Many of you probably know this, but if like me you don't, you can save wear and tear on your dishes by NOT over soaking them.
Porcelain, terracotta, stoneware, ceramics - what ever your dish is made from the trick is to leave water in the dish if you need to and not leave it fully immersed. Dishes can absorb water, especially if they have any unglazed areas, so the dish will look dry when you come to use it next but there may be a chance that as soon as it is placed in the oven the absorbed water expands and you run the risk of cracking it. Have you ever discovered the glazing has crazed? This may be one of the causes.
The other is placing the dish into cold water while it's still hot. That funny faint crackling sound is the glaze breaking.
So leave to soak with water IN the cooled dish and leave it to dry propped up and you'll find it will last longer.
