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.

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!

Copper cookware prices vary according to the make and are also dependent on if they are made from just copper or are lined with another metal. Copper bottomed cookware sets are normally slightly cheaper than the full copper cookware sets and if they are copper bottomed you will get the same conductive properties as with the normal copper sets but as the copper bottomed cookware is coupled with either stainless steel, aluminum or another metal this will also make the sets a lot lighter than full copper cookware. Below are my recommendations for both copper bottomed cookware sets and full copper cookware sets.

Copper Cookware Sets

The French Copper Studio have some very nice full copper cookware sets at various prices starting at about $1,500 for a five piece Chef smart set and under $2,500 for the nine piece set, There are also other sets available at different prices depending on composition of the set, you can also make up your own set and save money. There is also the option of having a hammered copper finish as well, but these costs more.

Another good company which makes good copper cookware sets is the Falk Copper Cookware who has similar sets to above for under $1,200 for the five pieces and under $1,700 for an eight piece set. There are also Copper cookware sets available on both Amazon and eBay which are slightly less in price for similar sets, however for the best deals you need to look around for the correct set for you and then compare prices.

Copper Bottomed Cookware Sets

As mentioned before Copper bottomed cookware sets are much cheaper than copper cookware sets you can buy a T-Fal stainless steel copper bottomed ten piece cookware set for under $120 which is a fraction of the price of a full copper cookware set, however care must be taken and read the description as some copper bottomed cookware sets do not have a full copper bottom but have a copper insert in the bottom of the pans. However if you get a set such as Cooks copper bottomed cookware sets on Amazon you can buy a full copper bottomed 13 piece set for about $180 which is a fraction of the price you would pay for a fully copper made cookware set.

There is also another version of Copper Cookware where you can have a copper outer skin then the copper is lined with stainless steel or aluminum. You can also get sets where there are three layers a copper outer, aluminum middle and a stainless steel interior this means you get the even cooking temperatures coupled with a light and robust pan. The copper and aluminum combine for effective heat conduction while the stainless steel interior stops the metal reacting with acidic food a 10 piece set will cost approximately $450.

All these prices for Copper cookware sets are a rough guide you will be able to look around yourself for the best prices and which types of copper sets you want. In the end its down to personal choice and how much you are willing to pay for your Copper cookware, but have a good look around first prior to purchase for the best deals.