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Your kitchen countertop may be loaded with appliances, but the basics of cooking, from sautéing to frying to boiling to steaming, are done on the stovetop in pots and pans. A good set of cookware is a culinary essential, and some of the best cookware available today is from Rachael Ray, one of the biggest names in cooking and baking.
Rachael Ray rose to fame championing quick, easy, and healthy meals for inexperienced and expert cooks alike. She has shared her love of food through television shows, cookbooks, and her line of colorful and practical cookware that is among the most popular on the market. She offers skillets, woks, pots, and pans, as well as sets that may include accessories and extras, such as utensils. A Rachael Ray cookware set may include as few as three items or as many as 14 items, but regardless of the number, each piece is designed to make it easy and fun to create delicious dishes.
How many pots and pans do you need? That number will factor into what set you choose.
If you only need a couple items to complete a set for basic cooking, you might want to buy them individually. However, if you need a half dozen items, such as saucepots, saute pans, skillets, and a stock pot, you might be better off investing in a set. You’ll save money, too.
If you’re cooking for one or two people, you may only need a few basic items. If you regularly cook for a lot of people or make more elaborate meals, opt for a larger set of 12 or 14 items.
Most of Rachael Ray’s cookware sets contain nonstick pots and pans. They’re easy to use and easy to clean.
That said, nonstick cookware sets require a bit of special care to keep them working effectively. You shouldn’t preheat an empty nonstick pan, especially if it’s made of aluminum. The pan heats up rapidly enough, and too much heat could ruin the pan’s surface if it’s empty.
Avoid using high heat, too, and only use wooden or silicone utensils to avoid scratching the nonstick surface.
Rachael Ray’s cookware distinguishes itself from the rest by offering pots and pans in a variety of colors. Nearly all of her cookware has at least a little bit of color, even if it’s just the handles or the lid.
If you’re interested in a more muted look, there are anodized aluminum pots and pans in plain gray with gray handles, too.
Rachael Ray Cucina hard anodized cookware has earned a fan-base of home cooks for its reliable nonstick surfaces and ability to heat even for precise results.
The pots, pans, and skillets in Rachael Ray’s Brights collection have a colorful enamel exterior in vibrant pumpkin orange, deep blue, bright red or royal purple. If you want to coordinate with a color scheme in your kitchen, or if you simply want to add a contrasting hue, the bright colors of this contemporary collection are sure to impress you.
These hard anodized aluminum nonstick cookware sets feature at least 10 items, and the pots and pans have nonstick surfaces and may be coated in porcelain.
The Rachael Ray Cucina nonstick collection offers a blend of a rustic look and feel with modern functionality. The colors in this collection are a bit more muted though still eye-catching. They include cranberry red, sea salt gray, pumpkin, lemongrass, and agave blue.
For those who embrace a country or farmhouse feel, this colorful cookware imparts a sense of nostalgia. You’ll have a choice of 10- to 14-piece cookware sets in this collection. The pieces are made from aluminum, some with porcelain exteriors.
Keep your clothes clean while you cook by wearing a kitchen apron. Many come in a one-size-fits-most style, and there are lots of designs to choose from.
Protect your hands while you’re fixing dinner with a pair of oven mitts. The best oven mitts are comfortable and keep you safe from high heat.
If you’re cooking for one or two people, you may only need a small set with a few basic items. If you regularly cook for a lot of people or make more elaborate meals, opt for a larger set of 12 or 14 items.
For $25 to about $60, you can find individual saucepans, steamers, stockpots or skillets. This range does not include large sets, but you can find sets that include a pair of frying pans, for example, in this range.
You can purchase a Rachael Ray cookware set for between $75 an $150. These may feature up to 14 or 15 items and come in a variety of color options.
For about $110 to $150, you’ll find most comprehensive cookware sets in the Cucina and Brights collections, including up to 14 or 15 pieces.
Are you trying to outfit a new home or apartment kitchen on a budget? In general, Rachael Ray cookware sets and individual pieces are less expensive than other popular name-brand cookware.
Rachael Ray has plenty of single items and sets to satisfy your cooking needs.
We like this hard-anodized Rachael Ray Cucina Wok that’s offered in a variety of colors and oven safe to 400°F. Most sets don’t include a wok, so it’s worth buying one separately.
We also like this 14-piece, hard-enamel Rachael Ray Cookware Set that includes kitchen utensils as well as a baking sheet.
The Rachael Ray Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a versatile pot that can hold as much as 5 quarts of food and withstand temperatures up to 500°F.
A piece of useful piece of cookware you won’t necessarily find in a set is a casserole dish. We like this 5.5-quart Rachael Ray Brights Casserole Dish with matching handles and a glass lid.
A. While some Rachael Ray cookware is designated as dishwasher safe, it’s always best to wash it by hand if possible. The chemicals in some dishwasher detergents may decrease the lifespan of pots and pans, especially the nonstick variety.
What’s more, the cookware could get scratched if something were to move against it in the dishwasher.
When washing cookware by hand, use a gentle cloth or sponge with warm water and soap. You can soak a pan in water to remove stuck-on food. It’s best to dry the cookware by hand as well.
A. Hanging your cookware will protect the surfaces of the pots and pans, especially nonstick items. Stacking cookware could scratch or dent it, which can ruin the nonstick coating. A wall shelf or hanging rack is best.
If you must stack the pans on a shelf or in a drawer, put something between them, such as paper towels, to protect the surfaces. Make sure the cookware is fully dry before storing and keep it out of direct sunlight.
A. Rachael Ray hard anodized cookware has been reinforced to be harder and more durable than similar products that haven’t been anodized. This is a process frequently done to aluminum to increase its longevity and promote even heating. Typically, cookware that is hard anodized is more expensive, but it should last longer than other options.
