Many amateur chefs dream of revealing the secrets of famous chefs. But it happens that the unusual taste of the cooked dish depends not only on the correctly selected ingredients and all kinds of spices, but on the useful qualities of the dishes used. In the kitchen of an expensive restaurant, where professionals work, and an experienced housewife will always find copper utensils.
The benefits and harms it renders to human health must be taken into account before purchasing these items of kitchen utensils.
Advantages of copper utensils
The most important characteristic of copper utensils should be considered its high thermal conductivity, which is 10 times higher than that of a steel or aluminum container. This contributes to an even distribution of heat over the entire surface, which greatly speeds up the process of cooking, without reducing its taste. It is believed that a particularly tasty jam or piquant sauce is obtained if cooked in copper dishes.
By reducing the time for heat treatment of food, its beneficial substances are preserved.
Light weight and durability are also indisputable advantages of copper utensils. The benefits and harms that copper can bring to human health deserve special attention.
Useful properties of copper utensils
For many centuries, copper has been used by people. Properties, disadvantages, and how to care for pots and pans made of copper - all this has long been known.
One of the most important beneficial properties of copper utensils should be called its antibacterial effect. Copper is able to fight a number of fungi and bacteria, preventing them from getting into food. In the old days, water was stored in copper containers to disinfect it. American scientists have experimentally proven that copper successfully copes with strains of Salmonella and Escherichia coli. Food prepared in copper dishes is disinfected, preventing the appearance of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Not without reason that copper has long been used in folk medicine for the treatment of many diseases: with intoxication of the body, convulsions, ulcers, hemorrhoids, etc.
Harm of copper utensils
In addition to the positive properties that copper possesses, scientists have discovered a number of negative factors that can harm health or adversely affect the quality of the products cooked in such dishes:
- Ascorbic acid, which is found in fruits and berries, is destroyed by the aggressive action of copper.
- When products are stored in copper dishes, vitamins are lost and polyunsaturated fatty acids are oxidized, which can lead to cancer.
- Pot damage is especially serious if it is in a humid environment. High humidity causes oxidation of copper, this is manifested in the form of green plaque. When interacting with food acids during heating, substances that are especially harmful to the body are produced. Therefore, when such a coating appears on the dishes, it must be carefully removed by wiping the surface with table salt dipped in vinegar.
Copper coating
With products with high acidity, copper dishes interact negatively. In order to prevent oxidation and make cooking safe, inside the copper tank is usually coated with special alloys of tin, iron or nickel. When such a coating is wiped - the dishes should be changed. When cooking in a copper dish, it is best to use a wooden spatula so as not to scratch the inside.
Care for copper cookware
Copper utensils need more care than any other. It must be carefully polished periodically to avoid plaque, to observe storage conditions - such dishes do not tolerate high humidity. This is the number one enemy for copper. It is not recommended to wash copper items in the dishwasher, since using strong detergents can damage them, significantly reducing their service life. For the same reason, do not use detergents containing bleach for cleaning. For washing you need to use a soft cloth or sponge without an abrasive layer, so as not to damage the protective layer on the inner surface.
There are various gels and powders with which copper dishes are easily cleaned. The benefits and harms of such products must be taken into account when used for dishes with or without a protective layer. For cleaning items with a coating, special compositions are used that are not able to damage the surface. Such products can be applied when washing dishes, as well as polishing them already washed objects to give shine.
For cleaning and polishing copper products, you can use home remedies: kerosene, ammonia, vinegar, chalk, etc. It is important to thoroughly wipe the entire surface dry after cleaning.
Copper dishes can become a real decoration of the kitchen for many years. The benefits and harms of copper, of course, must be taken into account. Nevertheless, this metal is not only beautiful, but also durable, which allows you to transfer such dishes from generation to generation as a family heirloom. And only on the proper care will depend on whether copper utensils are harmful or not.