Revere Ware Non-Stick Pans: Are They Safe To Use?

Revere Ware is a line of consumer and commercial kitchenware that was introduced in 1939 by the Revere Brass & Copper Corp. The line includes skillets, saucepans, stock pots, and tea kettles, initially made of stainless steel with bakelite handles, copper-clad bases, and rounded interiors for easy cleaning. While most Revere Ware is made of stainless steel and copper, newer lines introduced by the brand have included anodized non-stick aluminum products. There have been concerns about the safety of Revere Ware with bakelite handles, as these handles contain asbestos and formaldehyde, which can be dangerous if exposed during the restoration process.

Bakelite handles on Revere Ware contain asbestos and formaldehyde

Bakelite, a type of plastic, was used in the handles of Revere Ware cookware. Bakelite contains asbestos and formaldehyde, which poses health risks to users. Asbestos was added to Bakelite to improve its strength and heat resistance. However, when Bakelite breaks down due to overheating, it releases formaldehyde, which has a foul odour.

While the asbestos in Bakelite is generally considered safe as it is encapsulated, it can be released if the Bakelite deteriorates at high temperatures, such as in a dishwasher, or through exposure to dishwashing chemicals. Therefore, it is recommended to wash Bakelite handles by hand rather than in the dishwasher.

Additionally, it is advised not to use Bakelite handles in the oven, as modern ovens can have hotter spots that may exceed the safe temperature limit of Bakelite, which is 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

For these reasons, it is important to take precautions when using vintage Revere Ware with Bakelite handles.

Revere Ware is made of stainless steel and copper

Revere Ware was introduced in 1939 by the Revere Brass & Copper Corporation as a line of consumer and commercial kitchenware. The line initially focused on consumer cookware such as skillets, saucepans, stock pots, and tea kettles. The innovation that made Revere Ware stand out was the combination of stainless steel and copper. Stainless steel is great because it is easy to clean and mostly does not rust, but it conducts heat slowly. Copper, on the other hand, is an excellent heat conductor, distributing heat quickly and evenly. By cladding stainless steel cookware with copper bottoms, Revere Ware created durable and easy-to-clean pans that also offered superior heat distribution.

The Revere Ware 1400 Line, introduced in 1939, is the most well-known and longest-running line of the brand. It features the classic curved, smooth knurled bakelite handles, stainless steel walls, and copper bottoms. The bakelite handles are heat-resistant and were initially attached to the pans without rivets. The skillets, saucepans, stock pots, and Dutch ovens of the 1400 Line come in various sizes to suit different cooking needs.

Over the years, Revere Ware introduced new series and variations to their cookware lines. While the core design of combining stainless steel with copper bottoms remained, some changes were made to the materials and construction. For instance, the thickness of the stainless steel walls and copper cladding was reduced in the early 1960s as a cost-cutting measure. This change affected the quality and durability of the cookware. Additionally, the bakelite handles were changed from a two-piece to a one-piece design. Despite these modifications, Revere Ware remained a popular and trusted brand for several decades.

Today, vintage Revere Ware is sought after by collectors and home cooks alike. The combination of stainless steel and copper offers a unique blend of durability, heat conduction, and ease of cleaning. While modern cookware may offer similar or better performance, vintage Revere Ware remains a testament to the innovation and craftsmanship of its time.

Revere Ware has been manufactured with thinner copper cladding and steel walls since 1968

Revere Ware is a line of consumer and commercial kitchen wares that was introduced in 1939 by the Revere Brass & Copper Corp. The line initially focused on consumer cookware such as skillets, sauce pans, stock pots, and tea kettles. Over the next few decades, Revere Ware introduced new series to compete with other manufacturers and stay relevant in the market.

In the early 1960s, the profitability of Revere Ware started to decline, and the company implemented cost-cutting measures in the manufacture of its traditional cookware. This included changing the bakelite handles from two-piece to one-piece designs and reducing the thickness of the utensil walls and copper cladding.

By 1968, as part of these cost-cutting measures, the bakelite handles were made from one piece and pressed onto the attached metal handle. This change also coincided with a reduction in the thickness of the copper cladding and stainless steel walls by almost 50%. This reduction in thickness lowered costs but also noticeably lowered the quality and durability of the cookware. Despite the reduction in thickness being invisible to the naked eye, it adversely affected the cooking qualities of the pans.

Revere Ware introduced non-stick pans in 2003

Revere Ware was introduced in 1939 by the Revere Brass & Copper Corporation, focusing on consumer cookware such as skillets, sauce pans, stock pots, and tea kettles. Over the next four decades, Revere Ware introduced new series to stay competitive in the market and cater to different price points and specialty markets.

In 2003, Revere Ware introduced several new lines, including the Copper Clad series, which was a reintroduction of the iconic 1400 line from the 1930s. This series featured copper-clad bases, rounded corners for easy cleaning, bakelite handles, and Vapor Seal lids. The Copper Clad series was manufactured with the same defining features as the original 1400 line, which had established itself as the Gold Standard of American cookware.

The same year, Revere Ware also launched the Polished Non-Stick line, which offered a polished exterior to coordinate with stainless steel Revere lines and a non-stick interior. This line was likely introduced to cater to the growing consumer interest in non-stick cookware, which had gained popularity since the 1960s.

In addition to these two lines, Revere Ware introduced other series in 2003, such as the Chef's Request, Traditions, and Convenience lines. These series offered a range of features, including stainless steel bodies, copper bottoms, soft-grip handles, vented glass lids, and non-stick coatings.

While Revere Ware has since ceased production, its legacy in the cookware industry remains, with some of its designs and innovations continuing to influence modern kitchenware.

Revere Ware was sold to Corning Glass Inc. in 1985

Revere Ware was introduced in 1939 by the Revere Brass & Copper Corp. The line included consumer cookware such as skillets, sauce pans, stock pots, and tea kettles. Over the next 40 years, Revere Ware introduced new series to compete with other manufacturers at various price points. However, by the early 1960s, the profitability of Revere Ware began to level off, coinciding with new series introductions and cost-cutting measures in the manufacture of traditional cookware.

In the 1970s, the parent company, Revere Brass & Copper Corp., experienced financial difficulties due to the transfer of its aluminium production from domestic to overseas manufacturing. By 1982, these financial issues forced the company to file for bankruptcy. Despite these challenges, the cookware subsidiary, Revere Ware Incorporated, remained profitable.

In 1985, Revere Ware was sold to Corning Glass Inc. for an estimated $120 million. This acquisition added more than 10% to Corning's consumer products division's sales. Within ten years, Corning Glass Inc. expanded Revere Ware from four lines at the time of acquisition to over a dozen lines, while ceasing all domestic manufacturing.

Corning introduced new series and made frequent minor changes across existing lines, undermining consumer confidence in the brand. Despite this, Corning successfully expanded the Revere Ware brand to new markets, including cutlery and small appliances, and developed new products such as the Pro-Line series and a gourmet line of pots and pans. Under Corning's management, Revere Ware saw significant sales growth, particularly in tea kettles and aluminium-disc cookware.

In 1998, World Kitchen became the controlling parent company of Corning, and Revere Ware was reintroduced with select variations, including copper-cored stainless steel and anodized non-stick aluminium. However, as of 2018, World Kitchen has ceased operations, and the Revere Ware line is no longer in production.

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