What sets the VitaClay ® line apart from other slow cookers and rice cookers is the all-natural liner made of unglazed Zisha clay. Not only does it enhance the full flavor and texture of food, it helps retain juices and nutrients and is free of the metals and chemicals typically found in glazes and non-stick coatings.

Cooking foods in their own juices increases the intensity of their flavor; you don't have to add oils and fats for taste. What this means to you is you're cooking delicious dishes that are healthy and natural. The slow steady evaporation of steam from within the unglazed pores and the closed chamber of the clay pot make the foods you cook healthful, tender, and more flavorful.

Because of the slow steady evaporation of steam from within the unglazed pores and the closed chamber of the clay pot, the foods you cook are healthier and more tender, but most importantly, more flavorful. Vitamins, minerals and aromatic elements are completely retained, since no water, stock or liquid has to be added. That means that your food simmers in, and absorbs, its own juices and nutrients rather than allowing the benefits to boil away, with the added liquid. It is perfect for a family who wants delicious and nutritious meals!

Yes, the VitaClay offers extensive food cooking versatility, including large cuts of meat, better soups, and healthy steamed vegetables

VitaClay® cookers are powered by modern technology but the cooking vessel connects you to an ancient cooking method. It's convenient -- simply set and forget. It’s like having a real gourmet chef right in your kitchen!

For general washing, wait until the clay pot cools. Then wash it in warm water with a very small amount of dishwashing liquid and rinse thoroughly. Be sure to let the pot dry completely.

For hard to remove residue or to do a thorough cleaning, allow the clay pot to soak overnight in the sink with water and ¼ cup baking soda. Wash using a brush or nonmetallic scrubbing pad. Follow this treatment after cooking fish or foods with strong seasoning.

As a result of a fully sealed enclosure, it is not necessary to presoak rice before cooking. Simply rinse the rice and place in the cooker with water. Recommended water to rice ratios are:

1. Regular white rice, long or short grain, sushi rice, jasmine rice, etc. - 1:1 (slightly more/less can be used if preferred)
1. Sticky/sweet rice - 0.8:1 (water adjusted a little less than regular rice)
2. Brown rice – 1.2-1.5:1 (more water can be added if preferred)

The VitaClay ® Rice N’ Slow Cookers Pro preserves nutrients allowing food to cook in their natural juices. It brings food to a boil 2-4 times faster than conventional slow cookers then reduces the heat to a slow simmer for gourmet perfection. The Automatic Warming Cycle holds food perfectly cooked for up to 12 hours. It reduces the cooking time by about 30-50% and reduces the cooking liquid by about one-half.

To convert cooking time from conventional slow cooker recipes into VitaClay ® slow cooking, the rule of thumb is if the conventional slow cooking time is set on ‘high’ for 4 hours, or on ‘low’ for 8 hours, the VitaClay® Rice/Slow Cooker Pro will only take 2 hours.

Of course when rice cooking cycle complete, your rice is ready to service. However, to achieve the best cooking result is to allow rice stay in “WARM” cycle for extra 15 minutes. When moisture settled, the rice will not stick to the cooking surface as well

VitaClay ® cookers are UL, cUL listed. It meets standard requirement of FDA, CA Prop 65, which covers lead and cadmium test. Moreover, our VitaClay ® has passed RoHS laboratory testing as well. The RoHS Directive stands for "the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment". This Directive bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.

Most earthenware and natural clay cooking utensils are coated with a “glaze”. This is a shiny coating applied to the surface to provide decoration and to seal the piece making it less susceptible to stains. But commercial glazes often contain pigments or chemical impurities that do touch the food. Other non-stick coatings, such as Teflon ®, have been found to contain trace amounts of the chemicals use in their manufacture. Many are concerned about the long-term effects of these substances on humans.

Traditional hard-fired unglazed clay, like the VitaClay ® pot, have no such coatings. Unglazed clay has been used for thousands of years all over the world as cooking vessels. The slightly porous natural clay enables additional steaming not possible in metal, glass, or glazed ceramic pots. The VitaClay ® line of slow cookers brings the healthy benefits of this ancient cooking to the modern kitchen with 21st century features.

