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When you talk about caring for your copper pots and pans, you must know about August Escoffier. He employed a boy whose job was only to polish his copper cookware and this boy came up with a fantastic formula that is still used until today.
Well, copper cookware is a class on its own. They are known for their fairly expensive price and decorative purposes. It is one cookware that requires a lot of pampering.
Although it is hard to care for them but most chefs will tell you that copper cookware is a real joy to work with due to its’ effective heat responsiveness.
Here Are 7 Easy Tips And Tricks to Follow:
- As the proud owner of new copper cookware, you need to wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water with a sponge or a dishcloth before using it for the first time. Then, rinse it with hot water and dry properly to avoid spotting.
- However, if your copper cookware comes coated with tarnish-proof lacquer, you are required to dissolve the lacquer with acetone or lacquer thinner. Both are available at any hardware store. It is really important to remove the lacquer before heating as this will lead to permanent spotting which will affect the look and efficiency of your cookware.
- While cooking, don’t stir your food with a steel kitchen utensil. Instead, you can use wood or rubber. Usually, copper cookware is lined with stainless steel, tin, nickel, or silver. If your lining is tin or silver, never place empty pots and pans over a high flame. This could cause the lining to melt.
- After cooking, you should wash your pots and pans using hot soapy water with a soft dishcloth or sponge. If you find food is stuck, soak your cookware overnight with hot soapy water. Then, with a soft cloth, wash in a circular motion until it is clean. As with most cookware, copper pots and pans are not dishwasher friendly. Some of the ingredients in the dishwasher especially chlorine can cause the copper to Pitt. Plus, it will start to oxidize more quickly which means that you have to polish it more often to maintain the shine.
- In order to keep your copper cookware bright and shiny, you can use copper paste polish like Radiance, Brasso, or Never Dull. Wood or rubber scrapers are the best things to use for the delicate lining in order to avoid scratching. Besides that, you can also follow Escoffier’s boy’s home-made paste. Try mixing together ¼ of a cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of coarse salt. Then, apply the paste to the copper using a soft sponge or dishcloth and rinse in plenty of hot water. It works like a charm every time.
- Naturally, there will be some discoloration after some time. However, when the copper begins to show through, it is time to re-tin as copper is toxic.
- Finally, you must remember that copper cookware works well with most stovetops except for the induction cooker.
Related Article:
- How To Maintain Stainless Steel Cookware
- How To Choose The Best Cookware
- Tips on How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet
In a nutshell
copper cookware has the potential to look good and works well for you in the kitchen. With some effort, your pots and pans will be the talk of the town.
