The key to cleaning copper utensils is probably in your fridge

With these tips, you can throw away all those old corks and finally use this pan for your real purpose: preparing real food. Tyler Delgado through Unsplash

Copper pots have long been considered Ferrari (or Louis Vuittons, if you like that most) in the kitchen appliance world. They have a high price and look elegant in the kitchen, but are also durable and popular to dissipate heat faster and more evenly than any other alternative. The versatility of copper makes it such a hot product that people break into abandoned houses and loot the New York subway to steal copper pipes . But as precious as metal is, copper vessels are difficult to maintain. The truth is that it is not that difficult.

Why does copper need careful maintenance?

Copper is a fairly soft metal, which means that copper pots scratch easily. In addition, the chemical reaction between oxygen and copper (oxidation) can hide the reddish-brown glow of your kitchen appliances. When copper oxide comes into contact with moisture (even only with air humidity), it finally forms a greenish copper carbonate (also called patina or cardinal), which gives the Statue of Liberty its symbolic color).

The interesting thing about this patina is that it actually acts as a preservative instead of corroding the copper underneath. It is this property that has enabled archaeologists to find copper cookware in good condition, even after it has been buried for thousands of years. When your pots have turned green, it is possible to remove the oxidized layer to reveal perfectly bright and edible copper. However, it is much easier to clean and shine the metal regularly to prevent this. In other words, use your copper and don't let it collect dust (or rust) on a shelf.

How to clean copper pots

The secret of copper cleaning is ketchup. Seriously This is what Sara Dahmen, a professional cauldron and author of the upcoming Iron and Clay: A Smiths Journey copper book, is using to clean her copper utensils.

Science matters: The oxalic acid in tomatoes makes ketchup an excellent and easy way to make copper pleasant and polished, says Dahmen. Any fruit or vegetable with a high oxalic acid content could work; Dahmen has heard of people who consume potatoes, but has found that they do not leave a pleasant ending.

These are some of the best tips and accessories from Dahmen for cleaning your copper pots:

• Use a soft cotton cloth. Don't clean the copper with a steel wool pad unless you really don't care about scratches, he warns.
• Try to know your copper. How old are you where was it made What is it limited to? All of this affects the way you clean it. The pots are often covered with tin or stainless steel, although the older ones may have been nickel or uncoated. And although the vintage look looks good, it can have its own problems: "If it is pure copper, it shines with a minimum of grease on the elbow," says Dahmen. But really old things may not be pure: refining techniques were not as advanced as they are today. That means the metal will react differently to acids, he explains. "So it's a bit risky because it's impossible to know the molecular composition of this old copper."
• If you simply clean your copper with tomato sauce and a soft cloth doesn't work, Dahmen increases the stake by making a paste out of tomato sauce, flour and some lemon juice. Let it rest in the jar for a while (don't let it dry, it will be hard to remove and it won't polish as smoothly) before cleaning it for a dazzling sheen.

Even if you don't want to eat rhubarb, you can still use it as a detergent. Monika Grabkowska through Unsplash

• Thanks to its oxalic acid content, rhubarb is another great copper cleaner, says Dahmen. To use this leafy green, cut it and cook until it is pasty (about 10 minutes), then spread it over its copper and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Then clean it with a cloth and rinse the copper thoroughly. Don't eat the leaves, they're poisonous.
• Search the internet for "how to clean copper" and many results suggest vinegar. It's acidic and works well, but Dahmen says it has risks. If you do not wash all of the vinegar or mix it with old food in a glass, a flat cardinal that is toxic can form. Dahmen learned it from bad times when he used a copper bowl for a salad with vinaigrette: he did not wash it well and later found that it was turning green. Lemon, she says, is less risky.
• Salt is another popular suggestion for those looking for something abrasive to remove difficult stains. Dahmen warns, however, that copper will scratch "incredibly quickly" with normal table salt. "You have to use a very, very fine grain of salt and understand that you can probably still see fine scratches," she says. Because of this, it only uses salt when confronted with boiled black fat, and even then it is simply used to clean stains. Baking soda is a milder alternative.

I tried

Here I admit, I'm always afraid of copper and my ability to take care of it. Many years ago, when I was preparing a marriage certificate and thinking about the cooking utensils of my dreams, I wanted copper, and my father convinced me that it was not worth it. Dahmens passionate arguments why we should care so much about what we cook as about the quality of the ingredients we use made me think about it. So I approached a copper jug ​​with an Arsenal Pantry product, rolled up my sleeves, and tried his advice. The pot I used was not new, but it was modern and came from a well-respected kitchen shop. There was no food, but I was bored with a few stains.

My discoveries? The ketchup does a good basic job and lights up the pot in a few minutes. I can totally see how easy it is every day to find a solution. Leaving a mixture of ketchup and flour for 15 minutes made it even brighter. But sprinkle with baking soda and lemon juice and let it rest for 10 minutes before cleaning to make it the brightest. The fountain was undoubtedly much brighter than when it started, but there were some boring points and the perfectionist in me was frustrated. I sent a picture to Dahmen who said, "If you want to be perfect, you have to see the rhubarb or go to the chemical cleaners."

What to do if none of it works?

As I found out, there are times when no combination of supplies will make your copper shine like new. "You may only be able to remove objects if you remove them mechanically," says Dahmen. In the rare cases where only hardened, blackened, and hardened material is available, Dahmen looks for a rotary tool with a sanding pad before replacing the accessory with one with softer nylon bristles . Make sure that you can use the tool safely and wear at least safety glasses, hearing protection and a face mask. Alternatively, you can leave it (since it is purely cosmetic) or send it to a specialist.

And if you've scratched the copper, don't despair. You can polish slight scratches by rubbing them with copper paint bought in the store, but the deepest ones should be removed with a grinding wheel, says Dahmen.

Do not hesitate to experiment. Copper pots should be used and enjoyed without fear. "It's exactly what you prefer and what your copper seems to respond to," she says. "If you don't really scratch it with an abrasive, there is no wrong way."

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