• All Copper drinkware are not made equal.
• Beware of adulterated copper
• How to choose your copper drinkware

Ever since the world has woken up to the benefits of copper, especially in these days of COVID-19, the demand for copper products like Copper Cup and bottles have gone up. The fact that the virus cannot live on copper surfaces for long and also that drinking water stored in copper drinkware builds immunity are influential factors driving demand.

All copper drinkware are not made equal

No, it certainly is not. Cashing in on people’s desire to buy, different brands have come up with their offerings, but not all of them are trustworthy as they don’t use high-quality copper, and the purity is questionable. There are many unscrupulous sellers out to make a quick buck with substandard or even worse spurious products.

Dangers of adulterated copper drinkware 

Some unscrupulous manufacturers adulterate copper with zinc or lead. Lead can be quite toxic to the body. What is more alarming is that when the quantity of lead in the body goes beyond a specific limit, this can cause cancer and can even affect the reproductive system. The harm from such adulteration has far-reaching consequences.

How do I choose the right kind of copper drinkware then?

Choosing the right kind of copper drinkware is about doing a bit of research. Look at the cost. Pure copper does not come cheap. So, if someone is selling a copper utensil at a throwaway price or really cheap, steer clear of it. The product is not going to be up to the mark. The seller, you can be sure, is just out to make money without giving two hoots about quality.

• Copper is heavy – Check the weight. Copper drinkware that feels light will not pass the test of purity. Real copper is heavy.
• Certificate of Purity – Find out if the brand has any kind of certification available, this is a great way to ascertain the purity of copper in the product. When a trusted body has certified the brand, you can be sure.
• Real Copper Darkens – If copper retains its color, can I assume that this is pure? On the contrary, this is not how it should be. Lining or Lacquering is a process that the copper is subjected to prevent it from darkening. This process will keep it shiny but will not serve the purpose since the water will never come into direct contact with the copper.
• Copper is not cheap – Unless adulterated, copper is not cheap. As of date, the price of raw copper is Rs 450 /kg. If you consider molding, labor, transportation, packaging, engraving, and shipping, the price would be 400% per kg. That is without taxes.

Why choose Vriksha copperware?

We are very confident about the quality of our product and we’ll tell you why. We source copper from reputed sources and this high-quality copper in our products comes with trustworthy certification. The NABL National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories certifies that in copperware the composition should not be less than 97% Copper. Vriksha has crossed this test with flying colors and has been certified to have close to 99% copper.

Weight, as we had already mentioned is another good way to gauge the quality of copper drinkware. Here’s the comparison. While the average copper cup available weighs 62 grams, a Vriksha homeware cup weighs 140 grams.

Vriksha’s copperware will tarnish as no coating has been applied, just like the Statue of Liberty. This, however, ensures that you get the complete benefits of water stored in copper drinkware. Benefits that improve your health by building immunity and enriching your life. Why take a chance with other products? Choose Vriksha Homeware, your friend for life.

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Guide to Choosing the Best Cookware Material

Cookware Material Guide

Benefits of Copper Cookware

Copper is a beautiful element that creates beautiful, effective cookware. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, a quality that allows it to cook quickly and more evenly than other types of cookware. Hot spots are virtually non-existent in copper cookware, and you're able to reach specific heat temperatures almost instantly. Copper reacts quickly to changes in temperature, giving the chef greater control over what they're preparing. It's also a lightweight material, which makes preparing any dish simpler.  Restaurant chefs and home cooks alike enjoy using copper pots and pans to cook a variety of items, from delicate sauces to robust roasts.

How to Choose a Copper Pot or Pan

Choosing the copper cookware that's right for you doesn't have to be challenging! When choosing copper cookware, it's important to consider:

Thickness. Pay close attention to the weight of the copper and how thick the copper portion actually is. It's best to look for copper that is at least 2mm thick or thicker. Generally, this thickness performs the best.

Appearance (Hammered vs. Smooth). You can find copper cookware with smooth and hammered finishes. Pots and pans with a smooth finish are more common, but the appearance of the copper pot or pan you choose isn't an indicator of quality. It's simply dependent on your personal preference!

Lining (Tin vs. Stainless). Copper cookware comes in a variety of configurations:  bare, tinned, and stainless steel lined.

