Copper pans are of great use in kitchen as they are amazingly better in conducting heat than any other metals and hence they save energy and keep the food warm for long hours. They also look very traditional and serve as decorative in your kitchen. However, they look good only if they are clean. Copper reacts naturally to oxygen leaving stains on pans. It is very easy to get back that shine on a copper pan. Just follow the instructions below that can help you clean copper containers easily at home.
Complexity Level: Easy
Time Required: 20-30 minutes
Estimated Cost: $1-$4
Resources Required
1. Vinegar and salt
2. Baking soda
3. Lemon juice
4. Ketchup
5. Copper cleaner
6. Copper pot
7. Flour
8. Scrubber
9. Dish washing soap
Instructions
1. Opt for material available at home
To clean your copper pan you do not need to invest big, you can use material available in your kitchen. You can use salt to clean your pan. It is not necessary that you will always have a lemon, vinegar, ketchup available in your kitchen. Choosing the material available at home is better and it will save on some pennies.
2. For best action use lemon with salt
Acid works wonders on a copper containers. You might be aware of citric acid in lemon. Cut a lemon in two parts and pour a few drops of lemon on salt. Rubbing the mixture together on the copper vessel will help in removing the stains from the vessel. This solution should be rubbed preferably in one direction to get the best result. It will leave your copper vessel stainless and add shine to it. Just before you finish wash the copper vessel with soap water and dry it with a dry cotton cloth.
3. You can make a homemade paste
Depending on the material available at home you can make a cleansing paste to clean your copper pan. You can make the following paste with the available materials
1. Mix lemon with cream of tart or baking soda
2. Incase lemon is not available you can use vinegar and mix it with baking soda
Make sure that you use appropriate amount of lemon or vinegar to make the paste and not a lot of it, as a lot of citric acid can also damage your copper pan. The quantity of lemon and vinegar should just be enough to make the paste. Use a rag or a cloth or a sponge or a scrub pad to rub the surface of your copper pan till the surface is stainless and shining clean. Before you wipe the pan with a clean dry cloth make sure you wash it with clean water to wash the past off.
4. You can also use ketchup
Depending on the availability of ketchup, you can also use it to clean your copper vessel. All you need to do is take sufficient amount of ketchup on a rag or a cloth and rub it onto the surface of your copper pan till it is clean. Donât forget to clean the rag or the cloth with a detergent or soap to wash off the ketchup. Finally, you can wipe the ketchup from the copper vessel with a clean dry cloth.
Quick Tips
1. Make sure you put water or fat in the copper pan before placing it on heat to protect it from getting spoilt.
2. You can keep your pan stainless by avoiding stern cleaning after every use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long after cleaning copper pans are they safe to use?
A: The materials used to clean your copper pans are absolutely safe and don’t produce any reactions. But to take a safer side, do clean the vessel with soap water before you dry it. Hence, you can use the copper pan immediately after you clean it.
Things To Watch Out For
1. Donât forget to use rubber gloves while using vinegar to clean your copper pan.
2. Following the manual given by the manufacturer of the pot will be of great use to protect your copper pan.
