Don’t you just hate it when you’re cooking food, and it starts sticking to the pan? Or how much of a pain transferring foods from the pan to the plate can be? Well, you’re not alone.
The solution to these problems is to use non-stick pans.
Not only do non-stick pans promote healthy eating, but they are also a breeze to cook with and clean.
There are many different types of non-stick pans, but the most popular ones that have been making rounds on TV and the internet are the Red Copper and Gotham Steel pans.
But which one is the better fit?
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the characteristics, similarities, and differences between the two pans to decide which one is more suitable for you.
What is Red Copper Pan?
The red copper pan is made up of a mixture of copper and ceramic with a stainless steel handle.
It is made of ultra-tough copper that makes the pan durable and long-lasting. This also enables the pan to not chip or peel off.
Moreover, since copper is an excellent heat conductor, it helps distribute heat throughout the pan.
It also makes the pan heat up quickly. The copper material also enables a red copper pan to be oven-friendly as well.
The surface of a red copper pan is ceramic, which is PFOA and other toxins-free, making it more environmentally safer and healthier than other pans.
The ceramic surface is also non-stick, so you don’t need many fats or oils to cook on it either. Food literally slides off the pan, no matter how sticky it may be.
Due to the non-stick ceramic surface, red copper pans are quite easy to clean with.
Though most are advertised to be dishwasher safe, you can simply even clean the pan with a cloth as well.
Also read: How to Season a Copper Pan
What Is Gotham Steel Pan?
Much like the red copper pans, Gotham Steel pans also have their fair share of advertisements on the TV and internet.
They are advertised as being designed to promote easy and worry-free cooking.
However, unlike red copper pans, these are made with a combination of ceramic and titanium.
The ceramic surface is also PFOA and PTFE, hence healthy to cook food with. Moreover, the ceramic surface is non-stick, so you need not any oils, butter, or other fats when cooking on the Gotham steel pan.
It also makes it easier to clean with since you won’t have to spend a lot of time scrubbing food residue from it; you can just clean it off with a wipe or paper towel.
The titanium material that makes up a Gotham steel pan is very hard and tough.
As a result, the pan is much more sturdy and durable. The titanium pan also allows metal utensils to be used with these pans without damaging the outer surface through chipping, scratching, or peeling.
A Gotham steel pan is also oven-friendly and can be used on all types of stoves except induction stoves.
Lastly, this pan holds a sturdy and hard stainless steel handle. However, once the pan heats up, the handle tends to heat up quickly as well.
Similarities Between Red Copper Pan and Gotham Steel Pan
By now, you might be wondering that red copper pans and Gotham steel pans both have several similarities.
After all, they both are made of the same ceramic material. Let’s take a closer look at their similarities:
1. Non-stick Coating
Due to their ceramic material, the two pans have the same non-stick surfaces and promote haste-free cooking.
The red copper pan has a copper-infused ceramic coating, whereas the Gotham steel pan has titanium infused ceramic coating.
2. Easy to Clean
The two pans are also considerably easier to clean than other types of pans due to their non-stick surfaces.
You can even put them in dishwashers for cleaning since they are dishwasher safe.
3. Oven-Friendly
Red copper pan and Gotham steel pans are also oven-friendly and can be used in temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Aluminum Base
Moreover, they also have the same aluminum bases, besides the ceramic non-stick coating.
This makes them sturdier and durable while not being too heavy at the same time.
5. Heat Distribution
Their heat distribution tendencies are also largely similar to each other since they both tend to heat up quickly.
However, there are slight differences in how the heat distributes throughout the pan, which we will be discussing further in the next section.
6. Stainless Steel Handle
Similarly, both pans feature a stainless steel handle that also heats up as quickly as the pan.
The handles are exactly the same.
Since they are heat conductors and heat up, users don’t like the fact that they need to use mittens when handling both types of pans.
7. Appearance
Lastly, both the red copper pan and Gotham steel pan are similar in their exterior appearance.
This is largely due to the fact that they both have the same stainless steel handles.
They also don a muted shade of copper, though there may be a slight unnoticeable shade difference between both pans.
Key Differences Between Red Copper Pan and Gotham Steel Pan
The similarities between red copper and Gotham steel pans make them seem completely identical to each other.
Hence, you might still be confused about which plan to choose for your next purchase. Perhaps knowing about the key difference might help with these decisions.
Despite what you might be thinking, the two pans do have characteristics unique to both of them. Let’s take a look at them:
1. Heat Distribution
Because of their difference in materials wherein the red copper pan is infused with copper and Gotham steel infused with titanium, their heat distribution tendencies also tend to differ slightly.
Copper is typically a better heat conductor than titanium, which is why most people believe that red copper pans cook food faster.
On the other hand, Gotham steel does not evenly distribute heat throughout the different areas of the pan.
2. Heating Plate
The two pans also have different heating plates situated at the bottom of the pans.
The red copper pans have a larger heating plate that extends itself all towards the edges of the pan. For this reason, it also has better heat distribution and can heat up much quicker than the Gotham steel pan.
The Gotham steel pan has a smaller heating plate, with a sort of donut hole in the middle, which makes it slightly unstable and uneven to set on the stove or cooktops.
Though this is not exactly a majorly noticeable difference, if you are someone who prefers quick cooking, this factor might be one to consider.
3. Price
Another considerable difference between the red copper pan and Gotham steel pan is their price.
The Red copper pan is cheaper than its counterpart, though the price difference is not considered large.
4. Weight
Due to the fact that the Gotham steel pan is made of titanium which is a hard metal, this type of pan tends to be heavier than the red copper pan.
The red copper pan is less heavy and thus easier to cook with, especially if you plan to transfer the pan from the cooktop to the oven or vice versa.
5. Size
Though you might not be able to notice this difference, the two pans also have different sizes. The Gotham steel pan is slightly smaller than the red copper pan. Moreover, the two also come in different sizes.
The red copper pan comes in sizes of 8″, 10″, and 12″. The Gotham steel pan comes in 9.5″, 10.25″, and 12.5″.
6. Cooktops
Though both pans are suitable for use in the oven, there is a difference in terms of how they can be used on cooktops.
We mentioned this earlier, but the Gotham steel pan can only be used on gas stovetops.
However, red copper pans can be used on any type of cooktop since they are induction-friendly.
Also read: Do Copper Pans Work on Induction
7. Base
The Gotham steel pan has an anodized bottom which makes it more durable. It also enables the pan to be scratch-free.
On the other hand, the red copper pan has a ring of aluminum at the bottom, which ensures even distribution of heat.
Final Verdict
Now that you know everything about red copper pans and Gotham steel pans, you might be able to make a more informed decision.
Whichever pan you choose, be aware that you will probably only use it for a few years because non-stick pans don’t last longer than three or four years.
All in all, between the two pans, the red copper pan is a better choice because it is cheaper and offers an easier cooking experience than Gotham steel pans.
If budget is not a problem for you, you can consider Gotham steel pans if you want a larger, more durable, and long-lasting pan.
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