Since copper is a very soft material, it is very sensitive to scratches. Before being sold, all items are properly polished so that they are shiny. However, as the products are handmade, there is the possibility of small imperfections appearing, which nevertheless highlight the high quality of the pans and have no negative effect on their use.
When you're not using your pans, it's advisable to store them in a dry place. It's also advisable to clean your copper utensils with metal polishing paste or, alternatively, you can use the traditional cleaning method, which consists of soaking a soft sponge in lemon juice and fine salt and gently wiping the copper with it.
In principle, copper pans can be used on any type of stove, except induction hobs.
Copper can be polished after many years of use and look as new as ever. With some basic care, your copper pans can last for many, many years.
Using your pans
Do not use metal objects (spoons, forks, etc.) when cooking. Don't even wash the piece in dishwashers, dishwashing detergents, steel wool scourers or any other abrasives, as they can scratch the protective pewter surface or the copper itself. Every time you clean your copper utensils, you should rinse and dry them thoroughly, as water also leaves stains.
Most recipes recommend putting the copper pan on a low heat for about a minute before adding the ingredients.
Overheating can cause stains on your pan, so remember to always use medium and low temperatures. Never put copper utensils on the stove or in the oven without anything inside.
To clean, immerse the pan in warm water, use a good non-abrasive detergent and apply with a soft cloth or sponge and rub in circular motions, rinse again in hot soapy water and dry immediately.
Do not use abrasive products such as bleach, oven cleaners or chlorinated products. Do not use steel wool either.
Do not put copper utensils and pans in dishwashers.
Oxidation of a copper pot
- Cleaning and maintenance
If you have a copper pot or if you've ever seen one, you've probably noticed that copper is a metal that oxidizes, i.e. darkens over time. Some people like the look of copper because it looks rustic and old... But if you're going to cook with any copper utensil and it looks like this, you need to sanitize it before cooking. Another very important piece of information is that there are some copper pieces that are varnished precisely so that they don't oxidize over time, as the varnish slows down this process. Therefore, these pieces cannot be cleaned in any way, as the varnish would be removed and the piece would become even more tarnished.
Usually varnished pieces are used for decorating rooms and cannot be put in the fire. A varnished piece can only be cleaned by wiping the dust off with a damp cloth.
- How to clean an oxidized pot
- It is very important that you do not get the garment wet.
- First you rub the lemon in the salt and then rub the lemon on the copper pot. You will notice that the piece will start to return to its natural copper color.
- You can rub the lemon with salt all over the piece.
- When you have finished applying the lemon, rinse with water.
- Take the steel sponge with detergent and keep scrubbing. Finally, rinse well with water.
- You'll notice the difference between a washed piece and an oxidized one. A tip when drying, to prevent the piece from being stained by water droplets, simply dry it with a napkin, cloth or paper towel and place it in the sun or on a rack to finish drying. The drying process is very important as it prevents the garment from getting any stains.
- Removing the varnish
Some of our copper utensils are varnished on the outside so that they don't lose their shine. If you intend to use them as decorative items, you can leave the layer of protective varnish on. Simply dust them or wipe them with a soft cloth to restore their shine. For all items intended to be heated or burned, however, the varnish must be removed before first use. This can be done in two ways:
- For smaller pieces - Place them in a container with enough water to cover them completely. Add a heaped tablespoon of baking soda for every liter of water and boil until the varnish comes off in large white sheets. Remove the piece from the container and rinse it. To restore the initial shine, clean it with a copper polish.
- For larger pieces - Use acetone (available from drugstores and paint stores) to remove the varnish. The acetone should be applied with a clean cloth to areas approximately 10cm on a side. After each application, dry the piece and repeat the process until the varnish is removed. In this case it may also be necessary to polish the piece as indicated in (1). Be careful when using acetone.
ATTENTION:
To polish unvarnished pieces, use a non-abrasive product suitable for polishing copper.
