434888 Sat Aug 25 10:44:40 -0700 2007 18 41 Cookware 0 2880683 So I am trying to make a decision with my head and not my heart.... have a few questions before I register for copper or stainless steel? Bear with me by the way, I know Fred and Wilma just posted a similar topic, but my concerns are the exact opposite of theirs! I am a lover of food with beginner skills. I adore the look of copper and the idea of having it forever. I have done research on the difference between the metals and have come to the conclusion that copper is the best way to go... however price and care are concerns for me. I am just trying to get my mind around just how high maintenence Mauviel is? How high maintenance is the tin lining? Specifics here please... For someone who is not a professional cook, is it more reasonable to go with the competant and affordable All Clad? Perhaps I should go with a Mauviel sautee pan and all rest All Clad? I am a vegetarian so I cook a lot of grains, tofu, veggies. Thanks! Sat Aug 25 10:44:40 -0700 2007 103348 nyc44 1 2880951 Mauviel also makes stainless-steel lined pans. I have several of these, they are the only pans I use on a regular basis. No maintenance required. Sat Aug 25 13:06:33 -0700 2007 2880683 74983 obstructionist 2 2881015 very cool. are they dishwasher safe? Sat Aug 25 13:35:39 -0700 2007 2880951 103348 nyc44 3 2881497 Copper cookware in a dishwasher is usually a big no-no. Corrosion is your enemy... Take a look at http://www.falkculinair.com/ -- they're the inventors of the copper/stainless laminated bi-metal also used by Mauviel and Bourgeat, and Falk's brushed exterior is easier to maintain than the polished exteriors of the latter... http://tinyurl.com/ysvw6k . . Sat Aug 25 17:19:35 -0700 2007 2881015 10606 Joe Blowe 4 2888184 OT: is this the same Joe Blowe who took on findabargin on the GW/THS Cookware forum? If yes, waving hi (hint: I'm under a different user name there with a flaming Danby)! Mon Aug 27 22:29:13 -0700 2007 2881497 114951 leetmom7 5 2888970 Jessy, are you insinuating my real name is not Joe Blowe?! ;-) http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:Qzs4rzFDF2sJ:ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cookware/msg0604003124467.html%3F1+findabargin+%22found+a+bargin%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Tue Aug 28 08:32:57 -0700 2007 2888184 10606 Joe Blowe 6 2891120 ROFL Joe you are SO BUSTED now that I know you are in LA you are going to be dragged to one of the Cooking Forum get-togethers bwahahaa Tue Aug 28 18:46:37 -0700 2007 2888970 114951 leetmom7 4 2888563 This is true, but there is no reason to use the dishwasher -- I never do. The insides are easy to clean by hand, and I don't care how well-used the outsides look. Tue Aug 28 06:39:08 -0700 2007 2881497 74983 obstructionist 1 2881101 Two considerations: -- Tin eventuallly wear off, requiring re-tinning. -- It will take elbow grease to keep copper as shiny as it is in those magazine photos. I have a stainless steel-lined copper pan myself, and don't worry about rthe appearance. Sat Aug 25 14:08:24 -0700 2007 2880683 55316 mpalmer6c 1 2883902 I agree with going stainless steel versus tin lined copper. Try also to get iron handles rather than brass, since brass gets too hot while cooking. If you don't have the option to get iron handles at the store at which you will be registering, try looking on-line. Bridge Kitchenware offers brass and iron handles, and both tin and stainless steel lined, so you need to be really specific or you will end up with the wrong item. If you want to display your copper, you are going to have to handwash and occasionally polish the outsides. One round in the dishwasher will just ruin the finish. I suggest also taking a look at Falk -- they have their own website. Best copper out there, IMO. You can see them in use on Tyler Florence's show. Sun Aug 26 18:08:35 -0700 2007 2880683 87837 RGC1982 2 2894739 If you get them with iron handles, you really can't put them in a dishwasher! Wed Aug 29 18:04:20 -0700 2007 2883902 10133 wally 3 2894761 You are not supposed to put any copper in the dishwasher if you want to keep the finish, regardless of what kind of handles. I wanted to make sure that the OP was aware that brass handles, as nice as they look on copper pots, get hot. I've had the blisters to provie it. You can put most any kind of stainless steel in the dishwasher -- perhaps you thought I was referring to SS? Wed Aug 29 18:10:25 -0700 2007 2894739 87837 RGC1982 2 2896143 Agree. The only downside to Falk is that it is really heavy. My wife has a hard time with it even when empty. But it is the best IMO. I also have about 8 pieces of legion cookware. My 30 year old pans are much heavier that the new stuff, but it is still quality stuff. They don't sell through stores. It used to be professional ware only, now you can check their website. Also, I have two tinned cooper pieces. Had to take the last one with me to Oakland from NYC on a business trip to get it redone. DON'T buy cooper with tin lining, and stay away from brass handles, and anything laquered. IMO buy one good 10" saute pan, a generic set, and buy a good piece every year or two, and throw out the cheap stuff as you go. Thu Aug 30 08:10:04 -0700 2007 2883902 123352 sam61 1 2888243 I've been cooking with All Clad for many years, but I've got to say - my heavy new copper saute pans, from Mazzetti in Montepulciano, cook like nothing I've ever owned: even heat, perfect browning, almost surreally good sauteed vegetables. I'm a recent convert, and I haven't yet experienced the pain of retinning, but I've been wondering why I waited so long. Mon Aug 27 23:36:43 -0700 2007 2880683 10702 condiment 1 2889087 Make sure you stock up on Bar Keepers friend no matter which way you go. I don't have non-stick, so it is the best thing for cleaning my All Clad. I also considered copper, but chose against it for practicality. But I will surely someday switch to copper for all the reasons listed. Hopefully you are planning on displaying if you get copper-it is so beautiful! Tue Aug 28 09:02:04 -0700 2007 2880683 114831 gottasay 1 2894067 I've read that unlined copper is very toxic unless you are cooking sugar or syrup in there. Great for candy making, but poisonous if you want to make a stew with tomato sauce as a base. Is this true? Wed Aug 29 14:25:19 -0700 2007 2892441 87837 RGC1982 2 2894281 Where did you hear that? Cooks have been using unlined copper mixing bowls for centuries to whip eggs. Wed Aug 29 15:25:42 -0700 2007 2894067 74983 obstructionist 3 2894754 Whipping egg whites is fine. It is cooking with unlined copper that seems to be the problem if the food reacts with the copper. Candy making seems to have no effect, and the unlined copper stabilizes egg whites and meringues, agreed, but I've read several times that cooking certain foods in unlined copper can be bad -- especially acidic foods. There are several threads right here on Chowhound. Wed Aug 29 18:08:04 -0700 2007 2894281 87837 RGC1982 1 2892467 Which line of All-Clad cookware were you thinking about? I'd say no to the copp-r-chef and the copper-core line. Wed Aug 29 08:38:01 -0700 2007 2880683 11745 Cary