Rachael Ray is one of the biggest american tv chef. As a tv chef, you must have your own line of cookware. Rachael Ray Cookware is a prime example of this. However, just because they are a celebrity chef, does not mean that they can make a good cookware. Usually they are just leveraging their name to line their pocket. But is Rachael Ray Cookware any different? It is quite affordable and how its designed might surprise you.

Rachael Ray Cucina Cookware Set Review Quick Summary

Categories	Rachel Ray Cookware Set
Performance	Great
Compatibility	Gas, Electric, Halogen, Glass Top
Colors	Range of Colors
Warranty	Lifetime Warranty
Brand Awareness	America
Country of Manufacturer	Cant find information probably China.
Thoughts	A surprisingly well designed nonstick cookware set. The best cookware in this set is the frying pan. I simply love the design of it. For the whole set, expect it to set you back around 150. Not bad for a full 12 piece set.
Reviewed Cookware	Rachael Ray 12 Piece Cucina Set

What is Hard Anodized Cookware?

On a traditional nonstick cookware, the teflon coating is painted onto the cookware. What they do is they sand blast a aluminum pan, paint on the teflon then bake it. While functional, there are a lot of issues in regards to the durability of the pan. To get around this, manufacturer have developed a new method to harden the nonstick coating.

To get the the nonstick coating to adhere to the pan, they use a electro-chemical process. This process creates hardens the aluminum oxide layer which toughens the nonstick. This type of process called anodizing, is actually quite common. It is frequently used when coloring metal parts. Lots of the copper plated stuff out there is made in a similar fashion. To get a better idea on how they hard anodize metal, take a look at the video below.

Rachael Ray Cookware Design

This section will discuss the various components of Rachael Ray Cookware. We will take a closer look at the handle, shape, construction and design features.

Handle

The handle on these cookware is like every other nonstick. A metal handle with a silicone sleeve attached. This provides a soft and comfortable grip. It wont get hot during the stove so you do not have to wear gloves. While a lot of professional cook look down on it, in terms of ergonomic, it is a very good choice. The issue is simply the temperature limit. Metal handles on cookware usually have no upper limit on the oven temperature. Surprisingly, the temperature limit of Rachael Ray Cookware is at 400 degree Fahrenheit. This is 50 degree higher than your average nonstick cookware.

Shape

The shape of Rachael Ray frying pan is surprisingly good. It has low flaring side that promotes evaporation of liquid. Frying pan that has tall sidewall, tends to captures steam causing food to steam. Also the lower sides makes it easier to flip food with a spatula. This design actually looks very similar to All Clad’s Skillet. Which I consider to be one of the best designed skillet out there.

The pot on the other hand looks odd. The base looks normal, but when you get near the rim, it flares out. I really do not know why they did that, but I assume its for capacity? If you only expand the top you can save money on manufacturing cost. While this design do look odd, it does give you more room to stir food. Whether this is a good or bad feature, is dependent on you. To me, it just looks like a cost cutting measure. A+ for efficiency I guess.

Lids

The lids are made of glass with a metal rim to improve durability. While its nice to look at the food while cooking, its pointless once steam forms. You cant really see in either way. For this reason, a fully metal lid is better. However, the general consumers usually prefer a lid that is glass. There is no vent holes on these cookware.

Rachael Ray Cucina 12 Pieces

The Rachael Ray Cookware set comes in 12 pieces. The lid and accessories counts as individual pieces so dont be fooled by that. However, what is there is sufficient for what you need to cook at home. It has 2 skillets, 2 sauce pot, 1 saute pan, 1 dutch oven and 2 nylon utensils. All in all, this is a pretty well put cookware set.

Teflon Health and Safety

There is a lot of fear in regards to nonstick cookware. It primarily revolves around the ingestion of the coating. After a while, nonstick coating will flake off and people are afraid that it will kill them. Luckily, these coating is chemically inert and it should pass through your body. While I do not recommend eating it, you shouldn’t have any ill effects.
What is hazardous is overheating the pan. If you manage to heat the pan over 572 degree Fahrenheit. Fumes will start getting released. For humans, they can experience flu like symptoms called the Teflon Flu. Birds were known to die from this. However, it is unlikely that a Human will die. To prevent overheating the pan, you should always add oil to a cold pan. Once it reaches the right temperature, then start cooking. If you see smoke from the oil, lower the heat. You are already past the optimal cooking temperature.

Durability

Durability is the biggest issue in regards to cookware. Once the nonstick coating goes, its time to replace the pans. You can prolong the life by never using metal utensils or the nylon scrubber. Wash the pan by hand and not dishwasher. Although I do believe they advertise it as dishwasher safe. Another thing to note is to not overheat the pan. The previous section already touched on this, but that is one of the biggest factor for nonstick deterioration.

Rachael Ray Cookware Thoughts

I am simply amazed at how well designed her cookware set. I thought it would be junk like most celebrity cookware. The skillet is the best one out of the bunch. The low flaring side should let you fry anything with ease. For around 150, you cannot go wrong. If you are looking for a cheap nonstick cookware set, this is the way to go.

I hope you like this Rachael Ray Cookware Review, If you would like to see more, please visit our Pots and Pans Review page.