5 Best Copper Cookware Sets of 2024, According to Experts
If you’re looking for the absolute best cooking performance, outfit your kitchen with a set of copper pans.
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Our Top Copper Cookware Picks
There’s no material that heats as evenly as copper. That’s why copper pans are the choice of high-end chefs who want their sole meunière to brown evenly and their demi-glace to simmer steadily. Plus, nothing communicates that a kitchen belongs to a passionate cook like a set of copper pots and pans. However, copper will set you back a pretty penny (especially compared to stainless steel cookware sets and nonstick cookware sets) — no pun intended. Here’s everything you should consider, before you decide to splurge on the best copper pans, as well as our top picks.
How We Picked
To make our recommendations, we incorporated our own extensive experience testing cookware with a thorough analysis of the category. We checked what other professional reviewers recommend, as well as what consumers report about their experiences using copper cookware. In making our selections, we kept in mind that cooks have various considerations including price, aesthetics, and convenience and aimed to include something for everyone’s taste and budget.
- Very even heating
- Flush rivets are easy to clean
- Pieces nest
- Expensive
Hestan is a very modern take on copper cookware. While a copper core gives it all the advantages of copper, it incorporates a lot of stainless steel to make it more convenient to use and care for, as well as more versatile. There’s an accent band of stainless steel below the rim that helps prevent dings and dents and a layer of stainless on the bottom that makes it easier to clean and safe for use on an induction cooktop. The interior is coated with stainless steel and the lids are stainless.
Flared lips make it easy to pour out soups and sauces without dribbling and a helper handle on the sauté pan gives a good grip if you’re bringing a blanquette de veau or pork chops with peppers to the table. CopperBond can be used in the oven up to 600°F so you can caramelize a skillet crème brulee under the broiler. All of the rivets are flush with the interior surface, reducing the amount of detail work involved in cleaning. This set includes a great assortment of pieces including a sauté pan for one-dish dinners that you want to bring right from the stove to the table and a stockpot for chowders and chilis. If you don’t plan on displaying your Hestan cookware on a rack, the pieces nest to take up less room in your cabinets.
- Exterior Copper with stainless steel bottom and trim
- Interior Finish Stainless steel
- Number of Pieces 10
- What's Included 8.5- and 11-inch skillets, 1.5- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, and 6-quart stockpot with lid
- Induction Safe Yes
- Dishwasher Safe No
- Reasonable price
- Even heating
- Doesn't include large skillet or stockpot
- Not induction or dishwasher safe
You can’t beat the price of the BergHOFF for a handsome collection of copper pots and pans with excellent heat distribution. However, when it comes to cooking evenly, a lot of the heavy lifting comes from the aluminum core. The interior, handles, and lids are all stainless steel. However, at this price, you don’t get a lot of oversized pieces so you may want to supplement with a large skillet or sauté pan and a stockpot. While this cookware can go in the oven to 400°F, it can’t be used on an induction cooktop or like virtually all copper cookware, in the dishwasher.
- Exterior Copper
- Interior Finish Stainless steel
- Number of Pieces 10
- What's Included 8- and 9.5-inch skillets, 1-, 2-, and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 5.75-quart Dutch oven with lid
- Induction Safe No
- Dishwasher Safe No
- Very even heating
- Classic design
- Nice assortment of pieces
- Not induction or dishwasher safe
French chefs have been using Mauviel since 1830. With its straight sides, copper lids, and cast-iron handles, this cookware has a timeless appeal. It’s the perfect set for serious cooks who want the performance and look of pro tools. A substantial layer of copper gives it excellent heat conduction. It’s only nod to the twenty-first century is that instead of a traditional tin lining, it has stainless steel cooking surfaces. If you like to cook salmon on the stovetop and then finish it off in the oven, you can safely pop a Mauviel skillet in the oven or under the broiler. These pots and pans are not induction compatible. Included is a nice selection of basic pieces, including a large skillet.
- Exterior Copper
- Interior Finish Stainless steel
- Number of Pieces 10
- What's Included 10 1/4- and 11 3/4-inch skillets, 2- and 3 ½-quart saucepans with lids, 3-quart sauté pan with lid and 5-quart stewpot with lid
- Induction Safe No
- Dishwasher Safe No
- Very even heating
- Tin lining is stick resistant
- Great assortment of pieces
- Not induction or dishwasher safe
- Will eventually need new tin lining
While the hammered surface of this line doesn’t affect its cooking performance, it sure enhances its appearance. You just can’t find a more beautiful set of cookware. In addition to the textured copper surface, these handcrafted pieces have brass-plated bronze handles and knobs; for a really special touch, the lid knobs are shaped like acorns surrounded with leaves. Also distinctive is the pot-belly shape of the saucepan, braiser, and stockpot, which helps to make these pieces particularly attractive for serving. For sure you’ll want to leave at least one piece on display on your stovetop or counter.
