What's in a Firing Temperature?

Firing temperature is another part of the puzzle when considering making or buying a pot. Your first consideration, of course, is to think about how you plan to use the pot and then you'll know what to look for. Things to keep in mind include:

•For a pot to be durable for everyday use, you want it to be high fired (cone 6 and cone 10) because the clay body is less likely to chip or break in a microwave or dishwasher when fired to those temperatures.

•Pieces that are not dishwasher or microwave-safe are often low-fire clay body used as a decorative palette for color, but the clay body is still porous.

•Approximate temperatures are 2,345°F = Cone 10, 2,232° = Cone 6, and Cone 04 = 1945°, Cone 011 = 1,607°.

Try to be sure you match the firing temperature with the intended use for the pot and you'll get the best results that way.