This comprehensive review of the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker delves into its performance, versatility, and overall value after two months of rigorous testing in our home kitchen.

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Copper Chef Wonder Cooker Review: An In-Depth Look at Versatile Kitchen Essentials

In a world overflowing with kitchen gadgets promising to revolutionize your cooking, finding genuinely versatile and effective cookware can be a challenge. We embarked on a two-month journey to put the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker through its paces, tackling everything from large batches of spaghetti sauce and perfectly roasted chickens to everyday breakfasts and delicately steamed vegetables. This review provides an honest, detailed account of our experiences, highlighting both the strengths and limitations of this highly advertised set.

First Impressions: Unboxing the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker

Upon hearing “Wonder Cooker,” my initial thought leaned towards a compact, multi-functional appliance. To my pleasant surprise, what arrived was a robust collection of pans and baskets. This was a welcome relief, as our kitchen often feels overrun by single-purpose appliances that, despite their claims, excel at only a handful of tasks. True pots and pans, in contrast, offer unparalleled versatility, adapting to countless culinary techniques and recipes.

The set we received included the core Wonder Cooker Set, complemented by the Copper Chef Square Casserole Set. Each piece boasted a thoughtful design and a reassuring heft, a testament to their cast-aluminum construction. The cookware is finished with a ceramic non-stick coating, proudly advertised as PTFE & PFOA free. Copper Chef makes bold claims about its non-stick capabilities, suggesting no need for oil, butter, or grease. We were eager to put this to the ultimate test.

For a quick visual overview of the product’s features and marketing claims, you can refer to the official infomercial:

Putting the Non-Stick Claim to the Test: The Egg Experiment

The promise of cooking without any added fats is appealing, so our first real test focused on the notoriously sticky egg. Could the Copper Chef truly deliver a perfectly cooked, effortlessly released egg?

Indeed, the egg initially cooked beautifully, sliding around the pan with ease.

However, the moment of truth arrived when attempting to flip it. The egg did stick a bit, creating a slight mess that ultimately led to a delicious batch of scrambled eggs. While not the flawless flip we’d hoped for, the fact that scrambled eggs could still be prepared without any oil was impressive.

Beyond the cooking experience itself, the cleanup was remarkably simple. A quick wipe with a paper towel was all it took to leave the pan sparkling clean, reaffirming the ceramic coating’s easy-release properties.

*A quick note on a specific pan: The pan used for our larger family omelets (not part of the core Wonder Cooker system, and seemingly sold out on their site) generally benefited from a little oil. While food would stick occasionally, it was always easy to scrape off. A light spritz of cooking oil consistently enhanced the cooking experience and ensured a smoother release, even with non-stick cookware.

Versatility in Action: Mastering Everyday Meals and Beyond

The true strength of the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker lies in its adaptability. We explored various cooking methods, and some components quickly became kitchen favorites.

Effortless Steaming with the Deep Roaster and Baskets

One of my absolute favorite configurations involved the large, deep roasting pan paired with the steamer baskets. This setup simplifies healthy cooking immensely.

By adding just an inch of water to the bottom of the roaster and placing your chosen vegetables in the baskets, you can achieve perfectly steamed results with minimal effort. What truly sets this system apart is its ability to steam multiple types of vegetables simultaneously.

For instance, we steamed broccoli and cauliflower together. Knowing that broccoli cooks faster, we simply removed its basket after a few minutes, allowing the cauliflower to continue steaming until tender-crisp. The included basket lifter is a thoughtful and essential accessory, ensuring you can safely remove hot baskets without burning yourself. This makes meal prep incredibly efficient, allowing you to achieve various textures for different vegetables in one go.

While I appreciate the convenience of a glass lid, which allows for monitoring the cooking process, I found the lid handle design somewhat impractical. It proved challenging to grip securely with an oven mitt, a minor but noticeable design quirk.

“Cheater” Chinese Steamed Buns: A Delightful Discovery

The Wonder Cooker also proved to be an unexpected ally in preparing a special family recipe: “cheater” Chinese steamed buns. My mom introduced us to this clever hack, utilizing packaged refrigerated biscuit dough (the kind that bursts open with an alarming pop!).

The process is simple yet yields delicious results: roll out a biscuit dough round, stuff it with your preferred filling, then pleat and pinch it shut. Wet the bottom of the dumpling and press it into some roasted sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.

Next, place the prepared dumplings inside the Wonder Cooker with a tablespoon and a half of cooking oil. Crisp the bottom of the dumplings, then pour in about a quarter cup of water, cover with the lid, and steam until the water has evaporated, the dough is fully cooked, and the bottoms are wonderfully crisp.

