Cazuelas cookware

Terra-cotta cazuelas not only look good, they can be used in the oven, the microwave or on the stove top. But you have to treat them right.

Cazuelas can be brittle when new, so they should be soaked for several hours before their first use. Once soaked, they can be used for cooking, although exposure to high heat from a direct flame isn’t recommended. Resoak them occasionally to restore their moisture content.

Five-inch cazuelas, about $3.40 each at La Espanola in Harbor City and at online retailers the Spanish Table, www.spanishtable.com, and La Tienda, www.latienda.com. Also available in other sizes.

-- Betty Hallock