Copper utensils: the finer points of care, benefit and harm

Today the kitchen uses dishes made from different materials. There are items from the latest generation of raw materials, as well as products that have been in use by man for more than one century. The latter category should include copper dishes.

The quality and appearance of kitchen utensils, which are actively used in everyday life or serve as a decorative item in the room, are of great importance for every hostess. Such an attitude to such objects in the home determines a special approach to the choice of products, in particular, to the material from which the utensils will be made. Since the appearance and durability of purchased household items largely depends on the characteristics of the raw materials.

This is due to the fact that the alloy is perfectly treatable, and this allows craftsmen to make copper dishes of all shapes and sizes. In addition, copper objects will fit well into any kitchen interior in a residential area or in a public institution. Copper utensils can be of several shades. Today the following color variations are common:

• pink and red tableware, which is equally well suited for daily use and decoration of the room;
• yellow and orange products - imitating antique products.

Such color diversity is demanded by many interior designers, as well as chefs, for whom harmonious combination of dishes with the external design of the working area in the kitchen is important. Another feature of copper products is their attractive appearance. even with the simplest forms and the absence of additional decoration. Due to such qualities, for many connoisseurs of beautiful things, the high cost of copper kitchenware is fully justified. Today, manufacturers offer cooks and housewives not only pans made of this metal, because copper fonters, stewpans, and Turks are on sale, as well as kettles, pans and more.

Desserts and savory sauces are endowed with a special taste. As practice shows, most of the "capricious" in the processing of products turns out to cook in pots and pans from copper. In the dishes of this metal are formed the most tender and lush whipped whites.

There are no restrictions on the use of certain ingredients and products with copper utensils, since modern products inside have a special coating of stainless steel or tinned tin, and manufacturers also use nickel in their work. Such specificity of production is due to the peculiarities of copper to react with an acidic and slightly acidic environment, which is fraught with the formation of compounds harmful to human health.

Given the individual properties of copper, it is also worth noting that with direct contact of metal with food at a high temperature, food loses most of the ascorbic acidtherefore, a coating of another alloy inside is required to preserve the good.Also, under the influence of high humidity, the metal is oxidized, which leads to the formation of a patina.

Since the use of copper cookware in the kitchen is in demand in many countries, in addition, yellow and red metal utensils are used for cooking in everyday life for more than one century, there are pros and cons to such products. So, the following should be attributed to the advantages of copper dishes.

• Raw materials are exaggerated to temperature values. It is noted that the thermal conductivity of the metal is 2 times higher than that of aluminum, and also 10 times more than that of stainless steel. Such characteristics cause its rapid heating, and, if necessary, cooling. Therefore, the main advantage is to provide the ability to control all stages of cooking in copper containers.
• Heat transfer of copper eliminates the burning of food in the heat treatment process, you can also be sure that the dish will be subject to uniform exposure to temperatures from all sides.
• Metal has antibacterial properties. Thus, the use of copper utensils reduces the likelihood of infection by harmful microbes, including salmonellosis and E. coli.

Among the disadvantages of such products for cooking is such.

• Cookware without treated internal surfaces can be harmful to human health. In particular, this concerns the release of free radicals when interacting with vitamin C.
• Also among the minuses it is necessary to highlight the poor resistance of the metal to high humidity. In the light of constant contact with moisture, products made from this metal may be covered with a green patina, which will adversely affect the external characteristics of the products, in addition, it will make the use and cooking of food in it impossible.
• The disadvantages of copper dishes should be attributed to their high cost in comparison with similar products made of stainless steel and other alloys.

In light of the demand for such products for decoration and household use, many companies are engaged in the manufacture of copper products. Among the most popular domestic and foreign brands are the following.

• De Buyer. French company that specializes in the production of goods for the kitchen. Today, copper products manufactured in France are imported worldwide. Its main advantage is considered to be high quality, as well as the introduction of new developments in the production, which have a positive effect on cooking.

• TM MACO. No less popular company that produces copper dishes. The products of this manufacturer are good at their affordable cost, in light of which it is in demand not only among housewives who appreciate beautiful stew-nets, pots and pans, but also among owners of restaurants and cafes.

• Supra. The structure of this large concern includes the oldest family-owned factory, which for a long time has been producing copper dishes. That is why products from the Japanese brand are distinguished by their design, a large assortment line, as well as the preservation of centuries-old production traditions.

• Tvs. Italy has not stayed to the side in terms of making copper products for working in the kitchen. Today, brand products are successfully sold worldwide, Russia is no exception. Fans of beautiful dishes from the Italian manufacturer will be able to find it on the shelves of the largest hypermarkets in the country.

• Basilico. Demanded brand, whose products are in the middle price segment, but stands out with proven quality.

• Bioflon. A company formed in Portugal, today its products are successfully sold on the Russian market. Copper cookware of this manufacturer is suitable for any kitchen and stove, in the light of its design is used for interior decoration of elite cafes.

• Ruffoni. Italian brand engaged in the manufacture and sale of kitchen utensils from copper. In the company's assortment there are products that can be used as decor items in restaurants, as well as dishes for cooking. All products undergo quality control, therefore, absolutely safe for human health.

In addition to the above-mentioned brands, Asian, Indian and Turkish companies are engaged in the manufacture of copper products, which offer consumers elite-class products, as well as options that have a budget value.

Regardless of whether the dishes will be used for its intended purpose or as a piece of furniture, When buying, you should adhere to the following recommendations.

• Copper products should be bought only from reputable manufacturers. In this case, you should not strive for cheap goods, since such a cost is most likely due to the use of low-quality raw materials in the production process. Usually cheap pots, Turks and other utensils are made not of copper, but of alloys of unknown origin, which can be fraught with serious problems.
• Often under the guise of copper cookware, unscrupulous distributors offer copper-coated products. To distinguish one product from another, it is worth scratching it a bit to ensure the integrity of the metal used.
• Hammered or forged products will be in operation much longer.
• Copper is several times heavier than stainless steel and other alloys, so you can check your favorite dishes just by picking it up.
• In the market leading positions regarding the quality of tableware occupy trademarks from Italy, Iran and India.
• The inner coating must be selected on the basis of further use of dishes. So, for frying, steel or nickel are better suited, for cooking - tin. In general, copper cookware is universal, but there may be some limitations in terms of use with different types of cooking surfaces, for example, with induction hobs.

For copper products, the conditions in which they will be further exploited and stored will determine their operational life.

Using dishes with a touch of dangerous. Therefore, hostesses and cooks who have similar cooking equipment in their arsenal should follow the basic guidelines for care.

• Regardless of the size of the products and the degree of contamination, they need to be washed only manually without the use of aggressive chemical compounds and dishwashers. It is also prohibited in the cleaning process to use chlorine and compositions based on acidic media.
• For the care of copper products, it would be more correct to use flour and salt, which are good means for cleaning surfaces from various contaminants. As an alternative to bulk products, you can highlight tomato paste, freshly squeezed lemon juice. Any abrasive compositions and sponges can not be used.
• If the container is dry, it is forbidden to pour boiling water and just very hot liquid into it.
• In order to avoid damage to the dishes, it is not recommended to put it on a fire or in an empty oven.
• All cooking processes that require mixing the ingredients in a container must be carried out with wooden spoons, noisers and other equipment. You can also use silicone accessories.
• To maintain an attractive appearance of the dishes, you can treat the metal surface with a special polish, which has antioxidant properties.

How to clean copperware, see below.