I fell in love with French copper cookware at Monet's house in Giverny – and I've just spotted an excellent budget alternative

This summer, I visited Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny. The painter lived there from 1883 until 1926, in a pastel-pink cottage surrounded by wildflower gardens that feel like stepping into one of his canvases. But my favorite space was the kitchen; swathed in blue and filled with the largest collection of French copper cookware I’ve ever seen.

If you know anything about French copper cookware, you’ll know it doesn’t come cheap. The most iconic brand, Mauviel, charges a small fortune for a single saucepan (think $300-$400 at least).

When looking for ways to bring the look home for less, I stumbled on some copper exterior pans at IKEA that are much more affordable and examples of some of the best induction pans, too, if you don't have a rustic French stove to match.

IKEA’s take on French copper cookware certainly looks the part, but it's not quite the real deal. The FINMAT series is made primarily of stainless steel (which is still a fantastic cooking material) with a thin copper cladding on the exterior.

Authentic copper cookware is crafted from thicker, solid copper and lined with stainless steel instead. I've tested one like this from Hestan (it's my winner in our best non-toxic cookware guide). Here, the copper isn’t just decorative – it’s structural, delivering the legendary responsiveness chefs love. Copper is one of the best heat conductors, reacting quickly to changes in temperature, thus perfect for precise sauces (think caramel or our lavender custard dessert recipe)

That said, IKEA’s version of French copper cookware has plenty of love from customers, with reviews averaging four stars. One says: 'Quick to heat up and an even temperature maintained throughout cooking. Love love!' Another praised the design: 'I have a set of these hanging from my pot rack above my island and they’ve tarnished beautifully… Most importantly though, they cook superbly and quickly...'

IKEA’s pans won’t deliver the same performance as professional-grade copper, but they do capture the warm, golden glow that makes copper so appealing. For many home cooks, that’s enough: you get the French copper cookware look, easy care thanks to the stainless steel interior, and a fraction of the price tag.

Back in my own home, I’ll certainly be simmering ratatouille in one of IKEA’s copper pans, and slowly building a collection to hang above the stove (I've got one of these pot racks from Home Depot, ready and waiting).

If, like me, you're mesmerized by Monet's countryside house and garden, you might want to take a look at our guide on how to design a French provincial garden, filled with the colors of an Impressionist masterpiece.

If French cooking is more your thing, we've got a recipe for an Alsace-style Tarte Flambeé that can be made any kind of frying pan and a plain old pizza stone – not just the chic French copper cookware kind. It's worth a try.