Unlike most copper cookware sold today, this Ruffoni set is lined with tin rather than stainless steel. On the positive side, food won’t stick to the tin surface so you’ll be able to use the skillet for crepes and omelets. However, eventually — and we’re talking years — the tin will wear away and you’ll need to have the cookware retinned. You can place these pots and pans in the oven up to 450°F.
- Exterior Copper
- Interior Finish Tin
- Number of Pieces 11
- What's Included 11-inch fry pan, 2 ½-quart saucepan with lid, 3 1/2-quart. chef's pan, 4 1/2-quart braiser with lid, 7 1/2-quart stockpot with lid, and 3 olivewood spatulas
- Induction Safe No
- Dishwasher Safe No
- Reasonably priced
- Induction safe
- Measuring marks in saucepans
- Not dishwasher safe
Viking Contemporary is one of the few collections of copper cookware that’s safe for use on an induction burner. We also like the fact that this set is relatively reasonably priced. Not only will it heat up on an induction burner, it will cook very evenly because of the solid disc of stainless steel on the bottom. While the layer of copper on the sidewalls will help conduct heat evenly throughout the pan, keep in mind that a good deal of the performance of this cookware can be attributed to the inner layer of aluminum.
The stainless-steel lids are slightly domed and there are measuring lines in the saucepan, sauté pan, and stockpot. A steamer insert is included for use with the saucepan. As these pieces are oven safe up to 600°F, you can use them to quickly brown off dishes like a skillet mac and cheese or a peach cobbler. All of the pieces are amply sized, giving you even more value for your money.
- Exterior Copper with stainless steel bottom
- Interior Finish Stainless steel
- Number of Pieces 9
- What's Included 10- and 12-inch frypans, 3.4-quart saucepan, 4.8 sauté pan, 8-quart Dutch oven, and steamer insert
- Induction Safe Yes
- Dishwasher Safe No
What to Consider Before You Buy Copper Cookware
Price
Copper cookware is expensive (like Rolex-of-the-kitchen expensive). And like a high-end watch, it’s incredibly accurate but not the only way to get the job done. When it comes to copper cookware it’s the way it looks hanging in the kitchen that’s often the motivation for buying it. However, if what’s most important to you is great cooking performance, you might consider buying a few pieces like a saucepan for Bearnaise or a sauté pan for coq au vin rather than splurging on an entire set at once.
Performance
Copper heats exceptionally evenly and is very responsive. It heats up and cools down quickly. When you’re using it, you don’t have to use high heat or preheat for very long. Remove a pot from the burner and cooking stops immediately, reducing the possibility that custard will curdle, sugar will burn, or a filet of fish will lose its tender, moist quality. However, a copper skillet might not be the best choice for pan-grilling a thick steak when you want to crank up the heat and the pan to stay red hot.
Material
You can’t cook directly in copper. Not only will it give whatever you’re cooking a metallic taste, it’ll build up in your body and make you sick. For that reason, the interior surface of virtually all copper cookware is lined with another material. Traditionally, it was plated with tin which also prevented food from sticking; but tin isn’t very durable. These days most copper pots and pans are lined with stainless steel.
There are a few exceptions to this rule: Jam pots are made of unlined copper as the high sugar content prevents fruit acids from interacting with the metal. Bakers love unlined copper mixing bowls for beating egg whites because they create the loftiest meringues.
In order to affect cooking, the amount of copper needs to be significant. A thin layer of copper or a copper-colored nonstick finish will give you the aesthetics but not the benefits.
How Do You Clean Copper Cookware?
There are two schools of thought when it comes to copper cookware: Some people like the burnished look of unpolished copper. For others, it’s all the about the gleaming finish on the pots and pan hanging over the stove in Michelin-star restaurants. Whether or not it’s polished won’t affect the cooking performance.
Regardless of your preference, you should avoid washing copper in the dishwasher and using steel wool, any abrasive pad or cleaner, and products formulated with bleach. If you love the patina copper develops from use, you can hand wash it just like any other kitchen utensil with dishwashing detergent and a soft sponge. On the other hand, if you want to keep your copper looking shiny, you’ll need to use one of the special copper cleaners on the market or a homemade paste of lemon juice and salt. To maintain the stainless-steel lining, we recommend Bar Keepers Friend.
