Copper cookware has been used for a long time because of its excellent conduction properties. Copper cookware is very popular with professional chefs because unlike any other metal copper will allow even cooking and heat distribution of the heat. This makes copper cookware very popular but also copper cookware is normally very expensive. You can get a mixture of copper and various other metals to both cut down on weight and price a standard format is a copper bottom with aluminum or steel sides and handle. Another metal which copper is associated with is tin, not many people know that tin lined copper cookware is just like having non-stick cookware. Tin lined cookware stops the contents of the pan sticking to the copper.

When everyone thinks of copper cookware they immediately think of French copper cookware but Italian copper cookware is equally as good if not so well known. Ruffoni copper cookware is one of the main makers of Italian copper cookware. Ruffoni copper cookware has been made fro generations in the northern Italian town of Omegna and they produce three main cookware collections these are the Opera. Protagonist/Classici and the Moderne they do however produce specialty pieces like bake ware, moulds and serving ware. The Ruffoni hammered copper cookware range is made from hand hammered copper with brass handles and knobs and is the Ruffoni Opera range of cookware. Ruffoni hammered copper cookware has a long history of producing beautiful and practical top quality copper cookware which is used by professional chefs and home cooks alike.

You can buy a Ruffoni 10 piece copper Opera cookware set for about $1,850 and although this sounds like a lot of money you also get a lot of cookware. The set consists of an five quart stockpot and lid, a one and a quarter quart saucepan a two quart saucepan and lid a eight and three quarter inch frying pan, a ten and an quarter inch frying pan, a three quart sauté pan and a five quart casserole in an acorn shape with lid in a gift box with brass handles and a traditional hammered finish, these are heavy copper pans with a fire-tinned lining and truly a quality set of copper cookware.

The Ruffoni Classici and Protagonista range of copper cookware has a smooth polished finish with a fire tinned interior and made from solid copper. Why not invest in a quality Ruffoni Risotto pan a big fire-tinned pan about 10 inches long with nice roomy brass handles makes the preparing of Risotto for under $200. They also produce a range of specialist quality cookware such as the Ruffoni Zabaglione pan which is perfect for cooking summer berries an specialist Italian dessert of Zabaglione available at about $100. There are lots of places which are selling Ruffoni Copper cookware and for the best prices you need to search around by looking on different internet sites you could save yourself a lot of money when choosing to buy Ruffoni copper cookware. Amazon is a good starting place or maybe try Jacobs Kitchen.

Copper cookware is very popular with both professional chefs and home cooks because of coppers unique ability to conduct heat evenly. Copper is one of the best metals to conduct heat, so copper pans and cookware will heat evenly and quickly making it one of the most popular materials to cook with. The biggest drawback in copper is it is very expensive to buy, copper cookware is more expensive than the other cookware which is used in the kitchen and copper is quite soft so will get damaged easily. Some copper cookware is not all copper but a mixture of copper and other metals the copper is on the base to allow the even temperature and quick heating ability of copper to benefit the cookware and the rest of the cookware is made from steel or aluminum or other cheaper metals this way you get the advantage of copper in cookware which is much cheaper.

However the real copper cookware is still very popular with the keen chef or home cook, one of the most sought after is copper cookware from France. French copper cookware is renowned for being top quality and great for use in the kitchen. French copper cookware is always used by the top quality chefs and if you want a nice designer set of copper cookware then look no further than a nice set of French copper cookware. Falk was a leading maker in combining both copper and stainless steel to produce a quality copper cookware at a significantly lower price. Stainless steel also has the advantage that is does not react with the food and is not as easily damaged as other copper cookware.

One of the best makes of French copper cookware is the Mauviel cookware range and is on the top of a wedding list for someone who knows about cooking. The Mauviel cookware range is produced in France and exported all over the world where the leading chefs then use these quality items to produce some of the finest food in the world. Mauviel French copper pans and in fact all of their copper cookware has a lifetime guarantee due to its high quality and durability. Mauviel copper cookware will work equally well on both gas and electric cooking hobs and because of coppers unique ability to conduct heat you will not be disappointed with the results from your Mauviel copper cookware.

When you’re not cooking with your lovely French copper cookware then copper has the great ability to be very decorative and makes a great display in your kitchen. Copper cookware does take a bit more looking after than normal cookware but only requires a bit of cleaning with some copper cleaner and they will stay lovely and gleaming. Cooking with copper pans is not the easiest way to produce a meal. You have to be more careful with the use of heat when cooking with copper and more care must be taken once you start heating the pans up, copper is also quite soft so care must be taken not to scratch or dent your cookware. Most good cooks should not have a problem with cooking with copper pans and they will notice the difference quickly and adapt.

Copper cookware can certainly be your best friend in the kitchen and if you’ve invested in a high quality set, such as a Mauviel copper cookware set, then you will want to get the most from your money by using it as much as possible and by looking after it well!

1)      The first and very simple rule in caring for your copper cookware items: never put them in a dishwasher as the detergents used, as much as the intensive action of the machine and long, slow drying method, can cause deterioration in the copper very quickly.

2)      As with the majority of copper cookware on the market, most of Mauviel copper pans are lined with stainless steel, to avoid the copper from reacting to acidic foods.   Happily, using stainless steel helps to eliminate this problem, whilst the copper’s even heat distribution stops the problem of foods burning onto the base of pans.  However, although lined with stainless steel, you should still not use abrasive cleaning fluids or scourers to scrub the pans after use.  Warm, soapy water should be enough to clean the inside of the pan, whilst the outside benefits from polishing with a soft cloth and occasionally with a copper polish or a mild solution of salt and white vinegar, to keep its pristine gleam adding a shine to your kitchen.

3)      Once your copper cookware item has been washed, dry it promptly by hand, using a soft cotton cloth.  This is essential because water residue in copper pots that are left “to drain” can quickly cause the copper to ‘oxidize’, resulting in it turning green!

4)      If you are hoping to gradually build up a set of copper cookware, do check out the wealth of Mauviel copper cookware reviews that are available on-line.  This is an excellent way of picking the brains of both professional and domestic cooks in order to find out which are the must-have items and which are the ‘good if you can afford the extra’ items!

5)      Although genuine copper cookware is expensive, do consider the multi-use potential of some of the items.  For example, items such as the Mauviel copper roaster are designed to transfer from hob to oven to table as needed, so by carefully deciding which items to purchase alongside the needs that you have, you could find even the more expensive items offer excellent value purely on account of the use that you will get out of them: due to their versatility, as well as their endurance, of course!

6)      Additional items, such as the Mauviel copper soup station can also be an excellent value for money choice if you have a large family.  As well as enabling you to serve good tasting, but economical to make soup, the size and shape of the stockpot also makes it ideal for spaghetti cooking.

Although one of the more expensive ranges, Mauviel copper cookware is highly respected in catering circles and is a name worth investigating if you are seriously looking into investing in copper cookware – just make sure you look after it!