If you´re looking for the classic and sober set of pots and pans for your kitchen this is definitely not for you. Now, if you´re like me and enjoy playing with colorful kitchen gadgets you will fall in love with this set. Besides the appealing looking, the performance of the pans is outstanding.
The Rachael Ray Hard Enamel is a treasure for that kind of cookware geeks and I´m going to explain you why.
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What do you know about Enamel Porcelain?
When you think in porcelain maybe in your mind the first image that comes out is a creepy porcelain doll.
The porcelain is associated with extreme fragility. So why we would like to buy a porcelain cookware set? The short answer is simple: this is nothing like the traditional porcelain that we know.
Now, the long answer: Development of porcelain enamel begins as a mineral blend similar to that used for producing common glass. This mixture is fired at a very high temperature to form a glass that is quenched to form granulated particles called frit. The frit is combined with fine oxide pigments, electrolytes and other additives and then it’s milled to fine suspension to form enamel mill.
The wet enamel mill is sprayed onto a metal substrate such as cast iron grate and fused to the substrate through thermal processes by heating it to 1500 °F. During the fusion process, an inseparable bond is formed between the porcelain and the substrate resulting in a completely unique chemical finish that does not peel, flake or rust.
As you can see, this material isn´t fragile at all. This is more resistant than a normal aluminum body. And it’s sturdier than the majority of materials.
Features of the Rachael Ray Hard Enamel Porcelain Cookware Set
This outstanding set brings all that I enjoy in a new cookware set. It has a beautiful exterior that pops out in your kitchen and combines all the attributes that you are looking for in a complete functional cookware set. Let´s start with the features:
- It comes in four unique colors –with funny names: Agave blue, Cranberry red, Mushroom brown and Pumpkin orange. When I saw the pictures online, I assumed that they were incredibly bright. But when the set arrived, I was amazed because the color is more matte than in the pictures. Thus, the pot and pans adds a touch of color to your kitchen without looking overwhelmed.
- It distributes heat evenly on gas and electric ranges. It is fantastic that you can cook perfectly on low heat –and without hot spots.
- Handles and lids stay cool on the stovetop. But if you want to use the pans in the oven, please use a kitchen towel when you grab the handles.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
- It is oven safe up to 400 Fahrenheit degrees. This is more than what any nonstick pan can handle on an oven. This is good when you have to broil your meals.
What’s included in the set?
- 1-Quart Covered Saucepan
- 3-Quart Covered Saucepan
- 6-Quart Covered Stockpot
- 8-1/2-Inch Skillet
- 10-Inch Skillet
- 3-Quart Covered Sauté Pan.
Also, it comes with a few silicon kitchen tools, but they aren´t good. They seem like 1$ kitchen tools.
What are the cons of this set?
The main issue that the customers have with the Rachael Ray set is that the surface gets a lot of stains. But to be fair, the owner´s manual says that this set is not dishwasher safe, and some of the users put the pots and pan in their dishwasher, and of course they damage the colorful surface.
But yes, I have to admit that the exterior is really delicate. That´s one of the disadvantages of having a bright color exterior. When it’s black, the surface usually takes more time to show signals of degradation.
Also this set is not for induction cooktops, I have the hope that the next Rachael Ray cookware set includes a base that works with magnetic induction.
Another usual complaint about this set is that the handles are heat resistant only on stoves because when you put your pans in the oven the riveted stainless steel base of the pans can burn your hand. The silicone part is the only one safe when you cook in the oven. So, you have to be very careful and use a kitchen towel that can take a lot of heat.
The last thing that I personally didn´t like was the quality of the tools that came with the set- even when you don’t want them, they send them. They look and feel cheap and usually don’t last much time. I would enjoy the possibility of excluding these items from the set because they really seem unnecessary.
Final Thoughts
This is one of my all-time favorites. I guess that the exterior looking is just unique and beautiful and that’s what it makes it irresistible. It’s a completely functional enamel porcelain set. As I said at the beginning, this exceptional material has incredible resistance.
The nonstick surface requires normal maintenance –using preferably wood or silicon kitchen tools- and to take care of the exterior is better not using a dishwasher.
This is a set for those who love having fun on the kitchen.
So, I hope to see you in a next review!
Owner and Food blogger on The Cookware Geek. She loves cooking, baking, traveling, playing with the cats, and knitting. She believes that eating delicious meals doesn’t require a culinary degree or a Michelin-star chef in your kitchen.