The Complete Guide to Rachael Ray Cookware - Cookware Insider (2024)

In this Complete Guide to Rachael Ray Cookware, we will learn who Rachael Ray is and which one of her many cookware collections will best fit you and your needs. As a celebrity chef megastar, she can put her name on nearly anything that has to do with cooking and lifestyle. This guide will show you if buying Rachael Ray cookware will be a good fit.

Rachael Ray became a household name in the early 2000s’ as a celebrity chef on the Food Network. In September of 2006, her show Racheal Ray aired on syndicate morning television with the format of having celebrities come on to talk about relevant projects and at the end of each show cook a fun recipe, sometimes with the help of her guest.

Racheal Ray started by working various jobs in the food industry in New York state. It wasn’t until she started teaching a cooking class in a gourmet market to show hesitant cooks that cooking could be easy and fun that she thought to do television.

The cooking class gave her the idea for her breakout show, “30 minute Meals,” which aired on the Food Network in late 2001. The show ran for 11 seasons, ending in 2012.

30 Minute Meals was the launchpad for a career that would extend into several short-run and long-run tv shows, almost 30 cookbooks, talk shows, magazines, a dog food line, accessories, and product endorsem*nts. Rachael has won and been nominated for several Emmys and many other awards and honors from different publications.

Her quirky personality and big smile won the hearts of people everywhere, and it’s what helped her sell so many products today.

Rachael Ray cookware has nine collections ranging from cast iron to hard-anodized nonstick pans. With such a large selection of cookware, you should be able to find a piece to cover nearly any cooking situation.

The collections are attractive and practical, coming in many different color selections, so you’ll be able to match any design aesthetic you have. You’ll be able to display them as decoration if you hang pots and pans or if you have open shelves, you can place them with dinnerware to blend with any color scheme seamlessly.

There are nine collections of Rachael Ray cookware. Each comes with a selection of color schemes; some have more colors to choose from than others. The colors are contemporary and will match nearly any popular kitchen aesthetic. Others are plain cast iron or stainless steel.

The collections we will be looking at are Cast Iron, Cityscapes, Classic Brights, Create Delicious, Cucina, Enamel on Steel, Get Cooking!, NonStick Hard Anodized, and Stainless Steel. The collection price ranges from $25 for a single piece to $320 for a set. Let’s look at each collection and see which one is the best fit for you.

Create Delicious Collection

The Create Delicious Collection offers 21 products from which to choose. Aside from the 10 piece stainless steel set, all of the Create Delicious collection is nonstick, with some pieces offering hard-anodized nonstick surfaces. There are 13 colors to choose from throughout the collection, depending on the piece.

They are induction safe, made of aluminum or stainless steel for even cooking and heat distribution, and are oven safe up to 400 degrees. They have an enamel exterior that comes in many colors and looks great in any kitchen.

You should buy from the Create Delicious Collection when looking for a piece to round out the existing cookware collection you already have at home. If you enjoy the Create Delicious Collection, then there are a few sets to replace your current cookware at home or when you’re buying your first set.

Cityscapes Collection

The Cityscapes Collection offers a 10 piece aluminum set with a porcelain exterior, nonstick cooking surface, glass lids, and dual riveted painted phenolic handles.

They are safe in the oven up to 350 degrees, are ergonomically designed, and are very striking. You can hang every piece, including the stockpots.

The aluminum construction means that it will heat evenly and is durable, lasting you for many years, even with everyday use.

You should buy the Cityscapes Collection when you are looking for a set of cookware to take care of your everyday cooking needs while at the same time possessing quality and a colorful style.

Classic Brights Collection

The Classic Brights Collection has the largest selection of cookware offered by Rachael Ray.

There are 11 modern colors throughout the collection, depending on the piece or set.

There is a variety of 14, 12, and 10 piece sets offering casserole dishes, frying pans, stockpots, and butter warmers as individual purchases.

Made from aluminum for even heating and long-lasting durability, the interior is either hard-anodized, platinum technology, or premium nonstick cooking surfaces. The large color selection will blend with any kitchen design.

Buy from the Classic Bright Collection when you are looking for durable yet sophisticated cookware. The large selection will make it easy to find what you need in any cooking situation.

Cast Iron Collection

The Cast Iron Collection is the ultimate in cookware longevity. Renowned for getting better with each use, cast iron, when cared for properly, can be passed down as heirlooms to future generations. The enamel-coated exterior on some of the pieces comes in either blue or red.

