Weigh These Cookware Tips To Extend Lifespan, Ensure Safety Of Pots, Pans In Your Kitchen

Expose anything to an open flame enough times and it’s going to start showing its age. This is especially true for your pots and pans, which are going to be put through a true stress test before reaching retirement age. High heat, acidic foods, dings and dents plus the constant prodding from utensils as you cook are some of the main offenders when it comes to the longevity of your cookware. However, the stakes get raised when you factor for health concerns. While every single type of cooking material has its own safety attributes that owners should consider, we’re here to suggest cooking  and clean-up methods that will extend the lifespan of your pots and pans. After all, there’s more to means than sitting around a dinner table to enjoy time with friends and family.

1) Dishwasher safe? If you’re using a non stick pan to prepare your favorite dishes, do yourself a favor and avoid putting it in your dishwasher. Not only should the non-stick attributes allow for easy cleaning by hand in the sink, but the high heat and dish soap used in dishwashers will compromise the coating itself.

2) “Seasoned” veteran: Cast iron cookware is often adopted by consumers for its rustic appearance. Many people opt for copper pots and pans for the same reason; it simply looks impressive hanging in anyone’s kitchen. Cast iron is great for those who don’t want to clean a ton of stuck and burnt food out, however “seasoning” your cookware is a prerequisite. Seasoning means giving your cast iron pan a coating of oil then putting it in the oven to give it a resistant skin for months to come.

3) Dents and dings: Aluminum cookware is everywhere. It’s efficient, easy enough to clean and gets the job done. Problem is, however, it’s susceptible to scrapes from utensils and that means miniscule amounts of aluminum will be coming up with it. For those using aluminum pots and pans, take extra care to not damage your cookware. Some health concerns have been linked to this type of damage and it’s suggested to retire such items well in advance of severe wear and tear starting to show.

Use Copper Cookware At Home For These Light Summer Seafood, Vegetable Dishes

With warm summer months just around the corner, our pallets about to make a similar seasonal shift. The slow-cooked stews make way for lighter vegetable and seafood dishes that won’t weigh us down during days of extreme heat. For those who’ll be preparing such meals at home, consider the benefits of copper pots and pans to get the job done for yourself, your friends, family or anyone else you’ll be entertaining. Favored by chefs the world over, copper cookware is praised for its even distribution of heat that allows users to precisely cook dishes without added risk of easily burning them. Moreover, copper cookware is excellent at browning items and clean-up is a cinch thanks to household items like lemon juice that can be used to remove blemishes. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite summer recipes for you to prepare using your new copper pots and pans.

Salmon with mixed vegetables

You’ll need:

- 2  pounds of  salmon, with skin 

- Salt and pepper to taste

- 4 stems of asparagus 

- 1 yellow squash 

- 2 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce 

- 3 tablespoons of white wine 

Directions:

- Preheat your copper pan for 4 minutes on medium heat.

- Place salmon, skin side down, in the pan and cook for 5 minutes.

- Add the yellow squash and asparagus around the sides of the pan.

- Add sweet chili sauce and wine.

- Place the lid on the pan.

- Cook on medium heat until desired doneness or about 10 minutes.

- Serve.

Pesto green beans

You’ll need:

- 2  tablespoons of pesto 

- 0.25  cup s of red wine vinegar 

- 0.75  cups of extra virgin olive oil 

- 1  pound of French green beans  

- 1  pinch of salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

- Fill the copper pot half way with water and add 1 tablespoon of sea salt and bring the pot to a boil.

- Place the beans in the boiling water and cook until tender.

- In a bowl, add all the ingredients and mix.

- Place the warm beans into the bowl and toss.

- Serve

Making Jam in a Copper Pot

Using a copper pot to make jams has been the preferred professional method of creating delicious preservatives for centuries. The copper pot is the quintessential key in successfully making jams, and for two major reasons: heat and flavor.

The fundamental ingredient to making a delicious jam is heat. Copper pots are highly conductive, which therefore allows for precise control of the temperature. This means that making jams in your copper pots requires less heat, cutting down on cooking time and saving energy in the long run. This shorter time is perfect for those who need to produce large amounts of jams in short time frames.

Additionally, copper pots are excellent in preserving the food.  When using a copper pan or pot, the fruits included in your jams never lose their flavor or color. Unlike aluminum and other metals, copper does not alter the health benefits or texture of the food. They are perfect for food preservation.

It is important to mention that with any copper pot, make sure your fruit and sugar are combined before placing in the copper pot to eliminate the possibility of a reaction. Whether you’re a professional jam maker or looking to start a new hobby, you should add a copper pot to your collection!