Care & Use
Find out more about the use and ongoing care of your Kadai products, or choose one of the specific products. Please also have a look at our instructional videos providing a guide to cleaning & treating your products to enable them to stand the test of time and use!
Metal Cookware Accessories
Holi Grill, Chapati Pan, Trivet Table, Cookware Lid, Toasting Fork, Zhara Roasting Pan, etc
Our handcrafted Cookware Accessories have a protective food safe coating that is applied for transportation and will require the traditional curing process prior to use:
- To remove the coating heat the cookware accessory to a medium temperature and then thoroughly wash in warm soapy water.
- Dry, then apply a thin coat of cooking oil.
- Heat the accessory again, but to a hot temperature (the oil may smoke a little, but this is just part of the curing process).
- Repeat this application process several times until an even 'black' coat is achieved.
You can repeat the oiling process whenever necessary to keep your cookware accessory in optimum condition, as cooking or heating some foods may degrade the oiled finish. The more it is used, the better the non-stick finish becomes. Avoid cleaning in the dishwasher as this will remove the natural oiled finish.
After every use:
- Wash after each use and heat to a medium temperature to drive off any moisture.
- Then wipe over with a little cooking oil.
Please note: If the item is going to be put away for an extended period of time we recommend that they are oiled both inside and out for greater protection.
N.B: The finish on our cookware items is food safe. If cooking foods or liquids with a high acidic content such as mulled wine, it may remove the finish. Please note this will not affect its use or food safety.
Metal (not intended for food use)
Kadai Shovel, Riddle, Low Stand, Shield, etc
Your outdoor metal items are coated in a product that is designed to take on a natural rust finish, this is part of the character of the metal. Periodically use wire wool or an abrasive pad on the item to remove any loose rust, then regular oiling with vegetable oil will help to keep them in good condition. Alternatively, for a longer lasting finish we recommend that the item is coated with Owatrol Oil at least once a year. Using an abrasive pad rub down your metal product to remove any loose rust (do not remove the firm rust as this is what the Owatrol Oil adheres to and penetrates best). Use a brush to sparingly apply Owatrol Oil and evenly spread it out with a cotton cloth. If required you can apply further coats, this will give greater protection and add a lustre finish - we recommend that your metal products are stored inside during the winter.
Wood
For outdoor wooden items it is a combination of keeping it under cover, cleaning it and conditioning it so that the wood stays healthy and retains its beautiful warmth. Left alone, the natural colour of hardwood garden furniture will weather to a soft silver/grey. This process will take 6 to 12 months, depending on the climate, position and amount of exposure to the elements. Those imperfections that are inherent features of the wood will become more pronounced over time, giving the garden furniture a rich and natural beauty. It also experiences surface roughness after being exposed outdoors for 12 months, but the weathering process will eventually stabilise. You may also see cracking and splitting, this is also a natural character of wood. If you want to reverse this process you need to sand and re-finish the wood.
We recommend that teak oil be applied to garden furniture every 3 to 12 months. If your furniture has turned green you can try various ways to remove it. You should attempt with just water first, however if that is not successful then mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice or white vinegar per gallon of water, apply the solution to the moss and leave it to sit for 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse off. Baking soda also works well and a weak solution of washing up liquid in warm water with a good scrub.
A power washer or hose should be used to carefully clean off any embedded dirt and oil residue. To remove really tough dirt apply a washing up liquid and water mixture beforehand to loosen the dirt. Allow the wet furniture to dry overnight and when it is no longer damp use a light grade sandpaper to smooth over. Follow this step with another quick spray of water to remove any sanding dust and leave to dry again. Finally, apply teak oil with a soft cloth, rubbing in the direction of the wood grain. Regular applications of teak oil will help to maintain its health and beauty.