Copper cookware is experiencing an upsurge in popularity. And for good reasons. Copper has been a famous cookware material for millennia. It has a rich history. It was common during Colonial America and is still widely preferred for modern French cuisine.
What makes copper cookware a magnificent tool? And how do you choose your copper cookware that will bring out the best in your kitchen? Today we find out.
Copper Cookware Advantages
First, we will look at the many advantages copper cookware offers in your cooking.
Copper Conducts Heat VERY Well
Copper has a greater level of thermal conductivity than any other metal except silver. It conducts heat better than aluminum by 60% and stainless steel by around 3000%. That is a huge difference considering that stainless steel is considered the kitchen’s workhorse due to how limitless its applications are in the kitchen. Copper heats a lot faster than other metals used as cookware.
This extraordinary thermal conductivity allows copper to cook food evenly. There are no hotspots; the heat is distributed evenly.
Copper Has Antimicrobial Properties
A little-known fact about copper is its antimicrobial properties. A substantial amount of microbe varieties can’t survive for more than a few hours when in contact with a surface made of copper or one of its alloys (bronze or brass). This is why a lot of surfaces frequently touched, like doorknobs or taps, are made of copper.
Kitchen-wise, this is a huge advantage. Copper’s antimicrobial properties make it a fine tool to use for cooking food.
Copper is Can Be Used with Any Heating Surface
Copper cookware can be used with any heating surface. It can be used with a gas stove, electric or halogen stovetops. And it is suitable for oven cooking. This means you can do a lot with copper cookware. Some recipes require oven cooking or others that you can’t cook without a gas stove. Copper is suitable for both.
Copper is Beautiful
One of the greatest appeals of copper cookware is how beautiful its color is. It is not just a tool of function, but also of aesthetic. It has a burnt orange hue that looks fantastic hanging from your kitchen rack. Plus, the patina it develops over time is just admirable. This is why chefs and home cooks love copper in their kitchen – it adds grace and wonder.
Con: Copper Leaches into Food
The biggest drawback copper possesses is that it is reactive to acidic foods. When exposed to wine or tomatoes, the copper leaches into the food. This can result in poisoning. Fortunately, the solution to this problem gives copper cookware an additional advantage.
Copper Cookware Coating
To prevent the material from leaching into food, copper cookware is often lined or coated with tin or other substances. This coating not only protects the food from copper but also makes the cookware non-stick.
As all cooks should know, non-stick cookware is a dream often underrated. Unless you experience the nightmare of a sticky pan, you wouldn’t appreciate how great and magnificent a non-stick pan is.
Coating copper cookware with tin or some other non-stick material gives it an edge. You get all the wonderful heat conductivity of the copper and the smooth cooking of the non-stick material.
How to Choose the Best Copper Non-Stick Cookware for YOU
Choosing the best copper non-stick cookware for yourself is not exactly a walk in the park. There are so many varieties out there. And there are manufacturing designs that seem beautiful but are not practical.
Mind the Ply
Copper cookware is often fused with other metals. One example is tin. The problem with this is that tin wears off over time. You would have to re-tin the item to prevent copper from leaching into your acidic foods.
However, there are other metals used with copper. Other examples include aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum provides magnificent heat retention, a quality copper does not possess. And stainless steel is an inert substance – does not react to acidic foods – and durable cooking material.
Some designs combine these three substances, copper, aluminum, and stainless steel. The copper provides quick heating quality, aluminum retains all that heat, and stainless steel makes the cookware durable.
Avoid Rolled-Edge Copper Cookware
If copper cookware is thin enough so it can be rolled at the edges, it’s probably not thin enough to manage the fiery exertions of cooking. It might not be as sturdy as you’d want it to be. The suggested thickness of copper cookware is 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters thick.
The Best Copper Cookware
Mauviel M’HeritageCopper M150B (B0002L5FM0)
When it comes to copper pots, there is probably none that can compare to Mauviel. Mauviel is a French copper cookware manufacturer active since 1830. The only problem with their products is that they are VERY expensive.
But their guarantee is their outstanding quality. This model has a limited lifetime warranty. It is a combination of stainless steel and copper. It holds 8.5 quarts. The pot is 2.5 millimeters thick.
| Pros | Cons |
| Best quality worldwide Thick and durable Limited Lifetime Warranty | VERY expensive |
KUTIME 10pcs Non-Stick Copper Cookware Set (B087ZZ93TT)
Not everyone can afford Mauviel copper cookware. Fortunately, there are more affordable options. This non-stick copper cookware set from KUTIME is a fine option for beginning cooks who want a taste of cooking with copper cookware.
The product boasts all the fine qualities of copper cookware. Non-stick, fast heating, compatibility with a wide array of heating surfaces, and durability that will last – this set is the perfect beginner’s cookware set. Plus, the fantastic customer service is one you can’t say no to.
| Pros | Cons |
| Has all of the copper’s fine quality Durable and affordable 10-piece set | Handles are not heat resistant |
