copper teapot

chewie · #1 02/27/12, 07:24 PM

yes, I'm still hung up over tea! I got a small strainer, some loose tea on the way and enjoyed some bag teas now. using tea to replace the munchies at night, hopefully my jeans will be a bit looser soon!

being an artist, I have a few copper tea pots for still life paintings. can I actually use these pots for tea?? is there something wrong with using copper? i know alum. has some questions surrounding using it and I do not, only stainless, cast iron or stoneware in my kitchen. but does anybody know a thing about using copper? thanks!

romysbaskets · #2 02/27/12, 07:33 PM

Well as far as I know they recommend lined copper but not the antique solid copper pots. By lined copper, I do mean that the cooking surface can not be copper as they can line copper with other metals. It is believed that the copper leaches into even water when the inner surface is copper as in the case of solid copper!

I found this on http://www.ehow.com/facts_7604335_co...tles-safe.html

"Antique or used copper kettles that have no protective lining of aluminum or tin are dangerous to use for cooking or boiling water. The chemical reaction with water or high acid foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits may be tasteless but can cause stomach or digestive system problems."

I use stainless steel tea pots for boiling water and cook mostly on Cast Iron but also Stainless Steel. They also say that Stainless Steel is a mixture of metals that can also leach if it is damaged by pitting and denting. Mainly folks use copper bottom pans because it is such a good heat conductor. They do not recommend the inner cooking surface to be copper.

Copper pots look so cool though!

goatlady · #3 02/27/12, 07:46 PM

NOT safe to use copper cooking utinsels unless they are lined with a food safe metal, real risk of metal poisoning which can be a killer.

chewie · #4 02/27/12, 09:09 PM

well, guess i'll leave em in the studio then, as yes, they are gorgeous!

Bearfootfarm · #5 02/27/12, 09:12 PM

The older ones sometimes have lead solder too

Harry Chickpea · #6 02/27/12, 09:18 PM

I wouldn't use them. If I did use them it would be for warming water but not boiling it. I'm not someone who is easily spooked by chemicals, but upsetting the mineral balance in the body usually ends poorly. I agree, they are best left in the studio.

Yvonne's hubby · #7 02/27/12, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

The older ones sometimes have lead solder too

That would be my concern too. I have never heard of copper by itself being toxic..... thinking of many hundreds of years of alcohol production here.

goatlady · #8 02/28/12, 07:08 AM

I think the danger of copper utinsels is in the reaction of the copper and heat with minerals in the water and/or in combinations with chemical reactions to different foods cooking in the copper.

solidwoods · #9 02/28/12, 07:27 AM

Tin contains a small amount of lead .
jim

MushCreek · #10 02/28/12, 04:12 PM

Tin is an element, symbol Sn, atomic number 50, and does not contain lead in it's pure form. Tin solder may contain lead, however.