Caring for Copper Cookware

Among the many different options a person has for cooking ware, one of the more popular is items made from copper. These products not only look beautiful, they can conduct heat quite effectively and evenly which allow for some fantastic dishes to be made. However, along with copper cooking ware comes some unique cleaning and care methods. If you would like to get the most out of your expensive copper cookware for years to come, then you need to learn the basics of caring for copper cookware.

• Method one for removing tarnish. As tarnish is one of the more common problems that you can find your copper cookware faced with, it only makes sense to learn how to combat it. One of the more effective methods is also one of the more simplistic. Simply cut a lemon in half, and then sprinkle some salt on the open sides. Rub the lemon and salt on the tarnished areas, and it should go away with little or no problem. The reason this works so well is that the salt acts as an abrasive, and the lemon juice is really good at cleaning it away.
• Method two for removing tarnish. There is another effective method for removing tarnish. However, this method only really works on the insides of pots and pans, or with small copper items. Boil a mixture of water, one tablespoon of salt, and one cup of white vinegar. Place the smaller copper items inside the boiling mixture, or pour the mixture into the interior of a copper pot or pan. Allow the mixture to simmer for about two hours (refilling the water as needed). Once the time has passed, wash as normal with warm soapy water. Rinse and then dry to allow for proper storage.
• Clean with lemons. You can create a paste out of lemon juice and salt that is very effective at cleaning your copper cookware. Simply make some of the paste, and then use a soft cloth to rub the paste over the entire surface of the copper cookware. Rinse the copper item with warm water, and then dry with a soft towel. Use another soft towel to buff the item and offer a nice looking shine.
• Be aware of heat discoloration. One thing that you will need to be particularly aware of is that copper has a tendency to discolor under extreme heat. This means that you need to prevent anything fro burning or scorching on the copper cookware. If you don't, you will find that there is no way to remove this heat discoloration.