We recommend washing your Ruffoni cookware inside and outside by hand, with warm water, regular non-aggressive dish soap, and a soft sponge. 

When following use directions and keeping the cooking temperature low-med, sticking should not happen. If there is any food stuck to the inside, refrain from scrubbing with scouring pads – instead soak your Ruffoni with hot, soapy water to soften and release any food residue. After washing, rinse well and dry immediately to prevent the formation of water stains.

We recommend that you do not wash your Ruffoni in the dishwasher – harsh detergents can tarnish copper surfaces, tin linings and silver finials, dull the shiny surface of your pots and pans and cause rim corrosion.

With use, copper develops a rich patina that many love and cherish.

To restore a polished shine there are many good products available for purchase in the US – we especially appreciate Kleen King powder and Wright's Copper Cream – but if you’re out of your favorite cleaner or prefer a natural approach, we recommend a tried-and-tested nonna’s remedy: mix fine salt and an acidic ingredient (lemon juice or vinegar), rub gently all over the tarnished copper surface, then rinse off and dry well. Click here to watch Rita Ruffoni demonstrate this simple yet powerful method.

You can remove the knob of your Ruffoni, however turning the finial can leave indelible scratch marks on the lid so we recommend the utmost caution. To safely remove your cookware knobs:

• Loosen the knob’s screw placed under the lid while holding the finial firmly onto the lid.

• When the screw is loose, gently lift the finial, paying attention not to scratch the lid.

• Be equally careful when repositioning the finial onto the lid – remember to always turn the screw, not the knob.

We recommend oiling your Olivewood cutting boards every couple of months or whenever dry to the touch. Oiling your natural wood accessories periodically will maintain them in perfect conditions, making the wood glow.

All real copper cookware, Ruffoni included, will naturally tarnish when exposed to air, heat and humidity – turning pink, silver, yellow or even iridescent. With continued use, the tarnish will evolve into a solid dark brown patina, coveted by copper collectors and enthusiasts alike. This rich, cherished patina can easily be removed to bring back the shiny polish of brand new copper. Please refer to the question above for our cleaning tips.

The tin-lining of your Historia cookware will likely change color, become iridescent and spotty, then darken over time. The colors and timing of this will vary, but rest assured that this is perfectly normal and safe, does not affect the quality of the product or its performance, and it’s not an indicator of a need for re-tinning (as this is only needed when copper becomes clearly visible through the bottom).
To restore the tin lining original shine we recommend a non-toxic, food-safe, galvanic technique:

• Remove any food residue.

• Fill the cookware to the brim with water and bring to a boil.

• Remove the pan from the heat and add 1 tbs sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and 1 tbs table salt.

• Make a pad of four folds of aluminum foil to cover the bottom of your cookware.

• Submerge the aluminum foil in the pan and use a small ceramic or pyrex bowl to hold it in place – Do not use a metal bowl as it will interrupt the galvanic process!

• Let sit for at least 15 minutes to complete the reaction. 

• Remove the aluminum foil and wash your cookware by hand, with warm water, regular non-aggressive dish soap, and a soft sponge – Any tarnish not transferred to the foil will wipe easily away.

Small lumps / grains on the tin lining of your Historia cookware are a result of overheating. Luckily, your tin-lined pot is still perfectly usable and safe.
To prevent overheating:

• never heat the pot empty – always add water, oil, butter or a fat of your choice, before turning on the flame.

 • Cook on low/medium heat and adjust the temperature as you go – high temperatures are not necessary and can damage your copper cookware.

Do not exceed 450 F (230 C), or 430 F (220 C) if the copper is tin-lined.

 • Match the size of your cookware with the size of the burner – do not extend the flame beyond the diameter of the cookware.

The stainless steel lining of your Opus Prima, Opus Cupra, Symphonia Prima or Symphonia Cupra will likely change color or show rainbow stains over time. 

This multicolored phenomenon – known as “heat tint”– is purely cosmetic and does not affect the quality of the product or its performance. To restore the stainless steel lining's original shine we recommend using a commercial cleaner (e.g. Bar Keepers Friend) or a little white vinegar diluted with water.

The silver plating of your Opus Prima or Opus Cupra finials might darken over time due to natural silver oxidation – this is perfectly normal and safe.

To restore the silver plating shine we recommend using a silver polishing glove or cloth. We do not recommend silver polishing creams as they can get stuck in the little nooks and crannies of our intricate designs and be hard to remove.

We recommend discontinuing use of your cookware and having it retinned when the tin-lining of your Ruffoni wears out and copper becomes clearly visible through the bottom as it may react with acidic foods.

The lifespan of tin lining will vary depending on frequency of use, temperature ranges, and type of foods cooked – It can also be drastically shortened in even a single instance of misuse, such as overheating, boiling dry, or scratching. However, when use and care instructions are followed, we often see well-loved pans getting retinned only after 10 or 20 years of regular home use.

Our “Customer Care” is ready to analyze the condition of your Ruffoni product, verify the actual need of intervention and eventually proceed in restoring and re-tinning the item.

For any inquiry please feel free to write to service@ruffoni.net providing some detailed images of the item and your location in order to evaluate the transport, duties and Customs clearance costs.