The benefits of copper cookware are well known as using copper to cook with has been in existence for over 6,000 years the first copper cookware pots were being used over 4,000 BC. Anything with has been used for this amount of time has to be good. Copper conducts heat very well in fact it is the best metal heat conductor, this is why top quality chefs and cooks like to use copper. It cooks the food evenly and will allow the chef to produce better quality food. Not only that but copper cookware also looks very good as well and is much easier to clean and maintain than you think. Everyone assumes that the non-stick pans are the easiest to clean and use well copper cookware as long as you use it correctly will out perform even the best non-stick pans. The major downside with copper cookware is it is very heavy, copper being a heavy metal makes the pots and pans also very heavy and if what you are cooking is quite heavy as well then you may need some help in the kitchen.

As mentioned there are a few problems with owning Copper cookware and not only is it very heavy but also copper s quite easily scratched unless you take care when using it, the scratches will make the copper cookware harder to clean and it will not look good. Also copper tarnishes over a period of time, lots of people love the way that copper cookware sets tarnish and look when they have tarnished so this is not much of a problem but if you want to keep your copper cookware sets in tip top condition and nice a shiny at all times then you are going to have to clean the pots more often even if you haven’t used them. Another problem with copper cookware is that it is expensive, the price of copper is very high at the moment and there is a larger demand than supplies can keep up with so as with most things if the demand is larger than the supply then the price is high, so making the price of the sets high.

Due to the high price of copper some cookware manufacturers have decided to step away from the full copper cookware sets and have compromised by having cookware sets with a copper bottom and use another metal for the sides and handle. This means you get the conductive power of copper in the base allowing even and quick temperature distribution but by combining it with other metals it will allow the pans to be lighter and cheaper than full copper cookware sets. The metals used in these pans is normally stainless steel or aluminum which is much lighter than copper. When you are picking out your cookware remember these points if you want lighter and cheaper copper cookware sets then choose the ones with the copper bottom but if you do not mind a heavy cookware set which not only looks great but cooks great, however is more expensive then you must choose the full copper cookware set.

Historical copperware was made from solid copper which is very heavy, however due to the great conducting qualities of copper cookware made from copper is very popular because you get an even heat conducted through it. The price of copper is quite high so as well as being heavy copper cookware is also very expensive. Today however copper cookware is not just made from copper but normally mixed with other metals such as stainless steel or aluminum or maybe a mixture of metals including being tin lined. However you can still get solid handcrafted copperware. One of the most popular variants for this is copper cookware which has been hammered this is always handmade copperware which normally entails hammering the copperware into shape this leaves a great looking hand hammered pattern on the cookware.

Not only do you get copper cookware but there is also lots of other things which are made with copper you can get copperware sinks and table tops, furniture which has a copper finish. You can get dishes and trays made from copperware, candle sticks and vases even figures because copperware is so very desirable and can be made into almost anything and it will still look good. You can even get handmade copperware teapots in the traditional styling available on eBay for around the $15 mark. A great site for fantastic handcrafted copperware is Ozark copperware here you can see beautiful handcrafted copperware which is made in the traditional way by a coppersmith made in the Ozark Mountains. He makes everything from Tankards to cookware to buckets and the prices are very reasonable for handcrafted copperware items a tankard can cost as little as $35 and a large bucket or wash basin $75 which is very cheap for copperware items. They have a great range of teapots and coffee pots which range in price from $70 to $100 in lots of different but traditional shapes.

When copperware is new it normally comes very shiny and to preserve this lots of companies put a layer of lacquer on the copperware to keep its new looks and protect it. However if you are cooking with the copperware this layer of lacquer will wear off and then the copperware can become tarnished to keep it clean you can use baking soda and water if this does not work well then you can always us a copper cleaner but make sure you do not scratch the copperware as this will affect the copperware. Some people do not like to clean their copperware and eventually it will tarnish and this gives it a whole new look which lots of people like the copper darkens and takes on a patina which gives it that antique look and feel. Copper cookware is mostly made in France and Italy as these two countries are known for producing good quality copper cookware but most countries will have their own craftsman who will produce quality copperware items. To find a good deal on your copperware you should look on the internet for the best prices and the items you want.

Copper cookware sets come in a variety of styles and designs plus they are also a vast difference in price ranges. Copper cookware sets are normally more expensive then normal cookware sets, if you are looking for a full copper cookware set then there are things to take into consideration this will be the most expensive version of copper cookware as copper is quite expensive also it will be heavy as copper is quite a heavy metal. Lots of people now are having a mixture of copper with other metals you can have a copper bottom which gives a similar performance to the full copper cookware set they are also much lighter and cheaper than a set made totally from copper.

French copper cookware is renown for being one of the best makes of copper cookware and they have a lot of different varieties of cookware to choose from you can have stainless steel lined copper cookware where there is a thin layer of copper put over a stainless steel lining and this way you get the benefits of coppers even cooking qualities coupled with the lighter and more robust stainless steel lining. You can also get the French copper cookware sets with a tin lining these sets are available in both normal copper finish and the hammered copper finish which not only looks great but has that decretive arts and crafts feel about the sets not only do they cook great but look good as well.

Mauviel has been making copper cookware since the early 19^th century and are one of the best well known makes of copper cookware Mauviel have a wide range of copper cookware pots and pans which you can buy in sets or individual pieces. Buying your copper cookware set a pan at a time will allow you to slowly build up your copper cookware set without having to pay a fortune at once. Spreading the cost of your copper cookware set is a great way of being able to buy a copper cookware set on a limited budget, however make sure that you choose a copper cookware set which is well established as you do not want to get half way through buying the cookware set and find out that the range of cookware has stopped and you cannot get the full set and have to match it with another set.

Falk copper cookware sets are made in Belgium and have come up with a club where they have a piece of copper cookware on special offer each month for club members to buy at a discounted price, this allows you to build up your copper cookware collection over a period of time so spreading the cost of the set over a long period of time. Each month the Falk cookware company will send you a piece of copper cookware and charge you a reduced price, you can build up your copper cookware set and at the same time you will know you can buy the full set and it will all be of the same type, there are great deals to be had on copper cookware and by far the easiest is to buy the full set at once but you will find that copper cookware sets are expensive even when you look around for the best deals.