Copper pans: Do you own any? Can I ask your advice?

[SpeccieSeccie]

I was given a copper jam pan and ladle as a wedding present two years ago but it hasn't been used. But now I am in the mood for making some plum jelly. Can you tell me, is there some special cleaning ritual I should do, or can I just wash it out with normal washing up liquid and get cooking?

(I only ask 'cos I think I've seen specialist 'copperware cleaners'- do I need one?)

TIA

I guess you could use specialist ones, or I found this, about home made ones you could use:

"There are some very easy ways to clean copper by just raiding your fridge or pantry! Some of these are great on flat pieces, like the bottom of copper pots.

Ketchup. Smear ketchup all over the area, Leave for 5-10 minutes and rinse clean!
Lemon halves & salt. Dip half a lemon into salt and rub across the copper. Rinse & dry.
Lemon & salt paste. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt (or baking soda), rub into the copper with a cloth, rinse with water and dry."

Hth

Woweee - sort of eco-friendly too. Love it! And I've got half a lemon in the fridge.

That's brilliant, thanks very much.

I used lemon juice.

But at the end of the day, it was just too much of a PITA to clean it so I got rid of my copper pan.

Agree that smearing the pan with ketchup would be a bit boring after every meal. But, hey, it's made a really good plant holder up 'til now.

(Actually, I thought it looked kinda stylish in a french way, sitting in my kitchen. That might have been optimistic. It probably just looked like it needed a clean.)