Facts to Consider Before Using Copper Cookware

Cooper cookware has been used throughout the human civilization for cookery. With over 9,000 years in our kitchens, copper has served kings and emperors, built kingdoms, foster trades and even caused wars.

In modern times, its stature, as well as usage in our highly industrialized food processing system, cannot be ignored. Copper cookware is a darling of all professional chef and enlightened amateurs. Perhaps, copper cooking pots and pans are the most celebrated pieces of crockery around our kitchen.

But this cutlery has also elicited its fair share of criticism and applause in equal measures. To decipher the facts from fictions, we are going to discuss both the positive and negative factors influencing the use of copper utensils. Below are the pros and cons associated with copper cookware.

Pros

• Heat transmission: We are all aware of the material properties of the copper metal in excellent heat conductivity. Due to the fact that heat is evenly and quickly disperse over copper surfaces, the copper cookware provides the best condition for cooking. When compared to stainless steel and iron pans, copper cookware is twenty-five times and five times more efficient in cooking than the latter two. This property makes it a natural preference to professional chefs who value time.
• Durability: Copper material is very durable. Copper cookware can take so much heat and abuse in the kitchen without diminishing its efficiency. When they are well taken care of, these copper pans can be used for generations. You can find the top quality copper cookware here.
• Sterile surface: Copper provides a pristine environment. Most bacteria cannot survive on copper surfaces. Due to this characteristic, copper cookware eliminates the spread of bacteria in kitchens. This makes it a hygienic cooking apparatus.
• Care: Cooper cookware is easy to clean. Using lemon-soaked soft cotton fabric with a salty water, you can strip out the food residues without brushing the pans and pots. Alternatively, use a little copper paste and elbow grease to restore the original utensil’s shine.
• Ideal: Copper is a light material. Manufacturers of the copper pans, therefore, make sure the cookware is of the correct density. Even with the added thickness, copper cookware is still light enough for easy maneuverability during the cooking process, yet heavy to support its contents.
• Fast action: The high heat conduction feature of the copper pot makes it work fast. Food is prepared using less heat and time. Besides, the even distribution of heat over the pan eliminates chances of food burning.
• Heat retention: Another benefit of copper crockery is its excellent heat retention. This aspect makes it ideal for serving purposes. Without having to warm food again, the food is kept at the right temperature long enough for the dinners to enjoy their favorite delicacies.  Further, some certain delicate recipe requires copper utensils to retain their flavor and savor.
• Environmental Friendly Products: Most high-end food preparation experts agree that copper saves time in cooking and heat – be it gas or electricity. As such, it plays its role in the elimination of the greenhouse effect by saving on the consumption of fuel as well as reduction of the greenhouse heat.

Cons

• Reactive: Copper cooking utensils are highly reactive to some food. Certain types of acidic food are highly corrosive. In extreme cases, they break down the copper particles of the cookware surface, which may end up getting dissolved in food. Besides, copper is also affected by heat, changing its original color to a different shade.
• Extreme care: Caring for copper cooking pots is a delicate affair. Copper pans need occasional polishing to bring back the shine after sometimes. This action protects the utensil from corroding. Even in normal cleaning, the use of harsh cleaning agents such as soda is not recommended since it peels the copper coating of the utensils.
• Pot flaking and scratches: Further, copper pots tend to bulge during cooking in order to distribute the heat more evenly. This uneven surface must be corrected every time by “boxing” or “thumping” the surface back to its original position.  Scratches may also appear on the copper surface due to its high malleability.
• Induction cooking: There has been a tremendous improvement in cooking technology. The latest being induction cooking and the Infrared application. Unfortunately, copper surfaces are not compatible with these methods of heat transfer. As a result, copper cookware cannot be used in induction tops, limiting their applications.
• Expensive: Copper is one of the most expensive materials. Consequently, copper cookware is highly priced commodities. The high cost is an impediment to its widespread use.

Verdict

If you are particular about the flavor of the food you eat and do not mind paying a little more for your crockery, then the copper cookware is all you need. Small disadvantages such as pot panning and surface peeling of the copper cooking products have been addressed by manufacturers who now coat the inside of this crockery with other metals such as tin or stainless steel. All said, copper has engraved its spot in the cookware history which is difficult to erase.