Frequently Asked Questions

• Which VitaClay Model is Best For Me?

Compare each cooker's features, click here.

• I want to make rice, which one is the best?

  For rice, please choose our flagship models:

  

  I want to make broths & soups, which ones are the best?

  For that, we recommend these three:

  

  I have a large family and/or I like to hold large parties, which ones are the best?

  Never fear, these models will serve you well:

  

  But I only have a small family or live by myself, which one should I get?

  We have smaller versions of some of out models. However, my favorite is still the 8 cup / 4.2 qtas I can still have options to cook large or small!

  

  I want to make my own yogurt, which model should I use?

  VM7900 series, VM7800 series and VS7600 are perfect for yogurt making.

  

• WHICH COOKER HAS ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES?

            VM7900-8, 8 cup /4.2 qt is the best seller with all the features built in.

• What is the most economic version of rice cooker slow cooker?

           VF7700-6, 6 cup / 3.2 qt has basic functions built in (rice, brown rice,

            stew, soup, and warmer).

• What is the largest VitaClay cooker to make large batch cooking or bone broth?

           VM7800-5C is 6 quart multicrock and stock pot. 

• How long does VM7900 or VF7700 take to cook white rice and brown rice?

  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.

• Where are the cookers manufactured?

  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.

• Does the clay pot require special care?

  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.

• Do I have to season the pot?

  No.

• Can I use metal utensils in the pot?

  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.

• How do I remove burnt food in the pot?

  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.”

• What is the best way to clean the pot?

  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.

  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.

  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.

• Can the clay pots be used as a serving piece?

  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.

• Do the clay pots contain any lead? 

  A. Our clay is made of precious Zisha clay that is known as non-toxic metals; 

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

  C. VitaClay product meets FDA, CA 65 and UL safety requirements;

  In conformity with industry regulations and standards, our pots have been verified through a series of qualification tests by an independent, third-party laboratory approved by the FDA. The FDA standard is <1.0 ppm  (parts per million) for lead. Our test report has demonstrated undetectable level of lead with 0.01 ppm accuracy, which are an order of magnitude 100 times below the FDA’s limit for the ceramic category. See the report and lab's credentials here Lab Analytical Results. We are confident in the quality and safety of our product, as confirmed by our product qualification test results, FDA-certified professional and licensed testing laboratory.

  
• To See the Latest Updates on FDA Test Report in 2023, click here >>
• To See the Latest Updates on FDA Test Report in 2021, click here >>
• To See the Latest Updates on FDA Test report in 2020, click here >>
  

   

  Here is Guidance Regulation from FDA site regarding ”the Use of the Term “Lead Free” in the Labeling of Pottery”-

  https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/ucm214740.htm#III 
  
  " ceramicware  that contains extractable  lead when tested according to the method prescribed in the CPG should not be labeled as “Lead Free.” 

  A Letter to concerned customers

• What is meant by "unglazed"

  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.

• What types of approvals has VitaClay cookers received for safety of use?

  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.

• How can I prevent food from sticking to the pot?

  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.

• How do I apply the time conversion from traditional slow cooker recipes into VitaClay smart organic multicooker recipes?

  The VitaClay Smart Organic Multicooker 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.

  For a more in depth look, come and see here!

• Do I need to presoak brown rice prior to cooking? What are recommended water to rice ratios shall I choose after rinsing rice?

  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:

  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)

• I have never cooked with VitaClay before, is it difficult to use the VitaClay 2-in-1 cooker?

  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!

• Does VitaClay offer space saving - two appliances in one authentic rice cooker and programmable slow cooker?

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

• Why cooking with VitaClay is a healthier solution for a family on the go?

  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!

What is the temperature for each of the settings (stew, soup, steam/fast, slow and yogurt)?

• How to I steam vegetables in VitaClay

  1. Add 2 cups of water into your VitaClay cooker.
  2. Place a steamer tray or a ceramic bowl with veggies into clay pot.
  3. Set on Stew setting for 20-40 minutes.

  Note: If you are trying to steam root vegetables, we suggest to steam for a little longer (up to 1 hour).

• How do I cook whole grains in VitaClay

  Whole Grain Reference Chart

  

  DISCLAIMER: Reference chart has been provided as a guideline, subject to change upon testing. All information here is provided for informational purposes only.

• How does cooking with VitaClay enhance natural flavor?

  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.

• What is the advantage of cooking with VitaClay 2-in-1 Rice N' Slow Cooker over my conventional rice cooker or slow cooker?

  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.

• What do I do if food sticks to the bottom?

