The process of conditioning a soapstone (Part 2)

The process of conditioning a soapstone (Part 2)

Below are the things needed to condition your soapstone cookware.
  1. 50-100ml of Castor oil (Sesame oil might also work!)
  2. Cleaning powder : An equal mix of milled rice flour + chickpea flour (besan)
  3. A semi-hard scrubber, preferably a coconut scrubber.
  4. Few grams of turmeric powder
  5. About 100gm of milled rice flour.
Please do not use any store bought chemical grease, that are meant to condition the soapstone!
Step 1: Wash the utensil once in tap water.
Step 2: Sprinkle a Tbsp of cleaning powder on the inner side of the utensil and scrub all over to remove any dirt. Repeat the same for the exterior part too. Wash with tap water thoroughly.
Step 3: Wipe the utensil with a clean cotton towel and allow it to air dry completely.
Step 4: Rub the castor oil in and around the utensil with your fingers, so as to reach every corner of the utensil, without patches.
Step 5: Leave the utensil on your countertop for the next 24 hours.
Step 6: Repeat the steps 4 and 5 again twice or thrice. Do not wash the utensil in-between.
Step 7: Follow step 2. Admire the grained inner beauty of your utensil at this stage!
Step 8: Leave the utensil upside down inside the kitchen sink, and pour some hot water on every part of the utensil. After few minutes, fill the inner part of the utensil with hot water and leave it inside the sink, until the water cools down on its own.
This particular step helps to expose the soapstone to rise in temperatures gradually.
Step 9: Repeat step 8 once more.
Step 10: Fill three fourth of your soapstone vessel with water. Mix 1-2 Tbsp of rice flour to every 1 litre of water. Put the soapstone utensil upon a very low flame and allow it to boil. This shall take 10-30 minutes depending on the capacity of the utensil. Switch off the flame and allow it to cool as such. This shall take 3-6 hours
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Step 11: Discard the starch water to your plants (do not consume or use for cooking, as it may contain undesirable dirt). Simply scrub the utensil with coconut scrubber and wash with tap water.
Step 12: Again repeat the steps 10 and 11 thrice. These steps can be repeated twice in a single day too.
Please do not skip this step 12, as they maximise the true rigidity of the utensil.
And now, your soapstone utensil is ready for cooking!
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