The solid cast iron material means that it can handle nearly any temperature a home cook can throw at it. Cast iron also holds heat better than any other material, so you have a very even cooking surface while the heat stays very consistent with no heat fluctuation. These are great for stovetop-to-oven-to-table recipes.

You should purchase from the Cast Iron Collection when you are looking for durability, even cooking, and a piece that will last a lifetime.

Cucina Collection

The Cucina Collection is a fan favorite with its stylish design and fun colors. There are several sets that come in either 12 or 13 piece options. There are many different one-off pieces that include a griddle, 3-quart saucepan, stir fry “wok,” butter warmer, and 3-quart steamer set.

All pieces are made from aluminum, with some coming in hard-anodized aluminum for extra durability. The cooking surface is either premium nonstick or hard anodized nonstick.

The handles are dual riveted silicone with stainless steel, while the exteriors are either porcelain or hard-anodized aluminum with a dishwasher-safe clear coat—oven safe up to 400 degrees.

Buy from the Cucina Collection when you are looking for classic cookware that is versatile, stylish, and durable.

Enamel On Steel Collection

The Enamel on Steel Collection only offers 2 pieces. The differences are that one has a nonstick interior cooking surface, and the other is enamel on steel on the interior and exterior.

Both are oven-safe up to 400 degrees, so you can easily go from stove to oven while using the comfortable loop handles.

Since both are 12 quarts, you should buy from the Enamel on Steel Collection when you’re looking to feed larger groups like your family or when you have a party at your house. They are great for making homemade stock and big batches of soup on cold days.

Get Cooking! Collection

The Get Cooking! Collection offers an 8 piece and an 11 piece set. They come in either red, blue, or grey and each one has something unique to offer.

The 8 piece is designed with the idea to save you space by up to 55%. The thick aluminum build means you’ll have even heating and cooking. The clever consolidation cookware set means you will have a kitchen that stays neat and organized—oven safe up to 400 degrees.

The 11 piece set hits all of the essentials. You won’t need to buy many pieces outside of this set. The swing lid fits both the dutch oven and the saute pan, saving you space in your cupboards. They are as functional as they are eye-catching—oven safe up to 350 degrees.

Both sets are not dishwasher safe and are not induction compatible.

Buy the Get Cooking Collection when you need to save space or are looking to buy a set that hits all the essentials that home cooks needs.

Nonstick Hard-Anodized Collection

The Nonstick Hard-Anodized Collection offers just 2 pieces. A 14-inch frying pan and an 8-quart covered oval stockpot.

The 14-inch frying pan is made from hard-anodized aluminum with a nonstick cooking surface, dual riveted cast stainless steel handles, and a helper handle for larger one-pot meals. Goes straight from the cooktop to the oven up to 500 degrees. It’s dishwasher safe and induction compatible.

The 8-quart covered oval stockpot is made from hard-anodized aluminum with a nonstick cooking surface, and dial riveted cast stainless steel handles. Oven safe up to 500 degrees, is dishwasher safe, and not induction compatible.

Buy the Nonstick Hard-Anodized Collection when you are looking for ultra-tough nonstick cookware that can take daily use and high heat while at the same time looking slick and modern.

Stainless Steel Collection

The Stainless Steel Collection offers 2 options. An 11 piece stainless steel and hard-anodized aluminum cookware set and a 10-inch frying pan.

The 11 piece set is the ultimate cookware set, built for performance and durability. It’s a collection of Rachael Ray’s favorite pieces, giving you the ability to saute, roast, simmer, and fry. They’re all made from stainless steel, with the frying pan having a nonstick interior. They are dishwasher safe, induction compatible, and oven safe up to 500 degrees.

The 10-inch frying pan is built from heavy gauge stainless steel and is performance motivated. Taken care of properly, this piece will last a lifetime. The interior is brushed stainless steel, which is terrific for searing and deglazing. The lid is made from tempered glass. Its oven safe up to 500 degrees, induction compatible, and dishwasher safe.

The Racheal Ray Cucina Collection Nonstick Cookware Set is seen here in a fun pumpkin orange but comes in 7 other colors. This set hits all of the essentials when looking for a new cookware set or if you’re buying a set for the first time.

