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A beanpot is a deep, wide-bellied, short-necked vessel used to cook bean-based dishes. Beanpots are typically made of ceramic, though pots made of other materials, like cast iron, can also be found. The relatively narrow mouth of the beanpot minimizes evaporation and heat loss, while the deep, wide, thick-walled body of the pot facilitates long, slow cooking times.
Beanpots are traditionally associated with New England, in particular Boston, Massachusetts. This association is evident in the nickname Beantown, and the use of the name beanpot for Boston events such as the Beanpot ice hockey tournament.
Beanpots resemble the Indian handi and the Spanish, Mexican or Native American olla, and may be related to the latter vessel. Unlike the German Römertopf and the Japanese donabe, they are typically glazed both inside and out, and so cannot be used for clay pot cooking.