Self-Stirring Cauldron

• Type: Magical Device, Potions Equipment
• Owners: Various witches and wizards; commercially available.
• Maker: Various cauldron manufacturers; sold at establishments like Potage's Cauldron Shop.

A Self-Stirring Cauldron is a standard cauldron that has been enchanted to stir its contents automatically. These cauldrons are available in the same range of materials as their mundane counterparts, including Copper, Brass, Pewter, and Silver. The primary distinguishing feature is the enchantment placed upon them, which animates a stirring implement or the cauldron itself to agitate the ingredients within, removing the need for the potion-brewer to do so manually. The specific charm used for this purpose is not identified in the novels.

The sole magical function of a Self-Stirring Cauldron is to automate the stirring process in Potions making. This provides a significant convenience, saving the user both time and physical effort. It is implied that these cauldrons likely perform a simple, continuous stirring motion. This makes them suitable for simpler potions or for stages of brewing that require prolonged, consistent agitation. However, they may be unsuitable for more advanced or complex potions which require precise and variable stirring instructions. For instance, students in Professor Slughorn's N.E.W.T.-level Potions class are still required to stir their brews by hand, following specific directions such as changing direction after a set number of stirs, which a Self-Stirring Cauldron might not be able to replicate.

The Self-Stirring Cauldron exists as a commercially available convenience item in the modern wizarding world. By 1991, they were advertised and sold in Diagon Alley at Potage's Cauldron Shop, alongside collapsible and standard models. Their inclusion in shop inventories suggests they are a relatively common, if not essential, piece of equipment. In August 1994, a “dodgy-looking wizard” was attempting to offload a “new shipment” of Self-Stirring Cauldrons in the aftermath of the Quidditch World Cup, indicating they were also part of the wider wizarding trade, possibly including gray markets.

The Self-Stirring Cauldron primarily serves as a world-building element, showcasing the practical and everyday applications of magic in the wizarding world. It is one of the first magical conveniences that Harry Potter encounters on his initial trip to Diagon Alley, contributing to his and the reader's sense of wonder. The fact that they are not part of the standard Hogwarts equipment list—which specifies a “pewter cauldron, standard size 2”—suggests that they are considered either a luxury item or are deemed unsuitable for an educational setting where students are expected to learn the fundamental, manual skills of potion-making.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, a Self-Stirring Cauldron is visually depicted in a shop window in Diagon Alley, with a ladle stirring its contents on its own (film).
• In the video game Hogwarts Legacy, players can acquire a spellcraft for a “Self-Stirring Cauldron Stand” for the Room of Requirement, which automates the brewing of potions for the player (video game).