  It's quite easy to clean up: just remove all of the usable food, then soak the pot in water for about an hour. After that, the stickiness should scoop right out without any scrubbing or trouble at all. If you'd like to prevent sticking, here are a few tips:

  1. When cooking something and you have leftovers, stirred it well before heating it back up will prevent any food stuffs from sticks. Many of the starches will settle and congeal at the bottom and then burn if this isn't done: this is true of anything with potatoes or beans, rice or other starches.
  2. If you are cooking something like beans or potatoes with other ingredients, try to layer the more starchy ones on top of the others, such as meat and other veggies.
  3. Try not to overcook the food. For example: beans should cook for 45 minutes, don't cook them for 4 hours (they will happily sit on warm until you're ready to eat them, and they won't overcook, burn or stick that way).
  4. When cooking oats including steel cut oats, cook under "Stew" or "Fast" setting for 30 minutes only, with 4 part water to 1 part oats ratio, as they cook too quickly and easy to burn if you cook longer specially when there is not enough liquid. (Steel cut oats can leave in WARM cycle for additional time for softer texture and they are amazing in VitaClay, by the way!)

   

• My broth is not creating gelatin, am I doing something wrong?

  Broth is nourishing and healing whether or not it contains an abundance of gelatin. The more gelatin the better, but any broth is a nourishing, tasty addition to all of your meals. So use a variety of bones for making your broth and you’ll get the full array of nutrients that it has to offer.

  The types of bones used has a direct effect on how much gelatin is produced. The gelatin is actually pulled out of the cartilage and joint tissue between the bones. The bones themselves produce vitamins, minerals and other flavors but clean bones will not produce much gelatin on their own.

  If you buy “soup bones” there will be noticeable white cartilage and meat on the bones. Of course if you are cooking meat with bones in it, that is a great source of bones for broth. But when you eat all of the meat from it, often there isn't much cartilage left to produce gelatin in your broth.

• How do I cook Beef / Chicken broth in the 7800 series?

  Very easy!

  1. Follow the recipe instructions (make sure you have plenty of water)
  2. Set the unit on "slow" setting - which will last anywhere from 3-5 hours
  3. The unit will then AUTOMATICALLY go to the "warm" setting for an additional 10-14 hours (depending of course on your own discretion).

  Afterwards you'll end up wonderful, delicious, and healthy bone broth! If you have any questions please feel free to email or call us at 408-329-7392.

  Happy Cooking!  Click here to watch the video Bone broth Video

• Is VitaClay a Slow Cooker, a Pressure Cooker, or Something In-Between?

  VitaClay is classified as a slow cooker and a rice cooker, so it may be confusing to some that VitaClay cooks much faster than other slow cookers.

  Because the housing seals on our Multi-cooker (7900) and 2-in-1 (7700) models, the steam does build up and result in micro-pressure, which infuses the ingredients with steam and juices from the food, resulting in tender, flavorful, nutrient-filled results, as well as quicker cooking times than traditional slow cookers.

   There are several benefits to quicker cooking times:

  • The nutrients are preserved because almost no liquid evaporates out, resulting in rich, nutrient-filled juices and broths in your dishes
  • The texture is preserved because your food is not sitting in liquid for hours on end.
  • Flavor is preserved for the same reasons: no more mushy, flavorless dishes!
  • It still uses the “low-and slow” method of cooking while saving energy and not heating up the kitchen. Cookin 2 hours instead of 8 with better results!

  Many people buy a VitaClay and assume it should be used the same way as any other slow cooker, and that isn’t exactly the case. Sometimes we get questions about why our multi-cookers have a maximum cooking time of about 5 hours. The reason is simple: you don’t want to cook things for too long in VitaClay!

  Most dishes will not need a cooking time of more than 2 hours. Many dishes are much shorter. (The exceptions to this rule include bone broth—up to 24 hour cooking time, large roasts—about 3 hours, and split pea soup—about 3 hours).

  If you want to use traditional slow cooker recipes for VitaClay (and who wouldn’t—there are so many!), here is a good rule of thumb for converting those recipes to VitaClay:

   For a recipe that calls for cooking on “Hi” settings, cut the cooking time by 1/2 for VitaClay (3 hours on high would be 1.5 hours or less in VitaClay).

   For a recipe that calls for cooking on “lo” settings, cut the cooking time by ¼ (8 hours on low would be 2 hours or less in VitaClay).

  VitaClay is not a pressure cooker, but because it seals (7900 and 7700 models) evaporation is at a minimum, and it uses less energy than other slow cookers.

  The delay function lets you begin cooking whenever you want, so you can have dinner ready when you are!

  Take charge of your family’s health and let VitaClay be your “personal chef!”

• How do I cook Bone broth in a VitaClay?

  Here are step-by-step instructions for how to make your very own bone broth at home:

  • Round up bones from bone-in meat you've eaten at meals, or buy soup bones from the grocery store or local farm (soup bones usually have lots of gelatin-making cartilage and even some meat that can be eaten with the soup.. if you don't see gelatin in your pot, buy soup bones).
  • (You can also add veggie scraps from onions, carrots, celery, or anything else to add flavor and depth to your broth onion skins and eggshells can even be used to increase nutrition!)
  • Place the bones in the clay pot, and fill the pot almost to the top with water (leave SOME room as the liquid will boil up and froth will gather up to the top, so keep that in mind.
  • Set the VitaClay on “soup” for as long as you can (for about 4-5 hours).
  • After 4-5 hours of cooking, let the VitaClay do its thing (all of our Vitaclay models, except the Yogurt maker, will automatically click-on to "warm mode" for 10-12 hours after setting time is finished).
  • After that, you're set to go! Filter the gelatin/liquid from the bones and enjoy!

