Copper cookware, often termed the luxurious sports car of the culinary world, is fast, strikingly gorgeous, and isn’t a dime a dozen. But you will seldom find a 100% copper utensil or even real copper utensils.
Copper utensils with real copper come in three types.
- Bare copper
- Tinned Copper utensils
- Multi-layered or cladded copper utensils.
And then there are copper-like utensils which people often mistake as real copper utensils. These have a copper-like coating combined with a non-stick coating such as Teflon or Ceramics.
Such variation often leads to confusion about their oven safety. And when you are cooking recipes starting on the stove and require a finish-off in the oven, you’d ask yourself about the oven safety of copper cookware. Before discussing further details, we suggest you to check our recommendations for the best oven safe frying pans and the best copper non-stick pans.
In This Article
Are Copper Pans Oven Safe? Everything You Need to Know
The short answer is yes. Copper pans are oven-safe. The maximum oven temperature endurance depends on the brand and manufacturer of copper cookware.
The oven-safe temperature range lies somewhere between 400 to 600° F. However, copper cookware with bakelite handles may have a limited temperature endurance, or they may not even be considered safe for ovens.
Difference Between Real Copper Pans and Coated Copper Cookware?
If you are new to the culinary world and cookware, you might find it hard to distinguish between real copper and coated copper cookware. Both are shiny, flashy, and have similar color, and you can even find hammered construction in both.
But the main distinguishing feature is the price point. Real copper pans feel like an investment, and you won’t find anything below $100. Another factor is that coated copper cookware has a non-stick Teflon or Ceramics coating. Gotham steel, Copper Chef, and Michelangelo are non-stick copper cookware.
Oven-safe Temperatures of Copper Pans
Let’s have a look at some of the copper cookware brands and their oven-safe temperature to give you an idea of what kind of cookware is best-fitted for you if you frequently finish your recipes in the oven.
Multi-layered Real Copper Cookware Oven-safe Temperature
First, we will look at multi-layered copper cookware with stainless steel and aluminum layers.
| BRAND | Construction | Oven-Safe Temperature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hestan – CopperBond Collection |
5 layered construction with 100% copper base combined with stainless steel |
600° F | CHECK PRICE |
| All-Clad 6000-7 SS | 5-ply construction with aluminum, stainless steel and copper core |
600° F |
CHECK PRICE |
| Lagostina Martellata |
Three-layered construction with hammered copper and 2 layers of stainless steel |
500° F | CHECK PRICE |
| M’Heritage Copper M150S |
90% copper and 18/10 stainless steel |
500° F |
CHECK PRICE |
| Cuisinart – CTPP-8 |
Tri-ply construction with stainless steel, aluminum and copper exterior. |
500° F |
CHECK PRICE |
Non-Stick Copper Cookware Oven-Safe Temperature
They are just red copper pans with non-stick coating and have lower oven-safe temperatures. Let’s have a look at their oven-safe temperatures.
| Brand | Construction | Oven-Safe Temperature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelangelo |
Ceramic with titanium infusion non-stick coating |
450° F | CHECK PRICE |
| Gotham Steel Hammered | Ti-cerama coating |
500° F |
CHECK PRICE |
| Copper Chef |
5-layered construction ceramic non-stick coating with induction compatible plate |
850° F but lids are 500° F oven safe | CHECK PRICE |
| Gotham Steel Copper Cast |
Three-layered non-stick coating with diamond infusion |
500° F |
CHECK PRICE |
Safety Precautions for Using Copper Pans in Oven
Handles
Copper cookware’s thermal conductivity or ability to transfer heat is 3000 times better than stainless steel. Due to this, the pans get hot extremely fast. And since most of the copper pans are coupled with stainless steel handles, stainless steel handles don’t have the stay cool property.
Even with the hollow construction of handles to disperse heat, you will have to use mittens to take out the pan from the oven to avoid scorching your fingers.
Apart from that, silicone and rubber can’t withstand oven heat and start melting from 340° F to 450° F. So, you will have to be careful while putting your copper cookware with silicone or rubber sheath.
Copper Pan Lids
Another factor that must be weighed before using the copper pan is the lid’s material, especially if you want to cover the pan with a lid. Lids are usually made of two materials.
- Glass
- Metal
Glass lids have comparatively less temperature endurance limit, and exceeding the temperature can cause the lid to shatter into pieces. Also, ensure that the lid doesn’t have any rubberized material on its side or top handles.
The best way is to check the manufacturer manual for the oven-safe temperature of glass lids.
Metal lids are more resistant to heat, and you can safely use metal lids in the oven.
Warping
Copper pans are more prone to warping at high temperatures or sudden change in temperatures known as “thermal shock,” which can deform the copper cookware’s shape. It can adversely affect the heat conductivity of copper cookware.
One way to avoid this is to let the cookware cool down before washing it under the tap.
Food Burning
Precise temperature control is often tricky in copper cookware. And the food can burn on broiler settings or even when you are cooking food on the stove if you don’t pay heed to the rising temperature.
Copper Cookware and Acidic Food
Bare copper cookware reacts with acidic foods such as citrus, tomato, lemon, and vinegar, just like aluminum cookware reacts with acidic food. When acidic food reacts with copper, the metal leaches into the food. You can’t exceed tolerable copper intake as accumulated copper leaching in the body can cause health issues.
To make aluminum cookware safe for acidic food, a hard anodization process is used. Likewise, copper cookware with multiple layers such as aluminum and stainless steel makes it completely harmless because the food doesn’t come in contact with bare copper metal, and you can benefit from the heat conductivity of the copper metal too.
Copper Pan Tarnishing
Using copper pans daily in the oven for baking or finishing off the recipe soon tarnishes the copper cookware. In fact, regardless of their usage, copper pans need polishing every six months to retain their shine and properties.
Are Copper Pans Broiler Safe?
Yes, copper pans are broiler safe. But non-stick copper-like pans and tinned copper pans aren’t broilers safe.
Since the copper pans are known for superior heat conductivity and responsiveness than any other material such as aluminum, cast iron, or ceramic, the pans get hot extremely fast. And any momentary distraction or leaving the food on the broiler unattended can result in burnt food and scorched pans.
Wrapping Up!
Copper pans are definitely oven-safe. But you need to find their oven-safe temperature as mentioned by the manufacturer and the type of copper cookware you intend to buy (For example, multi-layered, bare copper pans or non-stick copper cookware). And if you keep a check on the rising temperature, you can avoid your delicious food from burning.
