Cooking with the best cookware is ideal for a long-run experience. Displaying utensils on walls and on countertops that enhance the kitchen’s looks or cookware for easy release is one of the things we all want from cookware. To create the kitchen of your dreams, you should invest in a kitchen that works well and looks attractive. Apart from giving aesthetic pleasure, the pan should be the best to keep your family healthy.
Easy use and easy maintenance should also be your priority. Here we have two popular pan types – copper pan and Teflon. They both give an elegant touch to your home kitchen, while also making the repetitive task of cooking easier. To understand which one is better for your home kitchen, we have described some of the key differences and properties of each pan in this article.
Copper Pan versus Teflon – Overview
Maintenance of both the cookware is the most important and primary aspect which helps to differentiate between them. Teflon-coated cookware can be cleaned easily in the dishwasher, while copper pans can only wash manually. Although both cases are prone to bursting and damage, Teflon coated can still tolerate the pressure of a dishwasher while copper does not.
Copper pans or utensils are made of metallic copper, and they can help cook food easily and healthily. Unlike other materials available in the market, copper has various physical properties, which make copper pans and cookware highly demanded. The best part is that it has maximum heat dissipation capacity, which allows even cooking.
On the other hand, Teflon is a synthetic fluoropolymer that is a coating used in a variety of materials. This coat prevents food from sticking as it forms a non-stick layer at the base of the pan, thus allowing you to prepare fat-free foods. Metal-based cookware usually has a Teflon coat. According to experts and professional cooks, aluminum cookware with a Teflon coat is good due to its durability and lightweight structure.
Copper pan versus Teflon – A comprehensive guide
About Copper
Copper utensils have long been used in most home-based kitchens, as well as restaurant kitchens. The easy-to-cook properties, and the health benefits they provide, make copper cookware one of the most renowned and most consistent. Pots or pans made of copper will enhance the look of the kitchen as they are aesthetically pleasing. You are advised to wash your copper utensils manually instead of placing them in the dishwasher. Also, you need to dry it immediately as watermarks may appear on the base.
In addition, copper reacts with the environment, forming a patina, a brown or green coating on the surface of the copper. This can be eliminated if you use special cleaning methods. As such, copper spreads heat more evenly across the base. This quality of cookware helps in cooking food in less time. The best part about heat quality is that the pot can tolerate high temperatures, while some cookware under the same material can also be used in the oven.
The characteristics and properties of copper make copper cookware versatile, but remember that it is not compatible with induction stoves. The other major drawback is that copper vessels are prone to breaking when dropped. Because copper is so reactive, it can age less than its Teflon counterparts. In addition to not being dishwasher safe, copper is expensive as well.
About Teflon
Teflon, simply, is a chemical used to coat the inside of cookware. Also called PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene, it is a fine compound commonly used in the clothing and electrical sectors. The primary role of the Teflon coat is to make cookware non-stick while leaving food without added fat will be easier to handle. The non-stick coating minimizes the need for butter or oil thus you will not compromise on the healthy factor by reducing the amount of oil.
Since Teflon helps make cookware non-stick, the food item doesn’t stick to the bottom. The best part is that it can be easily washed either by hand or in the dishwasher. You need to dry it immediately or use it after washing for cooking purposes.
As compared to copper cookware, Teflon cookware lags in terms of upkeep and heat transfer. Only a few Teflon cookware can tolerate up to 350 degrees temperature while all Teflon pots is lasts long and durable. One major concern with Teflon is being chipped out while some use it. It sometimes gets into your food and might break.
Copper pan versus Teflon pan – Parameters to differentiate
- Durability
Teflon and copper cookware are far different in terms of durability. Copper-based cookware lasts long but can break with harsh use, low maintenance, and improper cleaning. Teflon, on the other hand, is also durable but can leave the coat chipping as it dries.
- Aesthetic Appearance
Copper pots and pans look attractive, but Teflon pots have no brightness and color factors that indicate their downside.
- Weight
Teflon is an excellent heat conductor but is light weighted. Copper cookware on the other hand is also an incredible heat transmitter, as well as heavy to hold. When you cook in a copper pot, you may have trouble moving it from the oven to the induction stovetop or directly from the oven to the tabletop.
- Other features
Copper pans maintain the temperature while eating, as well as cool down quickly, while Teflon pans cool dishes as well as food. If you want the food to stay hot until serving, go for a copper vessel, copper forms patina but with Teflon, there are no such issues.
Bottom line
Spending on cookware is a difficult task because of the wide variety of choices. The type of pot/pan depends on two factors- budget and type of kitchen. Speaking of copper utensils, copper utensils are not conductive, and if you want to buy damage-free cookware this will be a great option. Copper is always ahead of any non-stick cookware. Moreover, it is solely up to you either choose copper cookware or Teflon cookware.
Hi, my name is Ashley Robinson. I’m a food blogger and a part time chef in Food & Drink Junction, Denver. With my blog I’m sharing information & tutorials about different kinds of cooking pans.