How to Cook Best Fluffy Rice in Clay Rice Cooker (7700 & 7900 Series ONLY)

At VitaClay we care about your health. That’s why we made the healthiest cookware on earth with removable unglazed clay pots. Our clay pots have been tested free of many common contaminants in modern cookware: including lead, aluminum, cadmium and arsenic. We also don’t add any harmful glazes or chemicals to our pots. We just don’t believe convenience is worth risking your health. With this assurance of safety, unglazed clay has to be treated differently than other materials. Glazed ceramics may seem to be the same as our clay, but since we do not use a glaze, some care must be taken with VitaClay pots.

For all VitaClay pot inserts (any model), there are some very important rules:

• ALWAYS cook with liquid present in the pot. Do not pre-heat the pot or cook anything without water-based liquid present. Please do not brown, fry or braise meats in the VitaClay. Anything cooked in VitaClay must be cooked in the presence of water-based liquid.
• ALWAYS use the rice setting for rice dishes (if making a “soupy” dish with rice, like soup or porridge, slow cooking settings can be used.
• NEVER use slow cooking settings for making “dry” rice, such as for a side dish or a “bed” for other dishes.
• ONLY use 7700 and 7900 models to make rice. They have a dedicated rice cooker function that is optimized for making rice. Attempting to cook rice on the slow cooking settings is a recipe for a problem, and will invalidate your warranty.
• ALWAYSavoid temperature shock: never add frozen items to a very hot pot or place a hot pot on a cold, marble counter or directly into the refrigerator. Use a trivet for the counter and allow to cool down before placing in the refrigerator. Do not place the clay pot in the freezer. Similarly, do not add boiling water to a very cold pot (out of the refrigerator). Allow the pot to normalize to room temperature before adding very hot or very cold items.

The STOCK POT models, VM7800-5C and VM7800-5S, as the name implies, are intended for cooking large batches of mostly-liquid dishes such as bone broth, stocks, soups, and stews.

Here are a few must-do’s for the stock pot models:

• ALWAYS use lots of liquid: we recommend at least 8 cups of liquid for each hour of cooking.
• The VitaClay stock pot cooks like stove-top cooking! It cooks really fast! Most of dishes take about 1-2 hours to cook! Some of dishes even take about 30 minutes, foods like oatmeal, steam veggies. 
• For a full pot that cooks for more than 3-4 hours, CHECK your liquid levels periodically by opening the pot and looking. If there are a lot of vegetables or other ingredients, stir the bottom to ensure there is no sticking. If the liquid is running low, add warm or room-temperature liquid. If the liquid is almost gone, turn the machine off and allow it to cool down before adding more liquid and resuming the cooking cycle.
• NEVER cook roasts, casseroles or very starchy dishes in the stock pot. These dishes do not typically contain enough liquid and tend to burn and even damage the pot. If you choose to cook these types of dishes in the stock pot, the warranty will be invalidated.
• When cooking oats including steel cut oats, cook under "Stew" or "Fast" setting for 30 minutes only, with 4 part water to 1 part oats ratio.
• NEVERpre-heat the pot in the cooker or do any “dry cooking” such as baking. Ensure at least 8 cups of liquid are present for each hour of cooking time.

If you follow these simple recommendations you should enjoy your clay pot and VitaClay cooker for years to come!

• What is the warranty on VitaClay cookers?

  Please see our limited one year warranty policy for more information.

  Why are there white spots on the inner pot?

  White specs or areas of the pot is due to hard water build up, since our clay pots are unglazed, minerals can get trapped in the pores of the clay, resulting in white looking specs on the pots. This is rare, but if it happens, just a dry towel and scrub the spots really well, this should remove the mineral deposits in the pores.

  How do I steam Vegetables in a Stock Pot?

  1) Add 2-3 cups of water into clay insert.

  2) Place a ceramic bowl or steam tray (not included) into the clay insert.

  3) Place veggies inside ceramic bowl or steam tray.

  4) Hit "menu" key until red light flashes on "Steam/Fast" setting.

  5) Within a few seconds, press the "+" "-" buttons to change the time to 0.5 (30 minutes) on the display. Veggies should be done in 10-20 minutes.

  How do I Fast Cook in a Stock Pot?

  1) Add ingredients into the clay insert.

  2) Hit "menu" key until red light flashes on "Steam/Fast" setting.

  3) Within a few seconds, press the "+" "-" buttons to change the time from 0.5 to 1.5 hours appears on the display.  Your food will most likely be finished in just 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.