I have had this cookware set for about a year and a half now. I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with how well they’ve held up given some of the reviews saying they were garbage within 3 months. Many of the reviewers stated that they used and cleaned them properly, but still had issues with staining, fading, chipping, or exploding lids, etc. Mine have a little wear and tear, which I’d expect, after a year and a half, but the color has not faded at all, the Teflon is still unscratched, isn’t peeling, is basically like new. I always hand wash with hot water and use dawn soap with a non-abrasive sponge. I only use coated, silicone or wood spoons, whisks, etc. And, I use the right size pot for the right size burner (gas stove). This makes a BIG difference. Honestly, I’d never really thought about it before, but it mentions this in the care instructions. If you let flames shoot up the sides of the pot you’re going to get discoloration or browning on the bottom and/or edges. I’ve seen that in previous sets I’ve owned, but didn’t realize that was the cause. So, with this set, I’ve been careful to not let that happen and its worked! Thankfully, I have not had a lid explode on me as some others have experienced. I’m crossing my fingers that doesn’t happen, but so far so good! Overall, I’m really happy with this set of cookware. I included some photos of the ones I use on a daily basis. So, I don’t know…. I don’t want to say that others didn’t use or care for theirs properly; maybe they did get a “lemon” set or something, but mine look and work great after a year and a half! I highly recommend.

K-Mac ~ Amazon Customer

The Rachael Ray Create Delicious Stainless Steel 10 piece cookware set is an eye catcher. All the handles are light blue and would look great in any home. Oven safe up to 400 degrees, induction compatible so they are safe for any stovetop, etched measurement markings on the insides of the pots, and dishwasher safe.

If you don’t want to season your pan (yes, you can season stainless steel) I recommend keeping at least one teflon pan around for things like eggs. Teflon is safe and does not leak harmful toxins UNLESS it becomes scratched, damaged, or you cook at temperatures above 392°F [Pyrolysis of PTFE has ONLY ever been detected at temperatures above 200 °C (392 °F)]. This means for things like meat that typically are cooked at temperatures higher than 392°F, you’ll want to use something other than tefflon cookware. Here’s where stainless steel comes in.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my cast iron for camping – but cast iron cannot compare to stainless steel when it comes to ease of clean up. Also, there are certain foods you genuinely just can’t (or shouldn’t) cook in cast iron, like anything acidic (like tomato sauce) for example. Due to these limitations if I could only choose to use a stainless steel pan or a cast iron pan for the rest of my cooking career, it would be an easy choice – a stainless steel pan hands down.

REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR SET:

Now in regards to this particular set: if you are a professional or aspiring professional cook: consider spending a little more on a set of stainless steel cookware. The main issue with affordable stainless steel cookware (like this set) is the poor even heat transfer. More expensive multi ply stainless steel will have better, more even, heat transfer. In fact a 5 ply stainless steel pan will have an almost as good even heat transfer as a copper pan, but unfortunately, it will cost you. A 5 piece set (almost identical to this one) with 5 ply stainless steel would run you about $800.

IN CONCLUSION:

There’s a reason you’ll find almost exclusively stainless steel cookware used in restaurants, it’s because it’s the most versatile and the most durable. As long as you aren’t a professional cook: this is a solid cookware set that will last you well past it’s value.

Bella ~ Amazon Customer

The Rachael Ray Classic Brights 19 piece nonstick pots and pans cookware set with locking containers is a great option for those who are getting their first place or for students. The added storage containers and measuring cups are a nice touch to this complete set.

I cooked in them every night since we bought them, OMG I’m in love with them.

Shoeboss ~ Amazon Customer

If you aren’t finding anything that feels like a good fit for you and your cooking needs, check out the complete guide to T-Fal cookware. T-Fal has many of the same options as the Rachael Ray Cookware Collections and, a lot of the time, at a lower price point, while admittedly not as trendy. That being said, it’s a great place to start if Racheal Ray doesn’t hit the mark.

Perhaps you like the idea of getting an induction compatible cookware set but don’t know where to begin. Check out our review of the best induction cookware sets. We review all the best sets and also include a buyer’s guide so you know exactly what you are looking for.

Were you hoping for more stainless steel options from the Rachael Ray Cookware collections? Here is an in-depth rundown of all of the best stainless steel cookware sets available, along with our buyer’s guide and how to care for your stainless steel set instructions.

Last update on 2021-05-29 / This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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