to put it in the dishwasher.  

MICROWAVE
Many functional pieces can be put in the microwave. Please note: Do not put gold luster in the microwave! It is made of metal and is not designed to be microwaved!  You will know if your piece has gold luster on it as it looks like shiny, gold metal!

OVEN
Bakeware is designed for oven use up to 450 degrees. It is important, however, to avoid going from one extreme temperature to another too quickly. Sudden temperature changes can cause thermal shock and damage your piece. For example: moving a baking dish directly from the refrigerator into a hot oven, could cause too much stress on the piece causing it to crack or break. This is easily remedied if you slowly transition your pottery from one temperature to the next.  We recommend that you do not preheat your oven.  This rarely has any effect on the recipe and will keep your bakeware safe.

ChickaBee Pottery's dinner and cookware are made with stoneware or porcelain clay. We use only food appropriate, 100% lead free glazes and materials. Our pieces are designed for every day use and are completely dishwasher safe! ChickaBee Pottery uses high fire clay for our oven and dinnerware. It is meant to withstand high temperatures. You can put most of our functional pieces into the microwave with one important exception: Do not put gold luster in the microwave!

Decorative pieces are used for many different purposes. Some sculptures, especially those that are find and delicate, are intended for indoor use only and should never be placed outdoors. However, many items are intended for outdoor use such as bird baths, garden sculptures and toad houses. If you are unsure, it is always best to check with the maker before placing items outside.

SUN
Sunlight can cause pots, like everything else, to fade over time. Colors can fade and surfaces can be bleached. If you can, avoid placing your pottery in a place where it gets direct sun all day.

FREEZING TEMPERATURES
Glazed and nonporous clay will withstand fluctuating temperatures better than porous clay. They are more likely to repel water and therefore will not trap ice and expand inside of the pot, causing it to crack or break. To avoid freezing, be sure that your item has been glazed or fired to vitrification. You can also move the item into the house or garage, cover with an insulating material or even move it up against the house to offer some warmth and protection.

At ChickaBee Pottery, we use high fire clay to ensure durability. We fire our pieces to well over 2000 degrees. This brings the clay to vitrification (which is a fancy way of saying the clay is mature and extremely moisture tight). The pieces will be able to withstand both hot and freezing temperatures.
However, if you are not going to be enjoying your pottery outside, especially in the winter, bring them inside to keep them out of the elements. Sun and freezing temperatures are hard on everything over time.