There is a good reason why copper cookware are some of the most sought after cookware sets by professional chefs. Professional chefs and home cooks love the superior thermal conductivity of copper which allows for precise temperature control of a meal being cooked.
Copper as a metal transmits heat fast, while also losing it as the same speed. Hence, it is the perfect companion for controlled temperature cooking desired by confectioneries and saucier. With these pans, you can forget about preheating them as they require low heat, then they do the rest.
One of these brilliant cookware is the Vikings 13 piece tri-ply copper cookware set. The set combines three of the best materials used in cookware manufacture to produce a truly spectacular piece of cookware. With this set, there are more than meets the eye. I will dissect the set, to lay bare what make it tick the right places for professionals.
Viking 13-Piece Tri-Ply Copper Cookware Set Review
What’s contained in the Set?
This copper cookware set includes an 8 quart stock pot, pasta insert, and an accompanying glass lids. Also contained is a 4 quart soup pot with a matching glass lid and 5 sauté pans (2 quart) each with a glass lid. Additionally, there are 2, 2.5 quart, and 3 quart sauce pans complete with lids. 8” and 10” frying pans complete the set.
All these items have exceptional heat transfer and feature the classic copper brown appeal. This finish adds aplomb and color to your kitchen besides being functionally superb. The key to their performance is down to the combination of materials used. This combination is rare, further compounding the uniqueness of the set.
- 3-Ply Construction Technology
A three ply construction uses three different layers of metals, all being fused into a single working unit. Sometimes, the layering is done at the bottom only, to save on cost. However, with the Vikings 13-piece copper cookware, the three layers extend all the way from the bottom of the pots and pans to the walls.
The exterior material is copper, which imparts the brilliant brownish appearance. Copper is not only an impeccable conductor, but also a brilliant visual appellant. Functionality-wise, the copper heats up fast and evenly, saving down on cooking time, hence gas and electricity bills. But on its own, copper is weak and reactive with food, especially the acidic types.
That’s why the cooking surface is made from 18/8 stainless steel. This grade of steel is the same one used for surgical blades, which is testament to its excellent quality. Moreover, it is non-reactive, meaning no metallic taste enters your food. Besides being inert, the stainless steel interior makes for a no-sticking cooking surface at the right temperature.
Then finally, the core of the cookware is made from aluminum sheets. This material is not new to the cookware field. It is renowned for heat transfer, just like copper. However, the beauty with aluminum is that it has a better heat retention ability. Hence, you get sets of pans and pots that not only heat fast, but also retains a little bit of heat.
- Convenient Cookware Set
Throughout the design, the Viking 13-piece tri-ply copper cookware set oozes convenience. First, the cooking surface has measurement marks etched onto them. These are meant to give you precise measuring volumes, for those recipes that requires exact measurement of ingredients. These markings are in US and metric measurement systems, making them easy to read.
Secondly, the frying pans, stockpots, and sauce pans are supplied with vented glass lids. Glass is transparent, allowing a quick check up on the cooking without the risk of lifting a heated lid then getting burnt. Moreover, the lids are vented to release pressure from time to time. In this way, chances of food boiling over and spilling onto cooktops is minimized.
Both pans, pots, and lids have ergonomically designed handles that balances the pieces when being handles. Pans have elongated stainless steel handles that stay cool, permitting high temperature cooking with easy handling. Still, you should have a handling cloth nearby as they may get hot, more so the pot handles.
Because of the rigid materials used in the construction, you can comfortably use the dishwasher to give the pieces a thorough scrub. However, take care not to over scrub the shiny copper and stainless steel surfaces. The most essential part is the cooking surface. Any defacing would mean a loss of functionality where food sticks onto the surface even when adequately preheated.
If you frequently finish your cooking in the oven or do some baking, then the glass lids may be a limiting factor. Whereas the pans themselves withstand temperatures of up to 5000F, the glass lids can only remain intact below 4000F. Beyond this temperature, the glass would crack and scatter.
- Excellent Durability
Because of the external copper material, this cookware set can take a beating and quite some abuse. Hence you are covered if you have a busy kitchen that is prone to cookware mishandling. Moreover, the handles on the sides are riveted into the walls of the accessories for a long-lasting performance.
That being said, this set is compatible with a host of cookware tops, due to the presence of flat bottoms. One possible deal breaker in this regard is the incompatibility with induction cooktops. According to the manufacturer, the outer copper does not allow the cookware to be used on these magnetic-type stovetops. So you might want to hold onto that idea for now and use gas, electric, ceramic, or halogen.
Conclusion
The Viking Cookware company was created with a noble idea of solving a problem, rather than raking in profits. The brand has a wide range of products, ranging from 3-ply to 5-ply cookware sets made from copper, stainless steel, and aluminum. There are enamel and hard-anodized designs in stock as well.
It is the Viking 13-piece tri-ply copper cookware set that interests many professional chefs. Even though the copper cookware undergoes natural cosmetic changes over time, due to heat variations, fingerprint marks, and color variations, they still perform well. You can choose to keep the exterior looking spectacular as always using copper polish, lemon, and salt.
