AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.

added over 2 years ago

Tin lined, stainless or solid brass handle. The best quality you can afford. Treat it well and you will give it to your grandchildren when they're setting up their own kitchens. ;o)

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I'd go stainless because I'm lazy and wouldn't want to deal with the maintenance issues of tin. As I understand, when it comes to actually cooking, ie, heat transfer, there is little practical difference. Also, you can't really sear anything in a tin-lined pan.

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hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.

added over 2 years ago

I'd go stainless for inside and handle for the same reasons as the Fantastic Mr. Fox. I've had my set for 15 years, and it's still going strong!

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Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.

added over 2 years ago

I vote for stainless, but am agnostic on the handle choices -- either would be fine (though cast iron can get rusty). Have fun shopping -- you're going to love having a copper pan!

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BlissfulBaker added over 2 years ago

Copper novice here. I hope you don't mind if I add on a question....What is the allure of copper pans?

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Copper is the metal for conduction..heat, or cold...heat, obviously in this case.
Quality copper pots and pans provide the best heat transfer (from burner to pan to food) and the most even heating as well (no hot spots).

Copper in not inert and will react with food (like acids) so the interior is typically lined with either tin or stainless steel. The allure of tin is that it is the "original" non-stick cooking material; however, it requires "special" care for it to not get scratched, overly worn, or bubbled (from too much heat). Tin-lined copper pans eventually (like after a decade or so of light to medium use) need to be re-tinned, i.e., have the tin lining redone.

I believe the only thing that is acceptable to cook in an unlined copper pot is sugar (generally for candy making purposes)

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Copper core as good as all around copper?

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AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.

added over 2 years ago

There's a lot of useful info about copper pots here: http://www.brooklyncoppercookware...

This company was recommended by Merrill in one of the earliest foodpickle threads (one which I started, incidentally). Search "copper" in the foodpickle search box, above.

I stand by my preference for tin lining, even if it doesn't tolerate as much abuse as stainless steel. It's just a wonderful surface on which to work.

My copper saucepans and gratins, which are tin-lined, have not needed re-tinning, though I use them regularly and have for thirty years. I take good care of them, especially while using them over heat, treating them with the respect they deserve. My mother's are going strong after about fifty years. . . Just FYI . . . . ;o)

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pierino is a trusted source on General Cooking and Tough Love.

added over 2 years ago

I'm on "team stainless" because it doesn't need to be periodically retinned. BTW even though copper has superb conductivity the tinning can actually melt. To keep it shiny pick up some Copper-Glo.

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pauljoseph added over 2 years ago

Cookware

When acidic foods are cooked in unlined copper cookware, or in lined cookware where the lining has worn through, toxic amounts of copper can leech into the foods being cooked.[11]. This effect is exacerbated if the copper has corroded, creating reactive salts.[12] Many countries and states prohibit or restrict the sale of unlined copper cookware. http://wn.com/copper_toxicity...

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