Chicken Serving Bakers

Polish pottery chicken baker guide

What it is

A chicken baker is a deep oval dish with a domed lid modelled as a hen. The dish on its own is a roaster or casserole; the lid turns it into a covered pot that holds steam, which is why chicken, pork loin or a pot roast cooked under it stays moist without basting. Lid off, it is a serving dish and the hen sits beside it as the table's centrepiece. Most are bought for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and then used all year for Sunday roasts and casseroles.

How to roast a chicken in it

Season the bird, set it on a bed of onion, carrot and potato in the dish, add half a cup of stock or wine, and put the hen lid on. Roast at 400°F for about an hour for a 3½-pound chicken, then take the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes to brown the skin. The vegetables underneath cook in the juices. Rest it in the dish with the lid back on for ten minutes before carving at the table.

Beyond chicken

The same dish bakes a pork loin, meatballs in sauce, a chicken-and-rice casserole, baked ziti, a whole cauliflower, or a fruit crumble for the family. With the lid on in a low oven it keeps a dish warm for an hour. The hen lid on its own, set on a plate, makes a lid for a bowl of warm rolls.

Care

Oven safe to 480°F (250°C), and microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe. Put the dish into a preheated oven from room temperature or the fridge, never straight from the freezer, and keep it off burners and out from under the broiler. The hen lid is thick; lift it with both hands and set it on a trivet, not a cold stone counter, while it is hot. Baked-on juices soak off in warm water.

Choosing a pattern

Traditional stamps (Holly Berries 242, Floral Peacock Fiesta 912) are the entry price; the "a" patterns (Floral Peacock 166a, Blue Blossom 1154a, Cherry Blossom Bliss 1363a) are more detailed; the signed Unikat bakers (Floral Butterfly 149ar, Poppies 150ar, Radiant Garden 262ar, Floral Garden 312ar) are hand-painted all over, hen included. Holly Berries is the Christmas one; the rest are year-round.

Frequently asked questions

Can I really cook in it, or is it decorative?

It is a working baker. Dish and hen lid are both oven safe to 480°F, and the lid holds steam so a roast stays moist.

Will a whole chicken fit?

A standard roasting chicken fits with the lid on, with room for vegetables underneath. For a very large bird, roast with the lid off.

Can I put the hen lid in the dishwasher?

Yes. Dish and lid are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. Lift the hot lid with both hands and rest it on a trivet.

Does it keep food warm on the table?

Yes. Thick stoneware and the covered lid keep a roast or casserole hot for the length of a meal, and in a low oven for an hour.