Customer Reviews

Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick 14-Piece Cookware Set, Orange

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought these five months ago. I spent hours and hours online shopping for a new set of pots and pans, reading hundreds of reviews, researching the benefits of hard adonizing over stainless steel and other aluminum products, and this was the set I finally chose. I couldn't be happier! I looked at everything out there; from the cheapest to the most expensive professional cookware there is. I compared Pampered Chef, Paula Deen, Emeril, Cuisinart, Kitchenaid, Le Creuset.....and more. I checked them all out!

My Criteria. Versatility - I'm single so for the most part I use the smaller pans in the set. Because of that it was important to me to find a set that had lids that fit the smaller skillets. Most sets out there have lids for the pots, but nothing for the skillets. But I also wanted larger pans for when I do entertain.

Durability - I've spent way too much money in the past on pans that bend if you drop them, can't stand up to high heat, or end up with non-stick that starts peeling off after a few uses. I was looking for durability.

Non-Stick - I'm a cook, not a chef, and have never really like stainless steel, so it was weeded out of the selection choices early on. I do like cast iron and at first was dreamy eyed about very expensive enamel coated cast iron (Le Creuset), until several of the reviews reported their enamel was chipping into the food and they have had no luck collecting on the lifetime guarantee, and this stuff is expensive!

Price - obviously I wanted the best bang for my buck. I'd have purchased a more expensive set if I thought the quality pay off was worth it.

So that was my criteria.....and this set fullfills it perfectly.

Durability - Hard adonized - It is twice as strong as stainless steel, and a fraction of the weight. I haven't dropped any on the floor yet, or taken a hammer to them, but they feel solid and have held up fantastic so far. The other choices didn't seem so great. Any of the enamel sets (including Rachel Ray) reported chipping and peeling enamel, some just from being put in the dishwasher a couple of times. The cheaper non-stick coatings were peeling off, and I've already mentioned the issue with the enamel cast iron. The real test of the hard adonized will reveal itself with time. I've used them in high eat, stuck them in the oven, cooked rice, eggs, mac & cheese, and it all slides right off the non-stick coating and haven't had even a scorch no matter how high the heat. I'm OCD about using the appropriate utensils for non-stick pans in order to avoid scratches or abrasions, but this non-stick coating is not the cheap crap that will eventually peel off. If you take care of it, it's going to last a while.

Versatility - The lids from the pots fit the skillets! It is So awesome to have a lid for every pan! No more using a tiny lid in a big pan to cook my basted eggs; no more having the edges of a bigger lid dripping condensation onto a burner.....a lid for every pan!! The one question I was asking myself as I unpacked it was "where the heck am I going to put these?" Well, all the pots nest nicely within each other, with a paper towel between them to protect the finish, and the same goes for the skillets. The lids actually take up more space, but also store easily in a couple of stacks next to the pans.

So, there you have it. I'm really well-pleased with this cookware. I almost didn't buy it at first because I didn't want to get sucked into buying a set with a TV Chef's name attached. But I really did the research and was convinced this was perfect for me, and so far, I have been spot on!

Update: A few more months have gone by and I thought I should add a couple things. The set is still as great as my original review and I still love them.

A warning about putting them in the dishwasher. I don't know if it is recommended or not, but I thought I'd rather use the dishwasher even if it shortened the lifespan of the pans a bit. However, the soap residue did discolor the outside of the pan. I was able to scrub it off with an SOS pad, but then decided I love their color too much to run them through the dishwasher. They clean up so easily that it's not a big deal.

Also, someone commented about a cheap set that got burn marks on the bottom. These will get burn marks also. It's pretty much my fault as I've poured grease out of the pan and then put it back on the burner, and the grease that dripped down the side burned. It came off with some scrubbing, but there is still a mark there.

Regardless of these two issues, this set still is perfect for what I wanted and is performing in every way expected. Enjoy!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this pot set. I had just recently relocated from up north to down south and was in the market for a new pot set for my new home. I did alot of research and looking at reviews on many many websites. I was a little apprehensive about purchasing since my new home has a glass cooktop stove and many reviewers expressed concern about its use with a glass cooktop. Well i decided to give it a try and they are great. They clean up easily and cook well and evenly. When storing I place a paper towel in between all the pots so that they won't scratch each other. I even use them with high temperature and no problems with the pots or my cooktop. I cook at least twice a day so the pots get quite a lot of use and they still look brand new after four months of heavy use and constant washing. Great buy!!!!

I have not purchased (for myself) cookware in 15 years and bought this set a year ago for my daughter and have been helping her out with her twin girls and using the cookware. I liked it so much that I purchased the 14 pc. set for myself. The best investment I have made in a long time.

I purchased these items and was very excited about getting them. I like the look and felt it would be a great addition to my kitchen. When I got them I really liked the look and was what I expected. That is where it stopped meeting my expectations. I read the warranty and directions and went over everything with my husband so that he knew how to use them. When storing them I even placed the cardboard under each pan as I stacked them so that they wouldn't scratch eachother. I wanted these to last a long time. But they didn't. I have only had them a month and the pans that I use end up with brown spots on the bottom of them. Then recently we were cooking turkey bacon in one of the pans and to this moment I still can't get the 1/4" of stuff of the pan. Everything in the pan stuck to it and I still am an unable to get it off. I wasn't even cooking it on hight heat like they tell you not to. When I called the warranty program it is just a phone number that you are not even able to reach a live person to discuss your issue. All they give is an address that you are suppose to pay to have it shipped to and they will review it for warranty. I feel that is a poor process. It would be nice to be able to actually speak to a live person first before having to pay for shipping across the county. I wouldn't recommend this product and would suggest buying something else. If the warranty process would be easier than it is, I would maybe suggest it as I may have had just a bad set. But with not having a great guaranty, I suggest another pan set.

