Red Copper Pan Review

If you’re just discovering the Red Copper Pan then you may be wondering if this product lives up to the claims that are showcased on its TV promotions.

Spoiler alert, it doesn’t.

But that doesn’t mean Red Copper is a terrible product. It’s just an indicator that novelty sells. No surprise there. I’ve put dozens of nonstick pans through hands on trials in our Test Kitchen and was surprised to discover that some of my favorite were As Seen on TV.

Red Copper isn’t the pan for everything, and it won’t last forever. But it will perform certain kitchen tasks very effectively. In this article, I’ll walk you through:

• Advantages you’ll get with the Red Copper Pan.
• Drawbacks worth considering.
• How it compares with dozens of other pans we put through rigorous tests.

Claims

First I’d like to address advertising claims that are featured in TV infomercials for this product. This pan is not magic, and its shortcomings largely mirror the challenges faced by all nonstick pans.

For example, if you scrape a fork across the cook surface or scramble your eggs with a metal electronic mixer in the pan, then it’s not going to last very long. And this goes for any nonstick skillet, not just Red Copper.

Any claims that owners eat healthier with this pan because it requires no oil are also misleading. You’ll still want to use some fat to get the best nonstick performance, and because using some fat makes better food.

Dial back expectations that this (or any) pan will solve all your problems, and you’re less likely to be disappointed.

Construction

Red Copper uses an aluminum base for all of their cookware.

Aluminum has several benefits. First of all, it’s cheap and easy to press into the right shapes. These material and manufacturing savings are passed along to you in the affordable price of the pans.

Aluminum is also an exceptional heat conductor. In this area, it’s second only to copper cookware and you can get it at a fraction of the price. This means that Red Copper heats up quickly, and is responsive to changes in temperature.

The primary downside of an aluminum base is that it doesn’t retain heat very effectively.

If the temperature on your stovetop fluctates greatly, then so will the cooking surface of your pan. And, when adding cold ingredients to a hot pan, the temperature will probably dip momentarily before it heats again.

Induction

Another downside of aluminum is that it’s not compatible for induction cooking, which means that Red Copper is not going to be a great fit if you plan on using an induction hob. While you can find options at a similar price point, most of our favorite nonstick induction pans cost slightly more.

The Red Copper brand does have induction compatible pan – the Square Dance Pan. For that model, a steel plate is molded to the bottom of aluminum base which enables an induction stove to heat it properly.

Nonstick Coating

Red Copper uses a PTFE-free nonstick coating on the cook surface of their pans.

There are a lot of good arguments for avoiding PTFE (also called Teflon). It emits fumes at a high temperature, in some cases causing temporary illness called Teflon flu. Even at low temperatures it’s unsafe for birds. And there is a lot of evidence that PTFE manufacturing is unsafe for both humans and the environment.

The downside of PTFE-free coatings is that they they simply don’t last as long. As a rule of thumb, I’d plan to replace this or any ceramic nonstick pan in under 2 years. There are exceptions, of course, but this is a good rule to live by.

Even if you’re following manufacturer care instructions, aware of and avoiding the most common things that ruin nonstick pans, they just aren’t very durable.

What about the copper in the coating? It’s a marketing ploy.

There may (or may not) be trace amounts of copper in the nonstick coating. Either way, it doesn’t drive this pan to perform at a higher level.

Oven-Safe

Although the Red Copper pan is rated as oven safe to 500 F, there are few situations where you’re likely to benefit from using this pan in the oven.

The truth is that, for most situations, you’ll be better served by using a ceramic casserole, pyrex glass dish, or half-sheet (cookie) pan for oven cooking. You can even get a cast iron skillet, which is perfect for the oven, for under $20.

Full Set

If you’re buying nonstick, the single most effective piece of cookware you can get is a frying pan. Nothing is quite as easy to use and clean, especially if you’re working with a delicate meal like fish or eggs.

With that said, the Red Copper set offers a unique benefit if you need to quickly outfit a full kitchen. It’s exceptionally affordable. As of the time I’m writing this, the sticker price for the 10-piece set is well below that of any ceramic cookware set we’ve had in the Test Kitchen.

Alternatives

There are hundreds of competitors offering similar products to Red Copper – many also branded as copper, diamond, granite, titanium or otherwise infused.

Personally, I had a great experience in my 120 day test with the Granitestone pan. It’s affordably priced, and in my opinion looks better too. If you’re looking for a pop of color, there is no option brand than GreenLife.

And, if you’d like a pan that is going to last you might try a carbon steel skillet instead. They tend to be slightly heavier, but not so much as cast iron, and will give you a natural nonstick that lasts more than a decade for a similar price.

FAQs

If you’ve used Red Copper cookware, let us know what you think about your experience in the comments below.