The non-stick surface of the Wonder Cooker performed flawlessly here; the dumplings released without any issues, making it the perfect vessel for these quick and satisfying treats. In just 20 minutes, we had a batch of beautifully cooked, restaurant-quality dumplings.

Performance Breakdown: Pros and Cons of the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker

After two months of extensive use, we’ve identified specific tasks where the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker truly shines, and a few areas where its performance is merely adequate or best avoided.

What Worked Exceptionally Well:

Roasting Vegetables: Both the grill pan and the deep roaster delivered perfectly caramelized and tender roasted vegetables. The even heat distribution was noticeable.
Roasting Whole Chicken: The deep roaster accommodated a whole chicken beautifully, resulting in a golden-brown skin and juicy interior. Its ability to go from stovetop to oven is a major advantage.
Slow Cooking: Used on an induction cooktop with a very low heat setting, the deep roaster effectively functioned as a slow cooker for dishes like pulled pork, simmering evenly for hours.
Searing and Roasting: For recipes requiring an initial sear followed by oven roasting (e.g., roasts, certain poultry cuts), the deep roasting pan excelled, streamlining the cooking process and minimizing extra dishes. This pan truly stands out for its versatility.
Large Batch Cooking: Preparing significant quantities of spaghetti sauce in the roaster was a breeze. Its capacity and ability to transfer directly to the oven kept the sauce warm for guests, a practical feature for entertaining.
Broths and Soups: Roasting beef bones in the oven first, then transferring the roaster to the stovetop to create rich beef broth and flavorful French Onion Soup, demonstrated the cookware’s seamless transition between cooking methods.
Baking: The square pan proved excellent for baking, producing uniformly cooked brownies.
Efficient Steaming: As detailed earlier, steaming various vegetables simultaneously was incredibly easy and effective.
Multi-Tasking in One Pan: The square pan was ideal for a breakfast spread, allowing us to cook scrambled eggs and fry sausage patties side-by-side with no cross-contamination or sticking.

What Worked Okay:

Cooking Bacon and Steak in the Grill Pan: While the non-stick surface was fine, the grill pan’s relatively low sides weren’t high enough to contain bacon splatter or the oil spatters from searing steak, making cleanup around the stovetop more involved. For these items, a dedicated skillet with higher sides might be preferred.
Air Frying with Grill Pan + Basket: This setup can achieve some air frying results, but it didn’t quite match the efficiency or crispness achieved by a dedicated electric air fryer appliance. For serious air frying, a specialized unit still performs better.
Cooking with No Oil: While theoretically possible, we consistently found that using even a minimal amount (around 25% of what you’d typically use) of cooking oil significantly improved food release, browning, and overall cooking experience, especially for delicate foods or those prone to sticking despite non-stick claims.

Tasks We Would Likely Avoid:

Deep Frying French Fries: We opted not to deep fry French fries in the Wonder Cooker. The practicalities of handling large quantities of hot oil, including safe disposal, make dedicated electric deep fryers or even air fryers a more suitable and safer choice for this particular task.

Long-Term Verdict: Earning its Place in the Kitchen

After a little over two months of consistent use, the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker has undeniably earned its spot in our kitchen. Not every single piece, but key components have secured permanent real estate in our pots and pans drawer – specifically, the large roaster, the steaming baskets, the grill pan, and the square pan. Their frequent use is a testament to their practicality and performance.

I also want to give a special mention to another Copper Chef product that impressed us:

This is the extra-large 11″ casserole with lid and steamer. Its generous size makes it perfect for traditional Chinese steamed dim sum dumplings (as an excellent alternative to bamboo steamers), steaming substantial batches of vegetables, or preparing dishes like Chinese steamed fish. Notably, the versatile square pan that we love also comes as part of this highly recommended set.

Conclusion: Is the Copper Chef Wonder Cooker a Smart Investment?

The Copper Chef Wonder Cooker lives up to much of its hype, offering a genuinely versatile and mostly effective non-stick cooking experience. It excels particularly in steaming, roasting, and multi-purpose stovetop-to-oven cooking. While the “no oil” claim is somewhat ambitious for certain foods and tasks, using a small amount of fat significantly enhances the cooking process without compromising on easy cleanup.

For those seeking a multi-functional cookware set that can handle a wide array of cooking styles – from healthy steaming to hearty roasting and baking – the Wonder Cooker is a strong contender. Its durable cast-aluminum construction and PFOA-free ceramic coating provide a reliable foundation for daily cooking needs. Despite a few minor quibbles (like the lid handle and splatter containment for high-heat searing), its overall performance, ease of cleaning, and adaptability make it a valuable addition to any kitchen looking to consolidate tools and expand culinary possibilities.

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Copper Chef Wonder Cooker Set Giveaway

We are excited to announce a giveaway for one Copper Chef Wonder Cooker Set!