Shiny copper is beautiful, and there are some wonderfully effective polishes on the market. But are you a cook or a decorator?
The great virtue of copper or copper-clad cookware is that it conducts heat superbly and evenly. For that it deserves to be cherished, not polished.
If you try to keep your copper cookware in its virginal state you will have taken on a full-time job.
But to avoid having them look too blotchy, there are a few simple things you can do. Don’t ever put them in the dishwasher; the highly alkaline detergent can discolor the copper.
Dry them completely after washing with dishwashing liquid. Make sure to get all the grease off with a mildly abrasive cleaner, because when heated it will burn into a black stain. Finally, don’t heat the pans too hot, either with oil in them or especially when empty.
Dark copper oxide forms most readily on the hottest spots, and you may wind up with the pattern of the burner imprinted on the pan’s bottom.
Related Posts
-
Where does the word “copper” come from and What does copper mean?
Because of its extensive occurrence throughout the globe in native form and the ease with which it can be hammered or drawn into a desired shape, copper, the metal was known and used…
-
What Is the Best Way To Keep Pastry Brushes Clean or Undamaged?
Wash them properly and don’t use them for unintended purposes. After being used to brush on an egg wash or melted butter, a pastry brush becomes gummy and rancid unless you wash it…
-
Why do some kinds of cookware get very hot in the microwave?
There are two reasons why cookware may heat up excessively in a microwave oven. The first is the same effect that occurs in cooking: friction. Microwaves are rapidly fluctuating electromagnetic fields, which push…
-
Why does Aluminum Cookware Corrode and become Discolored in the Dishwasher?
Most dishwasher detergents for machines, as opposed to the dishwashing detergents for hand-washing dishes, contain the highly alkaline compound sodium carbonate, also known as good old-fashioned washing soda, not baking soda, which is…
-
How does Teflon Nonstick Cookware Work and Why Do Things Stick To Each Other?
Quite obviously, sticking can't occur unless there are two distinct materials; there must be both a sticker and a stickee. The properties of both must be considered. But can there be such a…
-
Who Invented Nonstick Cookware, and When?
Sticking is a two-way street. In order for sticking to occur, there must be both a stick-er and a stickee. At least one partner must be tacky. Quiz: Identify the sticky one in…
