Photo: Copper Chef
Cookware industry can progress a lot and no wonder it has given us products that are worth appraising every bit.
When you go out shopping in a mall, there are always copper cookware that will entice you the most. They give a vibe of contemporary and yet something very traditional that persuade many buyers into buying these beautiful cooking utensils.
But the purpose of buying them should be solely based on how great they will be in helping you with the routine cooking, whether it is in an oven or a conventional cooktop.
Since baking is vastly popular for many reasons, you should always search for cookware that are helpful in the task.
Today, we will see if copper pans qualify for the same or not.
In this post:
Why Baking Your Food is Beneficial?
There are many reasons that will establish baking of food being a better way. Here are some compelling reasons:
Lower the Calorie Content: The best thing about baking is that it considerably lowers the intake of calories. If you are on a healthy food regime then baking will suit you more than any other medium of making food.
It is basically dry heat cooking which roasts the food on very high temperature in the oven. Why it is called roasting? Well, its because the moisture inside the food is converted to steam and combined with dry heat, the food is cooked.
This way, the requirement of fats is minimal which is mostly added in the form of oil. Also, if you are using a roasting rack while baking, the fat in the food will be drained automatically. This way, it brings calorie count in the food to the minimum.
Preserves the Natural Nutrients: There are some minerals and vitamins that are water-soluble. They usually get lost while boiling as they leech. Since baking uses a dry heat method, it helps in preserving these vitamins and minerals.
If taking frying in consideration, because of the usage of excess oil, the vitamins tends to lose their quality. There is no involvement of excessive oil in baking, so you can rest assured the vitamins and nutrients in food will stay just the way they are.
Weight Management: Baking is an ideal way to cook food for weight management. Unlike frying and boiling medium, this technique requires the least amount of water and oil. This way, you don’t consume calories of any kind and thus managing the weight earnestly.
No Ill Reactions: Baking requires no added oil that can cause oxidation in food. You can cook all kinds of meals like meat, fish, and vegetables through baking. Other than that, the bread loaf is a classic example of baked food and all these causes no adverse effect. Also, this way, there is minimal health risk to the consumers that prefer baked food over any other form.
Capturing the Flavors: Another benefit of baking over other mediums is that the natural aroma of the meal is captured. Whatever ingredients you have used to bake a dish, you can smell them from the food itself. This makes the food more appetizing and inviting.
Baking food can be the best alternative over any other type of cooking given that you get the wholesome nutrients and good healthy ensured.
Are Copper Pans Oven Safe?
Photo: aldi.co.uk
Since we have established the benefits of baking, the next thing to focus is that is your beloved copper cookware range safe to be used in an oven for baking?
1. Material
Copper material is high heat conducting and any such material is safe to be used in an oven. It is a metal and reacts quickly to the changing temperature. Moreover, it is one of the best materials to be used in an oven for baking.
2. Coating
The sets that come with non-stick coating are also safe enough. Moreover, they will further reduce the need of using any oil in the food.
3. Handle
The next thing is about the handle of the pan. Well, most high-end copper pans have copper handles which makes them equally safe in an oven. However, if not copper then it could have aluminum or stainless-steel handles which are oven-safe.
4. Lid
Same thing goes for the lid. Most of these pans will have glass or metal lids. Well, in either of the cases, there is no problem putting it inside the oven along with the pot. The entire setup will be safe in usage.
Overall, you just have to make sure to invest in a product that comes with high-quality making and brand value. Such models are compiled to be safe for almost all kinds of cooking surfaces. However, you should not use a copper pan on induction as it is simply not safe with that.
Tips for Long Lasting Copper Pans
Photo: All-Clad
Copper cookware comes with hefty price tags. While they are not extremely demanding as far as maintenance is concerned, they will still require some care that goes directly on how you handle them while cleaning.
1. Hand Wash
With every copper cookware, it is mentioned by the manufacturer as “Handwash Only”. Well, you can consider it as one of the drawbacks of copper cookware that you cannot toss them inside the dishwasher and free yourself from the trouble of cleaning them with hand.
Well, copper is a sensitive metal which cannot handle abuse. Even while washing it with hand, you should make sure to apply as minimum force as you can. It catches scratches very easily. This will totally ruin the look of the cookware which you wouldn’t want at any cost.
2. Soft Brush
If you think you can mistreat a copper utensil with steel brush then please snap out of out because you can’t. The cookware requires sponge and mild soap for cleaning.
If there is food leftover glued to the surface of the pan, simply put some hot water inside the pan and put it aside for some time. The food will loosen up, giving you the opportunity to clean it without using any force or sharp brush.
3. Not Detergent Friendly
Some people don’t distinguish between mild soaps meant for utensils and harsh detergents for clothes. Well, if you are one of them then prefer not buying copper cookware because they don’t go with the detergents at all.
Conclusion
Copper cookware are very special. Other than looking great, these can be assets in cooking all kind of food as well. Whether you have to bake or fry, or boil the food, the copper cookware will be efficiently helpful.
You just have to spend a little out of comfort and make a purchase once. Trust us, you will never regret the purchase.