Red copper pans have come center stage in the cooking world and have taken the consumer market by storm.
However, people are more skeptical about the quality and materials of cookware out there now more than ever, especially with the risk of harmful chemicals being used in non-stick cooking.
Red coppers pans are some of the best cookware on the market for easy cooking and clean up but still,l questions are raised about its safety.
If you just want to cut the chase, then no, red copper pans are not toxic and are completely safe to use for all your cooking needs.
If you need some more convincing and would like to find out more about how safe they are, then continue reading.
What is a red copper pan?
Red copper pans are highly durable cookware that features a non-stick ceramic surface and has a copper design.
They are great for cooking foods at high temperatures and have the benefit of being easy to clean up afterward.
Are red copper pans safe to use?
If you haven’t already read the introduction then yes, the red copper pans are safe to use and are definitely not toxic. There are some misunderstandings about these pans and we’re here to set the record straight.
Free of toxins: The cooking surface of red copper pans are PTFE and PFOA free so there are no harmful or toxic chemicals within the non-stick layer in the pans. So there’ll be no chance of you mixing these sorts of chemicals in your food whilst cooking.
Many people get these red copper pans confused with the pure copper cookware out there on the market, these are the ones that tend to be more about aesthetics rather than cooking and safety.
The metal in the pure copper cookware will mix into your food, especially if you are cooking highly acidic meals such as tomato-based dishes.
Ceramic cooking surface: The copper is only used for the structure and frame of the cookware in red copper pans. The cooking surface is made out of ceramic material so acidic foods won’t make the copper filter into your food whilst cooking.
As the cooking surface is ceramic and not made from harmful PTFE or PFOA non-stick coating you find in most cookware, you won’t have any of those dangerous chemicals being released whilst you cook.
This surface is great for evenly distributing heat and can be heated to 500 degrees celsius so won’t burn your food onto the surface.
As a result of the non-stick ceramic surface, you won’t have to use much oil or butter if any at all. Food will slip off the pan with no bother at all. This is a great win for your overall health as it’ll reduce the number of harmful fats that you are putting into your body.
Red copper pans are actually some of the safest, dependable, and durable pans you can currently buy.
How to keep them clean and maintained?
Red copper pans are supposedly anti-scratch but we disagree and you can definitely damage the non-stick surface.
Make sure to use plastic or Teflon utensils whilst stirring your food in the pans and avoid using metal forks and spoons in the pan.
Persistent scratching of the ceramic surface will wear away all protective properties and the harmful chemicals will come to the surface and interfere with your food.
That being said, it’ll take a lot of abrasive action to reach this level.
Some brands will claim that their red copper pans are dishwasher safe, but we say just avoid it entirely to help maintain the cooking surface.
You should clean your red copper pans like you would any other non-stick cookware, by using warm soapy water and a soft fiber of sponge to wash away any residue.
However, red copper pans are incredible for their non-stick cooking and there won’t be much to wash away anyway.
If there is stubborn food left on your pan then you can add a few inches of water with some baking soda into the pan and simmer it for ten minutes, it’ll remove all the food debris and oil and will leave you with sparkling pans.
You can also use a squeeze of lemon whilst simmering the pan on the stove, this will help eliminate any strong odors that are clinging to the pan.
Seasoning your pan: If you’re keen to try and keep your red copper pans in the best condition for as long as possible, then you may want to consider seasoning your pans.
This sounds really strange if you’ve never heard of it before, but it truly does prolong the lifespan of your pans.
Firstly, you’ll need to put a tablespoon or two into a clean red copper pan and spread around using a paper towel until it is all coated.
You’ll want to now place the pan into an oven that has been preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 or so minutes.
Then remove the pan and let it cool before wiping the excess oil away with a paper towel.
If you like what you’ve read so far about red copper pans and are becoming interested in purchasing your own, here are some advantages and disadvantages of the cookware to help you decide.
Pros of red copper pans:
- Excellent heat conductivity and even distributes heat across the pans
- No PTFE or PFOA chemicals inside the pan so it is safe to cook with
- Highly durable pans
- Minimal cleaning after cooking
- Classy and attractive looking pans
- Cooking surface is scratch-proof
- Lightweight so easy to move around whilst cooking
Cons of red copper pans:
- More expensive than regular cookware
We hope you now feel well assured that red copper pans are completely safe to cook with and you’ve even found out a few more interesting facts about the popular cookware.
