Hi Rob, it seems a rather complicated matter to get into unless you`ll employe specialized processes which for the most part need very expensive equipment.What know about pots,and big ones since my granma, who was a cook, is that traditionally they were made of cast iron, and more recently made of aluminum. With prolonged used, the ones for frying develop a thick black carbon looking layer that is that, carbon from burned oils. Never saw colored ones except for teflon type and other latest models. I`d bet nobody may die but could get a little sick, and that paint will burn more sooner than later unless some hi tech is employed. Plain steel is not the best for frying as things stick and burn easy. It`s a matter of heat transfer... 1/2 cent input ? Nelson.

I make these utensils that I just finish by coating them in vegetable oil while hot, have talked to a lot of the people who buy them and haven't had a complaint yet (but I really don't know how much they really get used for cooking)I'd be afraid of anything other than a baked enamel finish for a pot. those high temp paints give off a hell of a stink when they are curing, and don't usually survive all that long with repeated use. just my 2 cents-m

utensils

Pretty much anything you can spray or brush on that pot is going to outgas something awful and probably be toxic as well. Not like lead pain, of course, but nasty nonetheless. The high temp black paints are graphite and some binder that sort of tolerates heat - somewhat. Even the very expensive ones made for exhaust headers don't weem to last worth a damn on the outside of my forge, which only gets to maybe 500 degrees.

Fired enamel (porcelain, etc.) is safe, as long as you stick with the colors that don't have heavy metals in their makeup. They're also a pain to fire evenly unless you have a proper enameling kiln with ramp controller. It can be done, though. Probably not worth the hassle, in my opinion, but I'm lazy. I'd just shine it up, blue it with heat or acid, then rub it with cooking oil and let it be.

Thanks everyone for your advice! As always, this is a wonderful resource. I am probably going to go with just sand blasting the outside and an oil finish.
Rob