I bought this 14 piece Rachael Ray Cookware set through Amazon.com for $179.99 with free shipping! It was my wifes Christmas present, and we both enjoy it tremendously. We have used the cookware on a few occasions since purchase and they are great. They clean well and are light and durable. Recommended!!!!

I LOVE this set!! I use it every chance I get. It is very durable, heavy duty cookware. Everything I cook slides right out, Clean up is a breeze! I highly recommend buying this set. This is my first major purchase on a cookware set. After buying all the cheap sets I will NEVER go back. The price is outstanding and they are worth every penny!! I ordered these Feb 26 and they were at my front door Feb 27!! I was cooking with them that night! LOVE THEM!!

I have had these pans now for a year ( Christmas 2010) almost and they are still like brand new! I use them everyday 1-4 times perday. I use the large saute skillet (4 1/2 qt) the 4 1/2 qt sauce oan, and 4 1/2 qt stock/soup pot most often, but i LOVE THEM!! I always cook for a crowd, I own a daycare and have a large family, so I love the sizes of these pans! I alos use the small sizes for different thigns too, so I use them all, but they all still look almost new! I have a few very light marks in the frying pans from times my husband accidently used a fork or something, but nothing deep and nothing that has compromised the non stick surface. I have NEVER used the dishwasher, as it says not to in the instructions, and I have NEVER used spray on oil, or non stick spray, not even for frying eggs and have NEVER had anything stick to these pans!!! Pancakes and eggs and french toast all come off perfectly clean, I can even use the pan for flipping, always wanted to have a pan good enough to do that!!! :) The silicone handles are wonderful, no burns, slips, or rust! so nice!Not to mention, they look so nice! everyone compliments me, and i have the coordinaing casserole dishes and knives and utensil sets so my kitchen looks sooo fabulous! I love these Racheal Ray pans and her matching accesories. Great Line, would definately buy again or for a gift!

I received my order last week and I've been using it every chance I get. I was impressed by the review I read that said when she called the company about a defect, they sent her a replacement, no questions asked. I love that kind of commitment to customer service! I chose hard anodized for the purported durability and I'm so glad I did!

So far, nothing has stuck to the pans and they clean like a breeze! I've fried, sauteed, made gravy, boiled pasta and potatoes, and they clean so easy! I'm not overly thrilled with the orange handles, but they are comfortable and oven safe! The only problem I'm having is trying to store them. The lids have nice arches to them that allow for lots of room for your hands so they don't get burned, but they are bulky for storage purposes.

However, I MAY just get my pot rack because hubby wants to preserve them as much as me...

I had been "nursing" a set of much less expensive Teflon-coated Farberware cookware for at least 10 years (I lost track of when I had purchased it). Slowly but surely these past few years, the black Teflon coating started to flake off at the rims, probably because of the contact with the covers. So, finally I had enough of that, and decided to treat myself to a new set of cookware. I spent a good deal of time reading Amazon reviews for many different brands, and decided to take a chance on the Rachael Ray set. Good decision!

I have tried out most of the pieces except for the 4-1/2-quart covered saute pan (haven't had the need to use it yet) and the 8-inch open skillet (still working on another perfectly good one before switching to Rachael's). So far, the non-stick performance is superb, as it is with most new non-stick cookware. Time will tell how long it will maintain its non-stick integrity, even with the most careful treatment. But, I expect that it will last a long time.

I want to comment on some complaints in some of the other reviews. First of all, all pieces came in good shape, nothing broken, nothing out-of-round. The packaging was so carefully executed that it took me at least 10 minutes to unpack all the components of the set. Have no fears if you order this set: unless the delivery service singles the (very large) box for extra-rough handling, your set should arrive in perfect form.

The lids fit the way that lids should fit. I had no problem cocking the lid on the 6-quart covered stockpot to one side to avoid boil-over while simmering soup for several hours.

ALSO, a BIG PLUS: the lids fit several pieces of cookware that I already owned, including anodized aluminum Calphalon [supposedly non-stick, but definitely not!] pots (what a waste of good money!). But, I still use the two Calphalon steamers, and there are Rachael Ray see-through lids that fit each of the steamers, permitting me to observe progress on things like asparagus, whereas Calphalon lids were flat, solid metal that hid the contents. One of the other Rachael Ray lids also fits my existing skillet perfectly. So, I am inclined to believe that there is some standardization in the industry.

Finally, I took a chance and tested the claim that, "The cookware sustains oven temperatures up to 400 degrees F," by baking a recipe in the 6-quart covered stockpot at 325ºF oven for several hours. The orange silicone rubber insulation on the handles and lid came through unharmed with flying colors. Well done, Rachael!

Bottom line: I do not regret for one moment having splurged on this set. It is a recommended BUY.

My wife has told me this is the best gift I have given her so far. Non-stick works, easy to clean, and everything cooks nicely at a great price.