Our pots have been tested by an independent laboratory for lead contamination. This lab, like most others, can detect lead up to 0.01% or 100 parts per million (the same standard applied to children's toys). When testing our clay pot, the lab concluded that our pot is at least 99.99% lead-free. In other words, our pots may actually be 100% lead-free but the lab can't measure them to this level of accuracy.

We've long believed our pots are in fact 100% lead-free, but we cannot make this claim for legal reasons.

View the lab report here.

Of course! But be aware that the pot may be hot and that the natural clay surface is rougher than glazed clay or glass. Place the pot on a trivet or other protection for wood, plastic or composite table surfaces.

Allow the pot to cool to room temperature, then wash it with warm water and dishwashing detergent and rinse with warm water. A dishwashing brush or a light scrubbing pad (such as a white Scotch Brite ® or a Chore Girl ®) may be used. Burned on food may be softened by filling the pot with warm water and allowing it to soak for several hours. Then, wash with detergent and warm water and rinse thoroughly. If odors build up in the pot due to oily or spicy foods, fill it with warm water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Allow to soak overnight then wash normally.

The clay pot is safe for use in automatic dishwashers, but water scale may develop due to the drying cycle. This is not harmful but may be removed with a solution of half and half vinegar and water. Note that this is an unglazed pot, and some change in coloration with use is to be expected.

Theresa, a helpful customer, shared this method for removing burnt food with us:

"Last week, I made rice pudding and some of the milk and rice burnt on the bottom.
The pudding turned out great but I did have some rice that really stuck to the
bottom. I soaked it overnight but could not get the burnt rice off. I thought I
would try an experiment and put 1 cup water, 1/4 vinegar, 1 tablespoon of baking soda and
turned the cooker on the brown rice setting and let it go through the cycle as if
I was cooking rice. I checked it at the end of the cooking time and opened up
the lid. All the burnt stuff from the bottom came floating to the top and I just
poured out the liquid and wiped it clean with a cloth, no scrubbing needed."

Yes. But be careful not to strike the pot hard as it may crack or break. Wooden or soft plastic utensils (like the stirring paddle provided) are preferred.

Like any natural ceramic, the VitaClay ® pot is sensitive to sudden thermal shocks. Do not place a heated pot in cold water. Allow it to cool first. Also, the pot may break if dropped or struck. This misuse is not covered by our warranty. It is best to store the pot in the cooker.

Your VitaClay® Affiliate account is a separate account from the your VitaClay® Store account. YOU CANNOT LOGIN TO YOUR AFFILIATE ACCOUNT WITH THE USERNAME AND PASSWORD YOU CREATED TO PURCHASE PRODUCTS.

You must either sign in with your VitaClay® Affiliate account, or create a new VitaClay® Affiliate account.

China. Our products have been inspected by independent 3rd party Lab and have passed all FDA and CA Proposition 65 safety requirements, UL, RoHs certification.

Please reference details on model chart from website. The Pro or Smart have (1) delay timer with (2) a more precise programmed timer, Slow cooking can be programmed from 10 minutes up to 5 hours with 10 minute increment, (3) have sweet rice and (4) reheat functions versus 2-in-1 rice n’ slow cooker (round shaped models) (1) Slow cooking can be programmed from 30 minutes up to 12 hours with 30 minutes increment timer without delay timer. Delay timer allows you to program the cooker to start at any time. 

More details you may find from the link below-

http://vitaclaychef.com/cooker-comparision-chart

30 minutes for white and 40 minutes for Brown rice or wholegrain. Slightly more or less time depending on amount of rice and liquid is inside the cooker.

A.  Our clay is made of precious Zisha clay that is known as non-toxic metals; they are certified as ‘Lead-free”, meet FDA, CA 65 and UL safety requirements;

B.  Lead most comes from glazed ceramic surface, while our Zisha clay is remain unglazed;

C.  Our clay pot has been high fired over 1300 degree C. Even there was potential lead, it will be melted away;

D.  No chemical treatment has been made to the clay pot. Our clay is made of precious Zisha clay from China, known as none any of non-toxic metals; they are certified as ‘Lead-free”, meet FDA, CA 65 and UL safety requirements.