Use and Care

Taking care of your Ruffoni the right way

Cooking

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. All our cookware can be used in the oven — do not exceed 450 F (230 C), or 430 F (220 C) if the copper is tin-lined.
Avoid scratching the inside of your cookware, especially if tin-lined, with metal utensils or scouring pads – use wood, plastic or silicon tools.
Always use oven mitts because handles and finials, especially those made of bronze, can get hot.
Do not store leftovers in your cookware – use it to prepare and serve your meals at the table, then transfer any leftovers to an appropriate storage container and wash and dry the pan as per instructions.

Wash your Ruffoni cookware inside and out by hand, with warm water, regular non-aggressive dish soap, and a soft sponge.
Sticking should not happen if you follow use directions and keep the cooking temperature to low-medium. If there is any food stuck to the inside, do not scrub with scouring pads – soak your Ruffoni with hot soapy water and any stuck-on food should soften and detach. After washing, rinse and dry well immediately to prevent water stains.
Do not wash your Ruffoni in the dishwasher – harsh detergents can seriously 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, use a good copper polish (like Ruffoni Cleaner or Kleen King) or go for the 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.

Tin will naturally change color over time, although it will remain equally safe and effective.
Depending on use, the tin lining will eventually wear off and require retinning.
Prolong the tin lining's life by not scratching it with metal tools, never overheating the cookware, and limiting the use of acidic ingredients.
Have your cookware retinned only when its tin lining wears out and copper becomes clearly visible through the bottom, as the copper may then react with acidic foods.
Have a look at our FAQs for more information about retinning and advice on where to re-tin your Ruffoni Historia nationally.

The silver-plated finials will naturally tarnish over time: use a silver-polishing cloth to restore their shine.
For a more thorough polish, finials can be removed from the lids by twisting the special screw under the lid – always rotate the screw, not the finial, to prevent irreversible scratches to the lid.
Always hand-wash as dishwasher use causes severe silver tarnishing.