Just like electricians prefer copper wires for a smooth current flow, the cooking fanatics look for copper-made cookware in their hands. With an exceptional heat conduction ability, copper knocks off other cookware materials single-handedly.
Not only do they conduct heat well, but also retain the temperature effortlessly. Molded and shaped into a beautiful look, it will leave you swooning over it.
‘Looks?’. Checked.
‘Performance?’. Great.
‘Maintenance??’
The manufacturers of the copper pans know their worth, and it’s high time you realize its importance as well. Though seemingly hard, if done the right way, cleaning a copper pan is no less than a stress-reliever.
Wanna know how to turn the drill into fun? Scroll down below.
Cleaning a Copper pan – An Overview
Copper is expensive, and so is its cookware, and the last thing we want to happen is it getting damaged due to carelessness. Hence, to help you out with this, I have listed below the best methods to clean and care for a copper pan.
How to clean a Seasoned Copper Pan?
Seasoning is the coat that prevents the foods from sticking to the pan. You just have to leave it on its own, and it will work pretty fine for you. But what do you after your pan gets dirty after cooking? In this case, is it right to leave it on its own?
It’s a BIG NO!
Why? Because over time, that oils and food will build-up on your pan and will get in the way of your desired food.
Once you are done with the cooking, take a tissue paper or kitchen towel and gently wipe off the residues of the cooked food. Doing this a few times is perfectly fine. If it gets too dirty, you can cleanse it gently with soapy water.
The idea is to not brush or scrub the surface so hard and to not put the hot pan right under the shower. This behavior is deadly for not only your copper pan but almost every non-stick cookware.
How To Clean An Unseasoned Copper Pan?
Seasoned and un-seasoned pans are different, and therefore, react differently with the food. Different behavior towards food means different kinds of food build-up on the pan.
Now, that you do not have a nonstick coating got your copper pan, you can use various unconventional techniques and DIY tricks to get rid of the mess.
Lemon-Salt Duo
This two-ingredient duo has enough power to wipe off any stubborn and resilient stains from the pan. Lemon’s acid powder with the salt’s scrubbing action becomes the cheapest and strongest detergent you will come across.
- Mix the two ingredients.
- Gently scrub it on to the pan surface
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water
Compared to chemical alternatives, its minimal quantity is enough to fight off the toughest stains out there. You may swap the salt with baking soda powder as well. They work differently but aim for the same thing- a clean pan.
How to clean a burnt copper pan?
Cleaning a burnt pan is a tedious job, and a lot can go wrong during cleaning it with a bar of soap and scrubber. Instead, try doing these methods for your pans.
Dishwashing Liquid
With the same working chemistry as that of soap, the liquid has some other perks to it.
- Fill half of your burnt pan with water
- Put the dishwashing liquid into the pan for a few minutes.
- After a time, drain the water and make a 1:1 solution of water and liquid.
- Using that, clean the pan off.
- Rinse it with water
- Dry using a kitchen towel or tissue
Baking Soda
Available in powder form, it is super effective to get rid of the burnt mess on its own.
- Dust some baking soda on to the burnt area of the pan
- Leave it there for around 20 to 30 minutes
- After that, use a gentle dish brush (preferably plastic) and rub the soda on the pan.
- Rinse the soda off with water
- Dry the pan gently
How to Clean the Bottom of a Copper Pan?
Seasoned or not, it’s not just the inner surface of the pan that needs resurrection. Often overlooked, the outer, directly heat exposed material also deserves due care. As it comes directly in contact with the heat, therefore, the exterior changes are different compared to the interior ones.
Commonly observed changes are the discoloration and blackening of the pan. The copper pans have such a nice color to them, so why leave them like that?
All you need are two ingredients-
Vinegar and Salt.
- Wet the outer surface of the pan with water.
- Depending on the size of the pan, sprinkle some salt on it.
- Throw some vinegar onto the salted surface and re-salt it.
- Let the vinegar and salt react for 5-7 minutes.
- Using a scrubber, rub the exterior of the pan.
- Once satisfied with the scrubbing, you can rinse the pan with water.
By following these simple steps, you are investing your time in a pan that will last for a good time. If your pan’s bottom has not been cleaned for a long period, you my friend will have to go give it another go.
It advised that after now and then you are washing the pan’s inside and outside so that the stains do not get too cheeky with us.
How to get rid of Tarnish on Copper Pans?
Over time, with exposure to water and air from around us, the metals get corroded. This is in the form of a thin later termed as tarnish and is common to metals. As this is a habitual process, it is bound to happen now or then.
To treat them, you can adopt the following methods.
Copper Polisher
To get rid of copper tarnish, you will come across several creams and wax-based polishers to fight off the tarnish on copper. Such creams are based o a chemical formula that quickly targets the tarnish on the copper. The market is full of these artificial formulas and is cheap on the wallet.
If you want something quick and right from your kitchen, try these natural ingredients.
Tomatoes
The copper pans are prone to tarnishing and we certainly don’t want that. Due to it, the pan quickly loses its charm and look.
To recover your pan’s look, put your tomatoes to good use. Take up some tomato paste and rub it on the pan. Leave it for some time and rinse it off. Known for being rich in acids, tomatoes will help get rid of the pan’s tarnish. If you don’t have them, you can substitute them with ketchup. It’s more or less the same thing.
White Vinegar
Instead of dipping your pan into the vinegar, use a piece of cloth soaked in vinegar. Using this cloth, rub the vinegar all around your pan, especially the bottom. In a small time, it can take off the tarnished spots.
Caring for you Copper Pans in the right way
Copper pans are prone to tarnish and discoloration and these reactions are bound to happen. What’s in your hand is the time. the time to delay and reduce the effect of these damaging reactions.
The following points are found to improve the life of a copper pan.
Keep your pans dry
Keeping your pans with or in water can be more damaging than you can think. Especially with copper in hand, you gotta stay extra careful. Dey them out as soon as you wash them.
Check the utensil compatibility
You can use whatever spoon or utensil you want on the pan, but the problem is that copper is not okay with this behavior. Hence, refrain from using any metal items and resort to the use of wooden and silicone-based utensils.
Heat them light
Though they are a good conductor of electricity, high heat can discolor the copper. That’s why it is suggested that you use it on low to medium flames.
Hand wash your copper pans
Yes, you’re right. The majority of the pans are dishwasher safe, but to get rid of the stains these machines can sometimes get very harsh. Though it will wash off all the stains and food, oil residues, their use is not preferred. Hence, hand washing is the go-to secret for healthy-looking cooking pans
Conclusion
That was all about cleaning copper pans, be they burnt or tarnished. Like all other things, the copper pans also require attention and care. And if you fail to do that, they’ll wither just like a flower without water.
With the hope that this article was helpful for you and your pans, it’s time for me to wrap it up. That was it from my side. If you want to add something, feel free to do so in the comments section below.
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