Copper cookware is a lot more expensive than normal cookware and hammered copper cookware is normally the most expensive of the copper cookware range as it is normally hand crafted and not machine made. Hammered copper cookware is where you can still see the hammer marks made by the maker during the production of the cookware; the hammered effect is a great look for a copper cookware set.

Not only are copper cookware sets more expensive than normal cookware sets but they are also a lot heavier than normal pots and pans. This is mainly due to copper being more heavy than the normal metals now used in cookware, however if you want quality long lasting cookware then copper is the best choice. Lots of professional cooks prefer cooking with copper cookware because copper is a very good conductor of heat it will evenly distribute the heat which in turn cooks the food more evenly.

Just think of producing your favorite sauce with a nice hammered copper sauce pot or what about a nice big hammered copper stockpot to make lovely stews to warm you during the long winter months. Most of the copper cookware is no longer produced in the US but has to be imported from either Europe or the Far East this also adds to the expense of the cookware.

One disadvantage of having hammered copper cookware is that it tarnishes easily and will need cleaning often to keep it clean and shiny, lots of cooks however prefer their copper cookware not shiny but allow it to dull and tarnish to give the copper pot or pan its own effect and keep the wear of the copper to a minimum as copper is easily scratched and constant cleaning will add to this.

Some of the best hammered copper cookware sets are made in Italy such as the Ruffoni hammered copper sets which are guarantee to cook evenly even at low temperatures as long as the correct heat and stirring techniques are used. Ruffoni hammered copper is nearly twice as conductive as aluminum and nearly ten times more conductive than stainless steel making it the perfect cooking metal. The Ruffoni Opera is hand hammered copper with Brass Handles and brass knobs in the shape of an acorn. The Ruffoni Classici is a line of specialty dishes such as the pig roast tin, risotto dishes, polenta pans, sauce pans and its unique chocolate melting pan and warmer.

Although the Ruffoni copper cookware sets are not cheap a typical 10 piece set will cost in the region of $2500 if treated correctly these pans and pots should last a lifetime. So in the grand scheme of things how many different lots of pots and pans would you have to buy in your life, probably a lot more than $2500 so it will eventually be cheaper to buy a great new set of hammered copper cookware than lots of different sets, you will also get the added advantage of equal temperature cooking and a nice looking set of cooking pots and pans. Cooper cookware will give your kitchen the professional cook look for a reasonable price, and there is a vast range of items to choose from such as casserole dishes to frying pans and stock pots.

Making the most of any type of cookware can be fraught with things to remember and things to avoid and copper cookware sets are no different!  So if you want to be able to cook up a storm whilst getting the best from your set, read on for some useful copper cookware dos and donts:

DO

• Unless your set is a gift, do try before you buy.  Some copper pans can be incredibly heavy even before having any ingredients in them, so it’s useful to hold some to check whether the weight will suit you, as a pan of boiling gravy that is too heavy to lift safely can be a real issue in the kitchen!
• Do want copper but it’s just too heavy?  Do shop around, as there is now an increasing range of pans available that are manufactured from stainless steel with a copper bottom, giving you the efficiency and durability of a copper base, but with a reduction in the weight!
• Shop around anyway!  There are some very well known and highly respected brands of copper cookware that can last forever but are incredibly expensive. However, this is money well spent if they are going to be in daily use and last you the lifetime that they promise (most respectable sets come with a lifetime warranty).  As value for money, this works out to be very cost effective indeed, but often it’s buying the set all in one go that can make such ranges seem too expensive.  So, if you have decided that it’s the cookware for you, shop around department stores, kitchen specialist stores and on-line as the price can vary by a surprising amount.  If you are in no particular hurry, it may pay you to wait until your desired cookware set is on sale or you could buy one item a month until you have completed a set of items that are just what you want!

DON’T

• Forget that cookware ranges are wider than just pans.  Modern copper cookware ranges include baking trays and cake pans.
• Forget that as well as their durability, copper cookware is a cook’s favorite because it holds heat well and is therefore very energy efficient.  You will need to take this into account when cooking with your new copper pans, as you may well need to reduce the cooking time for some dishes (particularly when using copper oven cookware) because of the improved efficiency of the cooking process.  There may be a little trial and error or ‘stove-watching’ until you get used to your cookware.
• Worry about having to take extra special care of copper cookware items: polishing the copper looks lovely but isn’t necessarily essential for performance.  However, do ensure that you clean your pans thoroughly after each use to avoid the development of dark spots in the copper, which can reduce efficiency and lead to ‘hot spots’ and the burning or sticking of food. Washing in warm soapy water should be sufficient for cleaning from daily cooking, with a rub with a soft cloth as needed.
• Never scour your copper cookware with a nylon or wire wool pad as this can scratch the copper surface.
• Lastly, never just pop your copper cookware into the dishwasher without checking the manufacturer’s guidelines – of the cookware and of your dishwasher detergent, as sometimes it’s the detergent that can cause harm to your pots!  If in doubt, handwash!

It depends on how you are asking the question. If you have done any cooking at all, you already know that the kind of cookware you are using has a huge impact on your style. This is not to say that what cookware you use is irrelevant. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your cookware can partially determine the purposes to which you put it. Copper cookware, for example, is great for making more delicate foods because of the control it affords you over heat conductivity. The other way you could ask the question is if you are making a certain dish, say a sauce, when should you use copper cookware? The answer is you should have been using it from the beginning, especially when it comes to sauces.

You need copper cookware if you like French foods, especially. The French love copper for their cookware; in fact, one of the most popular cookware-making companies in the world is a French company, Mauviel. Cookware that is copper is also best for certain Italian foods, particularly sauces. You need copper cookware when you are ready to expand your skills as a cook to include more challenging foods. It is fine and good to know how to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cooking those fine foods that make you think you are at a world-class hotel is another matter.

Choosing your cookware is not as easy as I am making it sound, of course. If you are a beginner or an amateur cook, stick to the things you know. Buy a good recipe book and try some of the easy ones. It is important to master one skill level before going on to the next – no one ever made it to the top of Everest by hiking it without ever hiking up any other mountains! Keep to your skill level in cooking before trying more difficult dishes. Get some copper cookware only when you need it.