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- The heavy copper cladding
on the exterior of your Vintage Revere Ware transmits heat rapidly and evenly to the cooking surface without the need
to use high heat levels. Never start cooking at the "High" heat setting, instead start at "Medium" and lower the heat as cooking
progresses; this will minimize sticking, save energy, and preserve nutrients.
- To prevent warping,
never put a hot pan directly into water (or water into a hot pan). Allow the pan to cool down to room temperature (even if
you've burned something) before starting to clean it. HINT: If you already have a warped pan (and any metal pan can warp if
cooled too fast from extreme heat), reheat the pan and allow it to cool slowly, this will usually take out most of the warp.
- Do not use stainless
steel pots as storage containers in the refrigerator - the acids present in many foods (cooked or raw) will harm the finish
on stainless steel.
- The Bakelite
(an early form of thermoset plastic) handles used on Revere cookware are prone to blister or burn when exposed to temperatures above 325 F.
For this reason, The Shine Shop recomends the use of Stew Pots (with metal handles) when cookware will be used in the oven,
rather than Dutch Ovens (with Bakelite handles). Under no circumstances should cookware with Bakelite handles be used in
the Broiler Oven. Dish-washers are very hard on Bakelite surfaces - the combination of high heat (machines use 140+ F water) and strong
caustic cleaners will turn the Bakelite rough and grey in a short time. Contrary to what you might think, Revere Ware is not "dishwasher safe"!
- The inside stainless steel surfaces
can be cleaned using any commercial powdered cleanser and a 3M Scotch-Brite® fiber scouring pad. NEVER USE STEEL WOOL PADS
such as Brillo®, SOS®, or any other metal pad. They leave microscopic pieces of themselves embedded in the stainless steel where
they can corrode and start pits.
- The polished outside
can be cleaned with a sponge and one of the "soft-scrub" cleaners you'd use on bathroom sinks or tubs. If the deposits are
too heavy, use the Scotch-Brite pad - although it will scratch the polished surface.
- The Bakelite handles and knobs will
look their best if you wax them every so often (depending on how much of a life you have!) with one of the long-lasting poly/sealer
waxes used for car finishes.
- The copper clad bottom
needs a three-step approach to best maintain the NTN (Next-To-New) Shine Shop finish:
Wash immediately after each use, hand dry thoroughly, then
apply a chemical deoxidizer meant for copper (the best one I've found is Tarn-X®) with a small cotton ball (keeps you from
using too much); rinse in cold water and dry. This will do wonders removing the tarnish - it's easy and
fast.
After several cleanings with the deoxidizer the copper will develop a dull pink
surface; use a good metal polish Wenol-pink® is what I use, but Mothers® is a good alternative,
and is available at most auto parts stores. Apply sparingly with a soft cloth and then polish until dry and shiny. The cloth
will turn black - that's normal. Wash in cold water with a soapy sponge and dry.
If you need more than the deoxidizer or polish, the next step is a powdered copper
cleaner. I use Barkeeper's Friend® (available at supermarkets and cooking stores). Apply with a damp sponge (if necessary,
a 3M Scotch-Brite® pad can be used on stains, but it will scratch the copper). Wash in warm water, dry, and polish
to prevent tarnishing.
