Raku pottery is fired quickly, and usually pulled from the kiln while hot and placed in a container of combustible material such as leaves or sawdust. The pot, glowing orange from the heat, ignites the leaves. The container is then closed to create a smoky, oxygen-deprived environment. Bare clay turns black or dark gray, and some glazes develop metallic flashes. Some pots do not survive the thermal shock of being pulled out of the hot kiln, and crack or shatter. Other times, glazes just fail to develop good colors. But that just means the good pieces are a little more special.

Raku is a low fire process and the clay remains porous. Raku pots are not safe for food and are not water-tight.