Vintage French Copper Sugar Caramel Pan, Patisser Pot, Zabaglioni Pan (C97)

This is a stunning French 2mm copper vintage patissier pan, also known as a sugar pan or caramel pan in France and as a zabaglione pan it Italy. This is an unusually large version of these type of pans measuring 24cm in diameter with a 4 litre capacity and made from 2.5mm thick solid copper. In France these are used for sugar, custard and chocolate work, in Italy they are used to cook to egg yolks, sugar and Marsala wine quickly and evenly over a gentle heat. It makes easy work of whisking egg yolks over simmering water to get that perfectly thick and creamy zabaglione custard the pan is named after. The pan is perfect for use as a bain marie pan and in fact these type of round based ones were actually made to use in this way. Whilst it is usually essential to line copper pans with tin in order to prevent contamination, as cooking food produces acids that, with heat and prolonged contact, react with bare copper to produce toxic chemicals. However, the exception is sugar pans, jam pans, and mixing bowls, as they are conventionally used for specific cooking tasks that don’t produce the acids in question. Eg. caramelization of sugar is a chemically complex process, but none of its products react with copper. It is therefore not necessary to tin a sugar pot that is used as intended for confectionary work including chocolate , jams and custards. Copper pans are widely used for confectionary as they have a very even distribution of heat which is important for jams and caramels.
In France these vintage pans are generally found much smaller than this one and they usually have a short hollow handle. This was so that the chef or baker could use a length of wood as a handle extension allowing them to stand further away and hold the pan over an open fire without burning their hands before the times of modern kitchens; the newer ones made to use on gas and electric hobs often have a solid brass or iron handle. This on will be at least 80 years old, maybe more and is sold with the short handmade wooden handle it was bought with. The handle is a piece of rustic wood with a piece of twisted wire for hanging. Very French country farmhouse! All the items we sell are used or vintage and will show signs of a previous life. This is part of their unique French shabby chic appeal. See our online vintage brocante shop selling over 300 unique, vintage and up cycled French finds for your home and garden including a wide selection of copper pans and cookware, all sourced from markets across France. NB; Copper pans do not work on induction hobs.

top diameter 24cm
depth 12cm
length including handle 55cm
thickness 2.5mm
unboxed weight 2.3kg
capacity 4 litres

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