How to Use Korean Dolsot Stone Bowls For Traditional Cooking

What is a Dolsot?

The dolsot is a traditional stone bowl that is regularly used in Korean cooking; it is as much of an essential utensil as a knife or a saucepan. The bowl and lid of the dolsot is carefully carved out of stone, leaving a thick structure and lid which helps the dolsot effectively hold its heat.

The stone is slowly warmed by either being directly placed on a heat source of an open fire or a hob, or it can be placed in an oven. The Korean word dolsot directly translates to ‘stone pot’ in English.

Due to the material that it is made from, it is important to know how to take care of your Korean stone bowl to ensure it will last your lifetime and remains a firm favourite of your cooking tools.

How to Clean & Care For Your Dolsot Bowl

When you first receive your bowl, ensure you clean it before the first use, this is to remove any dust or dirt that it may have picked up when it was manufactured or during its transportation. Unlike common cooking equipment, like china or stainless steel, the stone of the dolsot is very porous so try to stay away from any harsh or unnatural cleaning methods.

We would advise filling the bowl with water, a couple of tablespoons of salt and one tablespoon of vinegar. Gradually bring the mix to the boil and allow it to simmer for a couple of minutes. The will ensure your dolsot is squeaky clean and ready for your first meal.

The porous properties of the stone can also alter your recipes, to prevent the bowl from absorbing any liquids you add while you are cooking in it, a top tip is to gradually work the oil into its surface before you start.

Do this by dripping the oil on a kitchen towel and rubbing it in until the bowl has soaked up what you have put on. Keep applying the oil until the stone stops absorbing it. The dolsot bowl can be stored with the oil on it for several days before you use it, as the shelf life of oil is exceptionally long.

Heating the Dolsot

The stone needs to be gradually heated, start with a low heat for at least 5 minutes, then turn up the temperature until you are at the optimum heat for cooking. Heating the stone too quickly can cause cracks and chips. It works the same way for cooling the bowl, this should also be done slowly to avoid any damage, don’t put the hot bowl in cold water, it should be at least down to room temperature before you start to clean it.

What Can You Cook in a Dolsot Bowl?

The dolsot allows you to make a range of speciality dishes. Here are a few of the favourite meals that people love cooking in them.

Bibimbap

The most celebrated and well-known is the bibimbap. There are variations of the bibimbap all over Korea, with regions and families having a slight difference and their own take on the basic recipe, so don’t be afraid to mix yours up and add ingredients that you love to make it more personal to you. The bibimbap recipe, in its most basic form, is a layer of rice, then meat and vegetables on top, the bowl is then brought to the table, allowed to cook for a little longer and then stirred and mixed by, or in front of guests.

Five-Grain Rice

The dolsot is also used for cooking the signature five-grain rice. The name of the dish would lead you to believe that it is just a mix of rice, but there is also the added addition of various beans and pulses for a health-boosting feed.

Stews & Soups

Stews and soups are immensely popular in Korea; they will often be cooked in the home as well as be a staple on menus in restaurants across the country. The stews and soups will be left simmering for several hours in the dolsot before being place on the table for people to enjoy.

Impress your guests by bringing their dinner to the table in a blisteringly hot, sizzling dolsot, with their food cooking fresh in front of them. You can get dolsots in a range of sizes; the favoured are the individual size, suitable for a meal for one, although the larger versions can be placed in the centre of a table for an attention-grabbing dinner party dish.

If you need any tasty ingredients to go into your dolsot, check out our range of Korean food to enjoy the perfect dish!