How to Clean Copper Pans and Pots Naturally

With time and heavy use, copper items lose their shine and develop a layer of tarnish. Follow these easy steps on how to clean your copper pots and pans naturally, leaving them looking as good as new!

Copper pots and pans are a great addition to any kitchenware setup. They’re beautiful, shiny, and if taken care of, they can last a long time. However, similar to other niche cookware like cast iron skillets, copper items require specific cleaning strategies to ensure their beauty and longevity. Check out our basic tips on how to naturally clean copper pots and pans to keep your copper looking as clean as the rest of your kitchen. 

Cleaning Copper Pans and Pots: An Easy 3 Step Process

1. Gently scrub your copper pot or pan with soap and water. Use a light mixture of dish soap and warm water, and scrub with a sponge until the surface is smooth and clean.
2. Rinse out all soap and water and dry with a dishtowel. 
3. Remove the tarnish. Tarnish is a layer of corrosion that naturally develops on copper. While it may look tough to remove, you can easily scrub it off using the following kitchen items:
   • Lemon juice and salt: Cut a lemon in half and cover it in salt. Rub the lemon over the surface of the cookware until the tarnish has disappeared. Rinse and dry.
   • Vinegar and salt: Using a coffee cup or measuring cup, add 3 parts vinegar to 1 part of salt. Dip a cloth into the solution and rub it over the cookware until tarnish dissolves. Rinse and dry once all tarnish has been removed.
   • Ketchup: This one is simple. Cover the cookware with a thin layer of ketchup and rub it over the surface using a cloth or sponge until tarnish is gone. Rinse and dry once finished.
   • Baking Soda and lemon juice: In a coffee cup or measuring cup, combine 3 parts lemon juice and 1 part baking soda until it has been mixed completely. Dip a cloth into the mixture and use it to cover the pan. Rub over the surface until you see tarnish dissipating, rinse with water, and dry.

And the process of naturally cleaning copper pots and pans is that simple! Using a few basic ingredients you probably have around the house, you can have your copper cookware looking as good as new.

Important tip: Make sure you avoid washing copper items in the dishwasher or with steel wool. These aggressive cleaning mechanisms can not only discolor copper, but can permanently damage your cookware.

Want to know how to clean your other eating utensils naturally? Check out our guide on How To Clean Silver Ecologically: Silver Polish Alternatives. 

A Note On Patina

While many prefer to have their copper looking shiny, we’d be remiss if we didn’t inform you that it’s actually quite okay to leave tarnish on your copper cookware. Patina naturally develops through age and exposure and cooking with items that contain it won’t do any harm. However, if you’re a clean freak who wants to know how to clean copper pots and pans naturally, this guide should help!

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