Description and Features
The set includes the following pieces:

• 1.5-qt. Covered Sauce Pan
• 2-qt. Covered Sauce Pan
• 3-qt. Covered Sauce Pan
• 4.5-qt. Covered Sauce Pot
• 6-qt. Covered Stockpot
• 4.5-qt. Covered Sauté Pan
• 8-in. Skillet
• 10-in. Skillet

The set contains pieces that have Hard-Anodized Construction which makes them durable and able to produce even heating. You will never have problems getting the food out of the pan because of the nonstick interior. Each piece has grippy silicone handles that you can hold comfortably and can withstand up to 400°F of oven heat. You can easily take a look at the food inside the pans through the glass lids.
The Look
Like we said, the cookware set looks so cute it’s tempting to buy it just for the appearance alone. The aluminum pieces come in handsome charcoal gray while the handles come in bright orange or blue, which are Rachael Ray’s signature colors. The glass lids give the set a sleek, clean look.
Usability and Durability
Everyday cooking is totally easy with this cookware set. We can take the pots and pans from the stove top to the oven with no trouble at all. Because of the quality of the aluminum, the food gets cooked evenly, so there is less or minimal chances of burning your dinner. Cooking time is relatively shorter with this set, so that’s another plus. No need to set the stove to high temperature to speed up cooking. Cooking quality is comparable to more expensive copper and steel cookware pieces.
The skillets are a bit smaller than the standard ones though, which can be a disadvantage for those who want to fry food in bigger quantities.  As for the pot sizes, they are big enough for cooking for average households. We noticed that the pots are a little bit heavier compared to the average cookware in the nonstick category, which is alright with us; the pieces will sit well on the stove and will not budge from their places easily.
Perhaps the only disadvantage that we experienced in testing the pots and pans is that the outsides can stain rather easily. We had no problems cleaning the insides of the pots and pans because of the nonstick feature, but it does not hold true for the exterior. Some of the pieces developed some splotches after cooking several times on a flat top stove.

Care and Maintenance
Because of the nonstick material of the insides of the pots and pans, cleanup is very easy. We didn’t have to scrub like mad to get the food bits off the pan. We only needed a soft sponge and a gentle to moderate strength cleanser to clean the pieces.
The Price
The set is a great deal for USD 299.95. We encountered practically no problems with cooking and cleanup is definitely no trouble at all. The price is more than fair for the set’s usability and the fact the pieces look great displayed on the kitchen is a huge plus as well. The Rachael Ray 10-Piece Hard-Anodized Cookware Set can hold its own against pricier cookware sets.

Technorati Tags: hard anodized, nonstick interior, pots and pans, Rachael Ray, silicone

Hard-anodization is an electro-chemical process that hardens aluminum by speeding up the oxidation process. Oxidation occurs spontaneously in nature, the electro-chemical process just speeds it up. This process makes aluminum up to 30% harder than stainless steel. The hardness of hard-anodized cookware makes it one of the most durable types of cookware one can buy. This type of cookware will resist corrosion, abrasions, peeling and chipping while out lasting the lifespan of most other cookware. Anodized finishes are chemically stable, don’t decompose, are non-toxic and are not affected by high heat levels. Anodized surfaces can withstand heats of up to 1,221 degrees.

One of the biggest advantages of hard-anodized cookware is the fact that the cookware’s surface becomes virtually non-porous through the anodization process. Because the surface is non-porous foods do not stick to hard-anodized cookware. This makes clean up as easy as simply wiping the cookware out. To keep your hard-anodized cookware non-stick avoid using cooking spray while cooking with this type of cookware. Cooking spray can leave a gummy residue and any kind of residue on your cookware can cause foods to stick.

Hard-anodized cookware is great for sautéing, stir-frying or frying and because of it’s precise temperature control it is perfect for searing, browning & deglazing. When cooking with hard-anodized cookware you can use any type of non-sharp cooking utensil, this includes metal utensils.

For care and usage tips check out our article “Caring for Anodized Cookware”.

Technorati Tags: anodized aluminum cookware, calphalon commercial hard anodized, hard anodized cookware, non-stick cookware

From a technical standpoint, anodized cookware is a type of cookware that has undergone a process to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer that occurs on the surface of metal. Anodized cookware is normally made using heavy gauge aluminum. After the Aluminum has been through the oxidization process it is virtually non-stick and very hard.

When cooking with anodized cookware you will want to cook at a lower temperature setting than you would use with other types of cookware. Anodized cookware heats and cools more quickly than other types of cookware. Therefore, you do not need to utilize as high a degree of temperature as would be necessary with cookware made from other materials. Therefore, before you begin cooking with anodized cookware you will want to reconsider the specific heating instructions associated with a particular recipe. Since every stove heats differently, you will also want to do a bit of experimenting until you understand more completely how your stove will “interact” with your anodized cookware.

You do need to keep in mind that the surface of anodized cookware is susceptible to scratching. Make sure to only use nylon or wooden utensils when cooking with this type of cookware. Scratching the surface of anodized cookware will permanently damage it and make it far less effective and can ultimately render it useless.

A nice benefit of some anodized cookware is that it can be transferred from the stove and into an oven or broiler. These products can withstand the intense surrounding heat of an oven or a broiler that most other cookware pieces can not. This can really simplify the preparation of a number of dishes that require both stove and oven time. However, pay attention to the manufacturers use specifications because not all anodized cookware can be used in this manner.

There are some specific cleaning requirements associated with anodized cookware that you will want to keep in mind. You cannot wash anodized cookware in a dishwasher the dish washing detergent can damage it. You must hand wash this type of cookware using warm water and regular dish soap. You will want to hand wash your anodized cookware after every use. You do not want anything to build up on your anodized cookware. If you do allow something to build up, it will become far less effective.

Provided that you follow the use and cleaning directives handed down by the manufacture a lot of anodized cookware comes with a lifetime warranty. If you remember these tips you should have extended success with your anodized cookware.

Technorati Tags: aluminum, anodized aluminum cookware, calphalon commercial hard anodized, hard anodized cookware, nonstick cookware