# What is so hard about making copper pans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-so-hard-about-making-copper-pans/492256 "2009-04-07T15:13:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-so-hard-about-making-copper-pans/492256/21 "2009-04-08T14:17:16Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > The real reason copper cookware is expensive is because it is a prestige item and they don’t sell much of it. Like most things (Harley-Davidson, Armani, Klipsh, Apple, BMW) that have a prestigious name, there are cheaper brands that provide the same overall performance. But for most people, cheap stainless or aluminum cookware is adequate. On that note, despite the “you get what you pay for” mantra, here’s an excellent example of what **ivn1188** is talking about for clad cookware: [Tramontina](http://www.cooksillustrated.com/equipment/product.asp?docid=19417&parentdocid=19463) cookware. Unfortunately if you’re not a subscriber, you probably won’t get anything from that link. Here’s what _Cook’s Illustrated_ says, though: > [@](#): > > This fully clad cookware set is an amazing bargain, with performance, design, and construction comparable to All-Clad cookware (though cooking surfaces are slightly smaller). Sturdy and moderately heavy, with riveted handles and slow, steady heating. > Pros: Well designed; performance comparable to All-Clad > Cons: Small pans; limited supply; available only at Wal-Mart It came in second behind the cachet All-Clad brand. I ask myself, “Wal-Mart?” It would never, ever occur to me to purchase cookware at Wal-Mart. Cheap, Chinese garbage. But _Cook’s_ seldom ever lets me down. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-so-hard-about-making-copper-pans/492256/22 "2009-04-08T15:02:54Z")
Thanks for that, **Balthisar**! ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-so-hard-about-making-copper-pans/492256/23 "2009-04-08T15:11:02Z")
Real copper pans work well-but the tin coating needs to bereplaced periodically-and there are very few guys who do retinning. A better choice is the copper-core-nickel clad pans. Or anodized aluminum. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-so-hard-about-making-copper-pans/492256/24 "2009-04-08T16:12:04Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Woohoo, to hell with the pan, Time to start building the Library at Alexandria. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-so-hard-about-making-copper-pans/492256/25 "2009-04-09T13:58:25Z")
Woohoo thank you Balthisar. Aftert your post I started to do some reaserch of Tramontina.(not that I don’t trust you ;)) and Everybody agreed that they were very good pans, and nobody could figure out why Wal-Mart was selling them so cheap. They have two lines at wally world One with an aluminum disk in the base, and a slightly more expensive one with full clad Al base and sides((TRIPLY line). SInce all my good pans are tiny I decided it was finally time to get a 12in fry pan. I checked on line a couple days ago and they were hard to find, only two stores around said they had any one 15 miles in one direction, and one 17 miles in the other. I checked them both, and no 12 inch pans :(. But this morning I looked and they had updated on-line inventories, There was one in a store right near me. I popped by there at opening and they had one of the good 12 inch pans for $35 or so. I grabbed it and went to pay. It rang up at 20 bucks! I said something about not expecting it to be that cheap, and the cashier shrugged and said that’s what it rang up as. 20 dollar saute pan that’s damn near as good as a $130 all-clad for $20 = EPIC WIN. 🙂 I don’t know if it was a computer error or what, but folks looking for pans might want to check and see if they can find one if they really are only 20. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-so-hard-about-making-copper-pans/492256.md?page=1)