()The Rachael Ray Stainless cookware set is very pretty to look at and has performed quite well to date.
Pros:
Easy to clean (to date).I wish I could review this after 2 years instead of a month and a half.So far though, so good.
Attractive.Pots seem to hold the shine nicely.Orange color is nice.
Orange handle covers appear to hold up very well.
Cons:
The stock pot handles are pretty tight in to the body of the pot.You have to use pot holders when boiling water as it's too easy to burn your fingers.
The other bummer is that the handles are only oven-rated up to 350 degrees.So if you want to make a fritata in the oven, don't use these pans.
The Calphalon pots that we've used for the last 5 years are breaking down. Even though they're the regular pans (not non-stick), the coatings are wearing.It will be interesting to see how these do in 5 years.I wish I could give more help than what I've listed above.
UPDATE:
The nice orange handles do NOT last.They're breaking apart after just a regular amount of wear and tear.We are not hard on our pots and pans and yet, they're breaking apart.That was part of the appeal of these.Based on how they're wearing, I would no longer recommend these.
We just got an induction stove top and since we needed stainless steel cookwear we tohught this would be a great fit, WRONG! everything sticks even if you add non-stick spary, which is not ideal. We got them only 42 days ago and they are looking like we've had them for years. Yes ,they are easy to clean but they worp and look burnt and scracthed. would not recommend this item
Buy Rachael Ray Stainless Steel II 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange Now
()really nice looking & are very light weight holding them. The fluted edges on all the pans make them easier to pour from but looks a little weird. I have arthritis in my hands so I had to give away my magnalite set as they were just too heavy for me to hold empty. These really washed up nicely & nothing stuck. I even scalded milk on purpose and it virtually wiped right out. I had to try them for the review but I keep the farberware set I got & gave these to a grandaughter getting ready to be on her own. She didn't mind that I tried them and she loved them. The glass lids are a real plus to be able to see when something starts to simmer with it covered. The handles make it so easy to hold them without slipping in your hand & they stayed cool.
Read Best Reviews of Rachael Ray Stainless Steel II 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange Here
()The Rachel Ray Stainless Steel II Cookware set includes a variety of pots and pans suitable for use by anyone from single home cooks to a family of up to four.The stainless steel performs well, heating evenly and quickly (which are really the biggest benefits to stainless).The grips (which are a louder tint of orange than the pictures indicate) do a great job of insulating your hands from cooking heat conducting through the handles.
As others have mentioned, they can be extremely tough to keep clean, but that's part and parcel with any stainless steel it's not non-stick, people!That said, I don't like to see stainless being pushed on novice home cooks who would likely be happier with a non-stick cookware set.But they see these shiny gorgeous pans on cooking shows and just have to have that look well, take a picture, because the first time heat and food hits these, that look is forever lost.Frankly, stainless is meant for performance over looks, and for that reason, belongs more in a restaurant kitchen than the average foodie's kitchen.
Overall, this cookware set is affordably priced and performs well, with some great additional ideas that more expensive sets miss such as insulated handles and glass lids.But the caution is that stainless steel may not be the right material at all for many home cooks.Do your homework before buying.
Want Rachael Ray Stainless Steel II 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange Discount?
()I love to cook, always have.Between mom and grandma, I grew up learning all the "tricks" of the trade.You are as likely to find me in the kitchen during the cold winter months baking up a holiday treat or working on a new recipe just as likely as you are to find me working on my cars during the warmer months.It's a "hobby" that people seem to have forgotten about in our modern times -good, old fashioned home cooking!
Yet, despite my love for the kitchen there was a problem; my hate for the cookware!Oh I've tried it all over the years.Everything from the cheapest of the cheap to some of the more expensive pots and pans.Yet time and time again they let me down.They either didn't hold up to repeated use; started to rust and/or tarnish; heated food unevenly; etc, etc.It was a nightmare.Having working in a restaurant in college I longed for the days when I had restaurant quality pots and pans to use -but, alas, my budget couldn't afford that!
So when I got the chance to try out these Stainless Steel pots and pans from Rachael Ray I was cautious, but willing to give them a shot.To be honest I had used the teflon coated equivalent also offered under the Rachael Ray name and was less than pleased.However, I went into this experiment with an open mind -let the cooking begin!
First and foremost, I decided to whip up dishes that really tested the ability of this cookware.Everything from pasta to stir fry and everything in between.For those of you not used to cooking with stainless steel you must remember that you have to use oil to keep food from sticking and that stainless steel tends to conduct heat a little faster than other materials you may have used in the past.
I was impressed with how evenly this cookware distributed heat.No hot spots, no wild temperature swings.Everything heated up uniformly and a bit quicker than what I was used too.+1
Next, the weight of the pans was tested.There is nothing more aggrevating than having to chase pots and pans around the stove because their weight is not distributed evenly.I am pleased to say that even with the smallest pot I had no problem keeping it in place and able to stir the contents with chasing it around and around.+1
Cleanup was the next adventure -and some of you know that cleaning can be a real chore.Now I have to be fair here, a lot of the "effort" you will put into cleaning any pot or pan has a lot to do with how you use it.If you turn the temperature up to the maximum and let things burn or boil over -well, you have your own situation to deal with there.However, if you cook things properly and keep an eye on things as they cook you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy these guys are to clean.I use a no-scratch ScotchBrite pad and so far I've been happy with the ease at which they clean.Sure, you have to use a little elbow grease now and then but after multiple uses these guys still look as good as the day I took them out of the box.+1
For this car guy who also loves to fool around in the kitchen this cookware has been a blessing.I have no doubt that a year from now I'll still be enjoying it and have high hopes that my search for the "perfect" pot and pan has finally ended -sure, you could get better with restaurant quality, but for the price point and features this set offers, why spend the extra money?
Yum!
Save 15% Off
I received one of these as a gift, and I am blown away.I can't comment on how durable it is, since I've just been using it about a week, but the non-stick ability is just amazing.I've cooked eggs, stir-fry, and spaghetti sauce in it, and everything just slides right out.And clean-up is so easy since nothing sticks, a quick swipe with a dishrag and some soap/hot water, and it's all clean.No soaking necessary, and I don't find myself putting it in the sink to procrastinate cleaning it...I don't even fill up the sink.
