Patera Magna
Patera Magna
Store fruit & vegetables in a better way - reduce food waste
Couldn't load pickup availability
Tired of throwing away overripe fruit and veggies? So were we.
The Patera Magna is a terracotta fruit and vegetable bowl with separate compartments that keep your produce fresh for longer. It grew out of our Cibus Domus research.
Made to order in our studio in Overasselt, with a waiting time of about 4 to 5 months. Pick it up for free or have it shipped in protective packaging (€50 in the Netherlands).
Materials
Materials
Terra-cotta, beech wood, rubber
Dimensions
Dimensions
Diameter dish: 44 cm / height ca 30 cm (including handles)
Care guide
Care guide
Can be hand washed
-
Natural evaporation cooling
-
Store separately and shield from ethylene
-
Put healthy eating options on a pedestal
-
Easily keep track of your fresh produce
Sustainable living with the Patera Magna
Food waste is a global challenge, with about one-third of all food produced going to waste each year (source).
The Patera Magna helps address this issue by prolonging the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, reducing premature spoilage.
By design, it keeps your produce in sight and easily accessible, making it easier to make healthy choices.
-
On ethylene
Ethylene is a natural gas emitted by ripening fruits like tomatoes, bananas and apples, which can cause other fruits and vegetables to spoil faster.
.
The Patera Magna has separate compartments with covers that contain the ethylene gas from ripening fruits, preventing it from spoiling other produce.
-
The ideal temperature
Most fruits and many vegetables are sensitive to cold temperatures and can suffer damage when stored in the fridge.
.
The Patera Magna naturally cools your produce with evaporation cooling, creating an environment similar to a cellar, which is ideal for most fruits and vegetables.
How to use your Patera Magna
To get the most out of your Patera Magna, fill the outer bowl with water through the central spout.
You don't need much, just enough to soak the walls and kickstart the cooling process. Watch for the walls to darken, indicating they're moist enough. When they begin to lighten, it's time to add more water.
Keep ripening fruits that emit ethylene in the compartments under the lids. This helps slow their ripening and prevents ethylene from affecting other produce.
Veggies that are sensitive to cold, like zucchini, bell peppers, cucumbers and eggplants, go on the top dishes.
-
Store under the lids
Ripening, ethylene-emitting fruits like tomatoes, apples, bananas, pears, peaches, plums, figs and others.
-
Store on top
Vegetables grown in greenhouses like zucchini, bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, squash and others.
-
Store in the fridge
Anything that has been cut, but also berries (actually just grow your own and eat when you pick them), grapes and asparagus.
Lovingly handmade
Every Patera Magna is made by hand in our workshop in Overasselt. That takes time, so we work through orders one by one.
The current waiting time is about 4 to 5 months, and we’re setting up production with a partner in Portugal to bring that down.
The research behind it
Cibus Domus is our ongoing research into food at home: how we store it, how we keep it fresh, and how we eat it when it’s at its best.
The Patera Magna is one of the things that grew out of it, alongside the Cibus Domus Quartet card game and our first Cibus Domus book.
As featured in
-
"Can be composed in such a way nothing will end up in the bin anymore."
-
"A product that repays for itself"
-
"Obst und Gemüse klüger aufbewaren"
-
"You won't ever have to bin overripe fruits and spoiled vegetables again."
Frequently Asked Questions
What i'd like to know about the Patera Magna
What's that name about?
Patera Magna is Latin and literally means 'large bowl', so even though it might sound fancy, it simply explains what you are looking at.
(We made sure to check this with two classical scholars)
How long will I have to wait?
Every Patera Magna is made by hand in our workshop, so we work through orders one at a time.
Right now the waiting time is about 4 to 5 months.
We’re setting up production with a partner in Portugal to bring that down, and we’ll update this page as soon as it gets shorter.
Can you ship the Patera Magna?
Yes! Terracotta needs extra care on the road, so we pack every bowl in custom protective packaging and ship it insured.
Shipping costs €45 within the Netherlands and Germany, leading up to €195 for insured shipment to the US (it's a large and heavy package)
You’re also very welcome to pick it up for free at our studio in Overasselt, by appointment.
We’ll email you when your bowl is ready so we can schedule a time.
Why is only part of the outer bowl glazed?
The outer bowl of the Patera Magna is partly porous to allow water to evaporate via its walls. This has a slightly cooling effect that can help keep your fruits and veg fresh for longer.
Fill the outer bowel with water through the center spout.
You don't have to have water in the Patera Magna all the time, but it can be helpful in warmer periods or climates.
Where is the Patera Magna made?
Right now, every bowl is made by hand by Thomas in our workshop in Overasselt, the Netherlands.
To keep up with demand and shorten the waiting time, we’re setting up production with a partner in Portugal.
Why can't i buy the Patera Magna in a store?
Stores need a margin of their own, which would make the Patera Magna a lot more expensive.
Since every bowl also takes a lot of time to make, we sell it directly through our webshop for now. That way we can keep the price as fair as possible.
What if i break or lose a part of the Patera Magna?
Accidents happen.
You can reorder individual parts, like a lid or a top dish, in our Spares & accessories section.
How do I clean white stains on my Patera Magna?
Limescale spots are best removed with a cloth and a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar. Let the vinegar-water mix sit for about half an hour to dissolve the limescale effectively.
Detailed Guide to Removing Limescale Spots on the Patera Magna
Limescale spots often form due to hard water and can accumulate on the surface of your Patera Magna over time. These spots are not only unsightly but can also affect the efficiency of the evaporative cooling process. To restore your Patera Magna to its best condition, follow these steps:
Preparation:
Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a container. White vinegar is particularly effective as it is strong enough to dissolve limescale but gentle enough not to damage the surface of your Patera Magna.
Soak a soft cloth in the vinegar-water mixture.
Application:
Thoroughly wipe the affected areas with the soaked cloth, ensuring that all limescale spots are well covered.
Let the vinegar-water mixture sit for at least half an hour. This allows the vinegar enough time to break down the limescale.
Post-Treatment:
After the soaking period, wipe the surface again with the cloth. For stubborn spots, gently scrub with a soft brush.
Rinse the treated areas with clean water to remove any residue from the vinegar-water mixture.
Dry the surface with a clean, dry cloth to prevent water spots.
