What is the fascination with Copper Chef?

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

I've seen the infomercials. I've seen it on Q repeatedly. I was tempted.

Then, at TJ Maxx this weekend, and saw a piece in person. What the heck is the fascination with this stuff?

It was incredibly thin, another post here on these forums was discussing all the 'don'ts' or 'shouldn'ts' that come in the instructions, and after seeing it in person and reading that post, I have lost all interest.

For those that have any pieces, does it really cook that much better than other non stick (especially high end pieces/brands)? I know the clean up can't be any better than the much thicker and heavier Calphalon skillets I picked up at TJ Maxx. I love those.

Not being a smart alec here, but what am I missing with this stuff?

Bigbear52 · ‎03-12-2014

@Mominohio wrote:
I've seen the infomercials. I've seen it on Q repeatedly. I was tempted.

Then, at TJ Maxx this weekend, and saw a piece in person. What the heck is the fascination with this stuff?

It was incredibly thin, another post here on these forums was discussing all the 'don'ts' or 'shouldn'ts' that come in the instructions, and after seeing it in person and reading that post, I have lost all interest.

For those that have any pieces, does it really cook that much better than other non stick (especially high end pieces/brands)? I know the clean up can't be any better than the much thicker and heavier Calphalon skillets I picked up at TJ Maxx. I love those.

Not being a smart alec here, but what am I missing with this stuff?
I don't know, I'm with ya there. it's everywhere now though, different similar brands, copy cat brands. Gotham Steel has similar items. I also can't understand why people would buy this from home shopping networks and go through the hassle of having to return ship it if you weren't satisfied with it. Having said that, Saturday I picked up the Gotham Steel version of Copper Chef's crisper tray. But, the thing is, if i don't like it or it doesn't perform the way they claim, I can simply return it to the store I bought it. I saw today QVC was selling a 2 pack of the Copper Chef ones

software · ‎06-08-2016

I burn everything and I got tired of burning up good pots & pans even the no -stick type. And I don't want just any non-stick, I want something that is not harmful to the air or food. I have pets and sometimes grandkids.

I found a 10" with a glass lid at a local retailer for $20, what the heck.

I like to make homemade banana pudding from scratch and unless I use a double boiler I'll burn it. So I tried it in the copper pan and it worked. It didn't burn and I didn't have to pull out the double boiler.

I have Calphalon skillets which I hate. It looks like cast iron but it's not and even though I follow the instructions carefully, everything I made in it sticks.

As far as all the do's and don't's, to me it's just something the lawyers write up to keep the manufacturing from getting tons of complaints and claims for refunds for non-performance. I take good care of everything I own. Whether it's a pan or my flatware or clothes or jewely. I'm not the type to be rough with stuff then blame the vendor for my problems.

I've also cooked other item in the copper pan. It did a great job with soft scrambled eggs. Cooks great and cleans up like a dream. I was surprised it's so light weight but I'm glad. I don't have much strength in my wrists anymore. I don't feel like I have to wrestle it.

Now with all that said, if you are a decent cook, happy with what you currently use, don't even bother. It's not magic but it works for me.

@Mominohio

GenXmuse · ‎05-15-2016

I like mine. It was a Christmas gift and I was not excited about using it but finally got it out of the box and it's wonderful. Clean up is a snap, I use the steamer tray a lot and the knives are very good quality. I wish it were bigger though.

I burned the heck out of my first attempt at making roux for gumbo and it cleaned up quickly and hasn't missed a beat. I will say it heats up fast and conducts more heat so I've had to adjust how long and how high of heat to use.

I can't say I'm fascinated by it but I am pleased with its performance. And no, would never order online when it's at Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond etc.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

Personally, I feel like Copper Chef and most of the other nothing sticks to it cookware seems to work great until one day it doesn't. At least that's the impression I get from reviews, and the experience I have had with some of it.

I, too, bought the Gotham Steel crisper tray yesterday, but it had nothing to do with name ro nonstick. I recently bought a new countertop oven and it didn't come with a tray to lift food off the tray that came with it. In my previous oven it was called a rack for the roaster, but it was simply a metal sheet with holes in it, and I used it for a lot of things. I'm donating that oven, so I feel I should send the rack with it. The crisper tray was the only thing at BBB I could find that looked like it would serve that purpose. Don't know that it would work so well as a roasting rack, but I never really used it for that purpose anyways.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

It remains to be seen whether Copper Chef cookware will retain its desirable qualities as it used months or years down the line. Most of us have had a ton of T-Fal or other miraculous pans that were wonderful when we first got them but were not so much so after they were used awhile. I keep thinking it's too good to be true and the copper coloring is going to scratch and wear off and I'm going to be stuck with another ugly useless pan. I guess time will tell.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

I'm not falling for it!

I replaced all my non-stick pots and pans with stainless.

I got tired of having to replace the non-stick every few years.

CLEM · ‎03-09-2010

Personally, I think that fake copper is ugly. I wouldn't buy any for that reason alone. Also, like @Mominohio, I don't think they are anymore non-stick than my wonderful circulon symmetry or any of the other new non-stick small pots and pans I have which cook just as fast and as well. Also, for me these things are just way too big.

Once the sales go down, there will be something else even better (or so we will be told). But for everyone who has it and loves it, enjoy it.

software · ‎06-08-2016

When I decided to purchase a few new pieces my choices were the professional T-Fal with the thermospot, recommended by America's Test Kitchen, the copper chef and the Gotham steel. This is after reading reviews and checking out prices. The Gotham Steel pans are coated in ceramic and titanium, which I felt were safe choices.

I'm not drawn to all things shiny & colorful, my decision had nothing to do with the "prettiest" or what matched my kitchen. I wanted something that would give me the results I was looking for which is non-stick and easy to clean.

I'm happy with my choice. Especially since the pan is so light weight. It usually takes me 2 hands to get any skillet to the sink to wash.

The life expectancy is not long. And since I don't cook very much, if I get a couple of years out of my $20 purchase, I won't complain.

@Mominohio

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:
It remains to be seen whether Copper Chef cookware will retain its desirable qualities as it used months or years down the line. Most of us have had a ton of T-Fal or other miraculous pans that were wonderful when we first got them but were not so much so after they were used awhile. I keep thinking it's too good to be true and the copper coloring is going to scratch and wear off and I'm going to be stuck with another ugly useless pan. I guess time will tell.

I agree. So much of the latest fad of super nonstick cookware is throw-away. They work great until one day they don't. I just had someone in another group recommend Copper Chef. I asked how long she had had it. She said 6 months. I wanted to say get back with me after at least a year. I have had my hard anodized cookware for several years with no problem with the nonstick interior. However, it won't work with an induction burner, so I'm on the hunt for a few pieces that'll work on that. I don't use it exclusively the way some do, but I only have 2 eyes and if I use a really large pan on the larger one there's not enough room to use the remaining eye.