• Bare copper is the most inexpensive and an excellent conductor of heat, but overexposure to too much copper can be hazardous to your recipes (and your health).
• Tin lined copper cookware provides you with the excellent heat conduction you expect from copper, but without the risk that comes with exposure to too much copper. The tin coating helps prevent the copper from leeching into your food and ultimately, your gut.
• Stainless steel lined copper cookware is by far the most popular. Because of the interior, you have the freedom to cook with slightly higher temperatures than you could with tin lined products. Stainless steel doesn't rust or tarnish, making it useful in professional kitchens and home settings. This model is easy to clean, too!

Cast Iron vs Copper

When considering buying a copper pot or pan, many people also consider purchasing cast iron. They’re two very different types of cookware, each with their own set of pros and cons:

Copper Pros & Cons

Pros of Copper

• Copper cookware distributes heat evenly and quickly, eliminating pesky hot spots. It cooks down quickly, too.
• Copper cookware is great for a variety of dishes, from temperamental dishes like risotto to braising beef.
• Copper cookware lasts a long time when well taken care of.
• Copper is lightweight, making the transfer of these pots and pans simple.
• Copper cookware looks beautiful when it's not in use!
• Copper cookware is easy to clean - simply use dish soap and warm water.

Cons of Copper

• Copper needs to be polished frequently to maintain that appealing shine.
• For copper cookware lined with tin, you'll need it re-tinned every 15-20 years.

Cast Iron Pros & Cons

Pros of Cast Iron

• Heat loves cast iron. Once heated, cast iron maintains heat for a long time.
• You won't find hot spots.
• Excellent for browning, deep frying, and searing.
• Typically, cast iron isn't chemically treated, which means it won't be imparting anything onto the food that you're cooking.
• Cast iron is affordable.

Cons of Cast Iron

• Cast iron can take a long time to heat up.
• They can be extremely heavy, making them difficult to clean.
• Certain foods, particularly acidic items like fruit or tomatoes, can damage cast iron.

Should you use enameled cast iron?

Enamel coated cast iron is much easier to clean than traditional cast iron models. This cookware can be found in a variety of colors, making it especially appealing to homeowners.

Enamel coated cast iron cookware offers a variety of benefits to the chef, the most important being the variety of foods you can cook. Untreated cast iron can react differently to food depending on what you're cooking. Certain dishes may become discolored in a cast iron pan while others may lose some of their flavor. The enamel coating helps prevent these problems. In addition to making cast iron safer to use, an enamel coating can:

• Provide a non-stick surface that makes cooking simpler.
• Give your cast iron a longer life. The coating helps keep the cast iron in tact and last for years to come.
• Allow your cast iron to reach higher temperatures and maintain that heat for longer periods of time.

Why Choose Stainless Steel Cookware?

Stainless steel is an affordable cookware option found in homes and restaurants all over the globe. There are a variety of benefits that stainless steel cookware offers, including:

• Stainless steel pots and pans are heavier, giving them more balance on a cooktop. They also feature sturdier handles, which makes it easier to move heavy foods like roasts.
• Stainless steel cookware holds heat well, making it useful for dishes that have a long cook time.
• You can cook almost anything in a stainless steel pot of pan because of their non-reactive surface.

What is induction cooking?

Induction cooking uses the transfer of magnetic energy to cook food instead of a flame or electric element. This allows for faster cook times and greater temperature control. It's a revolutionary way of cooking that has become increasingly popular in restaurants and home kitchens.

Induction cooking helps conserve energy. Using an induction cooking method, 90% of the energy produced is used to do the cooking. It provides a more powerful, effective cook, which means you can prepare a meal in a fraction of the time. Induction cooking is also extremely safe. The cooking surface never heats, and the dangers present around an open flame or electric heating elements are non-existent. The lack of heat present on the cooking surface also makes it easier to clean, as overflows or spills cannot cook to the surface.

What is induction compatible cookware?

Not all types of cookware can be used on induction cooktops. When you're purchasing cookware, it's important to look for a label that says "induction safe."

Because the induction technology sources power from magnets, the cookware being used must be magnetic. Similarly, it's important that the cookware have a flat bottom. This allows the heat to conduct. Cookware made from aluminum, copper, or glass won't work on an induction surface.

Induction safe cookware must be made of a magnetic material, like cast iron or stainless steel. The Mauviel M'cooks stainless series of pots and pans work on induction cooktops because they are magnetic.

Not sure if your cookware is magnetic? Try sticking a magnet to it! If the magnet sticks, you can use the cookware on an induction cooktop.