Copper Pots Safety

Copper is the best quality cookware for even heat distribution.

Copper pots and pans are excellent conductors of heat and warm up evenly, which is important when creating food that must be prepared at specific temperatures. The safety risks of copper depend largely upon the quality of the cookware.

Benefits of Copper

Copper is not only safe in small amounts, but it is necessary to human health. The Copper.org website indicates that it combines with proteins to create enzymes that help with bodily functions. Many foods such as cereals, fish and nuts contain at least half of the necessary daily intake for health.

Warning

According to the Cookware Sets Reviews website, the body needs small amounts of copper, but large amounts can be a health hazard. Charles Kokoski from the Food and Drug Administration warns that excessive copper leaching from unlined copper pans causes vomiting and diarrhea. He recommends avoiding direct contact between copper products and food.

Prevention/Solution

Densie Webb from the New York Times writes that many inexpensive copper pans are unlined and use copper as the cooking surface, while the higher quality brands use a stainless steel or nickel lining on the inside of the pan. Avoid potential health risks by purchasing only high-quality lined copper items.

References

• New York Times: Eating Well
• Copper.org: Copper in Human Health
• Cookware Sets Reviews: Healthy Cookware