Is is me or is copper making a comeback?  Not that it totally went AWOL, but as I walk in and out of stores, I’m greeted with the beauty, and everything is coming up copper.   Pans and mugs, of course, but also flatware, mixers and even whisks.  Corkscrews – the list goes on.

This is a happy welcome for me.  Some day;  some day in the not-so-distant future I would love to have a pot rack hanging in my kitchen full of copper pans.   But for now, I am happy with the two that I have and I swear that everything cooked in them tastes way better.  (My cast iron skillet is a close second)

Backing up a little bit, a year or so ago when I was out antiquing, I came across a huge medal tray, tarnished to beat the band.  The tarnish was so thick, I thought the tray was brass.  Regardless, I scooped it up because a) it was super cool and b) well, I loved it.  No idea of where it would go in our house, I had to have it.   I brought it home and it sat in our then living room until one day I thought if I go ahead and polish it, I would then have a better idea where it would go.

I broke out my favorite polish ever, and a clean rag and rubbed a little polish on the back of the tray to see what kind of result I would get.  To my surprise, the tray wasn’t brass, but copper.  I was elated.  A huge copper tray – this thing will be a show stopper..

I set up a work table in our kitchen and started to polish.  And polish.  And polish.  The tarnish was so thick, I was having to put some serious elbow grease into this, and I was breaking a sweat.

No joke.

I even tried to get all Tom Sawyer on the family and act like I was having fun so they would join in and help polish.  But, no one bought my scheme.  *sad trombone.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that polishing this tray took me a week.  Putting in an hour here, and an hour or two there, the process was slow but this tray was finally starting to shine.  There are a few dents and surface changes along with the crease around the edge where the tarnish is stubborn and not coming off.  Yet.  But all in all, I polished to a point where I feel this tray can be displayed in all her glory.

She landed on the mantle above the kitchen fireplace.  A perfect spot where she fits right in.  And those two copper pans I have – well I shined them up too and put them out on display to showcase a little more copper in my kitchen.

Here is my advice on copper:  Although it is expensive, it is well worth it.  But, if you’re like me and the budget is always on the tight side, keep an eye out for copper cookware in thrift stores, antique stores and salvage shops.  Yes, the copper may look a little rough, but with the right polish and a little elbow grease, you can get those secondhand copper pans looking like new.  And in no time, you’ll have the collection of your dreams.

Copper upkeep is simple;  polish when you start to see a little tarnish buildup and never, for God’s sakes, put copper in the dishwasher.  Copper loves a good washing by hand.

Again, the polish I recommend is Peek, and you can find it here.  Peek is also brilliant on sterling silver, silver plate, and brass.  It is a little on the pricey side, but it’s the best polish out there.