It is outrageously expensive and must be polished practically every time it is used, but it is so gorgeous that even leftovers look fabulous. If you own just a single copper pot, let it be a nice little saucepan to turn out delicate sauces and perfect beurre blanc. A copper kettle will twinkle at you every morning and give a warm welcome to guests in your kitchen. The new stainless steel interiors are more durable and less fussy than the old tin linings, which needed to be replaced every now and then. Some manufacturers have come out with matte copper finishes and stainless-clad copper in an effort to create more easily maintained pots.
Copper is the ultimate heat conductor, the ultimate beauty queen, and the ultimate pain.
Whatever material your cookware is made of, you also need to consider how it is constructed. Handles should be securely fastened and stay reasonably cool on the stove, and they should be comfortable and well-balanced. Covers should fit tightly, and domed lids help keep braising meats moist. Those clear glass covers, by the way, are practically useless. They are usually too steamed up to see the food cooking through them.