Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome  to Buy Copper Cookware's FAQ page.  We are delighted to share the information so necessary to making informed decisions regarding your copper purchases.  There is no one right type of copper.  We all have different levels of cooking skill and our desire to own the very best should be balanced by what will best serve our purposes.  Some of us are occasional chefs and some may not be able to handle the weight of the heavier pots. You may be passionate about cooking and think more money spent means more reward returned. Your families may share in the cooking duties or there may only be one chef who will handle the cooking.  These factors and many others all contribute in your the decision of which pans will be the right choice.  We hope these questions and answers will help you find the copper that will provide you with the most satisfaction.

Question

Can I clean my new copper pot in the dishwasher

Answer

Copper Cookware should never be cleaned in a dishwasher.  Dishwashers use strong cleaners that will damage the copper.

Question

Can i use steel wool pads to clean my copper cookware.

Answer

Thats not a good idea.  Steel wool is to hard and will scratch the copper and ruin the polished surface making cleaning more difficult.

Question

Can I use oven cleaner to clean the lining of my copper cookware.

Answer

Oven cleaner will damage the copper when the airbourne particles from the aerosol settles on the copper.

Question

How do I take care of my new Copper Cookware

Answer

Quality Copper Cookware is very easy to care for. There is no protective coating to remove or need to "season" it.  Here are three easy steps to follow.

1. Use a lower heat setting on your stovetop try low or medium low. There is no need to go beyond medium when cooking with copper.

2. After cooking soak your copper pots in warm soapy water to soften any burnt or stubborn stuck on areas.

3. Use a sponge or plastic loose woven sponge (shaped like a donut) to clean the soaked pan.  Dry the pan with a soft dry towel.

Question

How do I keep my copper cookware looking new.

Answer

After you have cleaned the inside of your copper cookware you can restore the copper to its original shine with Mauviel Copperbrill.  Dip the sponge that the polish comes with into the paste and wipe on the copper.  The dull oxidized look will disappear and the shine will return to the copper. This can be done in less than 1 minute...Really.  

 For Bourgeat copper cookware you can use Copperbrill or their polish.  Bourgeat polish is a little bit quicker in the cleaning department but doesn't shine as well.  It is perfectly suited to the Bourgeat Alliance series which has a duller copper finish.

Ruffoni has a powder cleaner that works very well and is inexpensive.

Question

Why does Mauviel make so many different types of copper cookware.

Answer

Mauviel makes more than one type copper cookware because there is no one type cook.  For most of Mauviels and Bourgeats history copper with tin lining were the only pots available.  These are still the preferred choices of professional chefs and dedicated cooks.  They offer better heat control and tend to be less prone to food sticking to the pans, they cost slightly less but do have two weaknesses  that stainless steel lined pans don't have.  They need to have the tin renewed after 5 to 15 years and they must be used with wooden or plastic tools metal tolls will damage the tin and create extra expenses when they are retinned. The cupretam pans (copper with tin) come in heavy and light weight series.  The professional series is extremely heavy and appeals to most of the male chefs.  The table top series is about 1/2 the weight and uses a polished brass handle to compliment the copper and is preferred by many of the women for its good looks. They both cook with great results and intermix nicely in the same collection.   

Mauviel created the cuprinox series (copper with stainless steel) wheb they saw the need for a high quality copper pan without the care requirements necessary with tin.  Although stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat the thickness of the copper overcomes the stainless steels conduction while allowing the pan to clean easily and last forever. Mauviel makes the cuprinox pans in professonal weight and table top  like their tin lined series.  Only the  Mauviel cuprinox series comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Question

Do you have any questions for us that haven't been covered in these faq's.  Please send us an e-mail with your questions so we may help you and others who may benefit.