Categories: Food & Wine

How to Clean Copper Pots and Pans

Like everything else in the world, pots and pans have changed over the years. In an attempt to offer us the best pots and pans for cooking and baking, manufacturers now use totally different metals than what was previously used to make pots and pans.

With all the new metals it’s important to know what chemicals and products can be used on which pots and pans. Not all dishes and pans are meant to be cleaned in the same manner. Back in the iron skillet days the pans were scoured, then greased and placed in the oven or drawer for future use. The greasing of the iron skillet prevented fried foods from sticking to it, sure, but it also ensured that the skillet would not rust. Nowadays, iron skillets are almost unheard of, and the materials used in today’s pots and pans require totally different cleaning methods.

Some pots and pans are perfectly fine after being washed in ordinary detergent and hot water but others require a little more care and attention. Take copper pots for example. To prevent scratching and staining, as well as to preserve the sheen of the copper, you’ll need to take different steps to clean them. Strong abrasives and stiff bristle brushes can damage the copper and leave it looking dull and scratched.

One easy way to gently scrub the copper pot without damaging it is to use lemon and kosher salt. Cut the lemon in half, remove any seeds, then dip in kosher salt. Use a circular motion to apply the salt and lemon, dipping the lemon in the salt repeatedly if needed. The salt will gently rub away burner or scorch marks, while the lemon removes grease and grime. After cleaning the copper pan rinse in cold water and dry immediately.

Lemon and baking soda work well too. Again, cut the lemon in half and remove seeds. Sprinkle baking soda directly on the pan then use the lemon as the method of scouring the pan. Rinse with cold water and dry quickly. Don’t have any lemons? Lemon juice, when placed on a soft cloth, will work as well.

Toothpaste is another gentle cleanser that’s perfect for cleaning copper pots. It’s okay to use a soft bristle toothbrush, or something similar, to clean the copper. You can also use a soft cloth to work the toothpaste. Make sure you choose a toothpaste, not a gel, and be sure the paste doesn’t say it contains bleach. Toothpaste that contains bleach can also damage the appearance of copper pots. Always rinse and dry the pan immediately after cleaning.

To clean things that have a copper interior, such as a tea kettle, pour salt into the kettle and add several ice cubes. With a circular motion swish the ice cubes around for a couple of minutes. The cubes will put pressure on the salt and help to scour the inside of the kettle. To eliminate odors pour a little lemon juice into the mix then swish.

Ordinary pots and pans are not cheap, but when it comes to copper sets, it can be quite an investment. Great cooks want the best pots and pans, though, so be sure to take the best care of them that you can. Use one of the above methods to clean your copper pots and you’ll have them looking new for years to come.