Why cooking utensils are often coated with mud before cooking?

There are a few reasons why this might seem like a strange idea:

* Mud is unsanitary: Mud harbors bacteria and other microorganisms that can contaminate food and cause illness.

* Mud doesn't improve cooking: It wouldn't add any flavor or benefit to the cooking process.

* Mud can damage utensils: Mud can stick to the surface, making it difficult to clean and potentially scratching or damaging the utensil.

In some specific cultures and traditions, there might be unique uses for mud in cooking, but it's not a general practice.

It's possible you're thinking of a specific technique like clay pot cooking, where a clay pot is used for slow cooking. The pot might be coated with a layer of clay or mud to help seal it, but this is done before the pot is fired and is not a practice done during cooking.

If you're curious about a specific cooking technique, please provide more context or details so I can provide a more accurate answer.