Copper Cookware Can Be Tricky by Mary Hunt on Creators.com

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Copper Cookware Can Be Tricky

Dear Mary: My cookware has copper bottoms, and the rims on the lids are copper, too. When I cook, some of the copper from the lid turns silvery and drops into the food I'm cooking. I skim off this liquid. I have never gotten ill from this, but do you have any suggestions to prevent this? Also, the copper on the bottom of the pans and the lids is turning less coppery color every time I wash them. — Susan, email

Dear Susan: I don't have a good sense of what's going on, but I can tell you that if I saw silvery liquid dripping from my cookware into my food, I'd send that cookware back from whence it came along with the request for a full refund. Generally, copper cookware is very tricky because copper is sensitive to acid, making it tarnish quickly and also react with food. For this reason, you should never place copper in the dishwasher, and food should not come in contact with the copper during cooking. This is the reason copper pots are always lined with stainless steel or tin.

As for the problem with the lids, if you decide to keep them, please contact the manufacturer right away. In the meantime, stop using the cookware to be on the safe side.

Dear Mary: I have read that cooking food in foil (such as packets for roasting or grilling) removes nutrients from the food. Is this true? — Sarah, email

Dear Sarah: There is absolutely no credible, reliable research to prove any such thing.

Even those who tout a connection between the use of aluminum foil and Alzheimer's disease are unable to come up with any medical proof. Relax, and enjoy the foil.

Dear Mary: I had uterine cancer two years ago and am not considered "insurable" by any major medical plan (nor will I be for at least three more years). One agent told me about guaranteed-issue health insurance, which takes people with pre-existing conditions. Can you refer me to a reliable source for evaluating this kind of insurance? — Jan, Pennsylvania

Dear Jan: The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which is part of The Affordable Care Act, has a provision for those who, like you, have uninsurable pre-existing conditions. It makes health coverage available to you if you are a U.S. citizen or reside here legally, you have been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition and you've been uninsured for at least six months. You can learn more by going to www.Healthcare.gov, picking your state in the box provided and following the prompts.

If you meet the qualifying conditions I mentioned above, you can apply for coverage right online at the website. I wish you well in dealing with this difficult situation. I am hopeful that you do qualify and that you will be able to get coverage at a premium that you can afford.

Do you have a question for Mary? Email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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