It seems like everyone has a grandparent or great grandparent that at least has a cast iron skillet.  Cast Iron was definitely a favorite type of cookware for their era.  Cast Iron is quickly becoming one of the favorites of this era as well due to its longevity, unique cooking results and health benefits as apposed to health concerns that are arising with other types of cookware.

When people think about cast iron cookware, lodge is usually the name that comes to mind.  Lodge has been making cast iron cookware for over 112 years and their top of the line is the Signature Series.  The great looking seasoned cast iron cookware is great for frying, searing, sautéing, braising, making stew and even baking.  This series offers stainless steel primary handles on the skillets and grill pans.  The addition of these stainless steel handles as apposed to the traditional cast iron handles not only adds a much more appealing look but the handles will now stay cool to the touch while cooking on the stove top.  Lodge Signature Series cookware is available in the form of skillets, grill pans, dutch ovens and covered casseroles.

Skillets:
Signature Series Skillet –  10″ diameter, 2-1/4″ depth
Signature Series Skillet – 12″ diameter, 2-1/2″ depth

Grill Pan:
Signature Series Grill Pan – 12″ diameter,  2-1/2″ depth

Dutch Ovens:
Signature Series Dutch Oven – 4-1/2 qt., 10″ diameter, 4″ depth
Signature Series Dutch Oven – 7 qt., 12″ diameter, 4″ depth

Covered Casseroles:
Signature Series Casserole – 2-1/2 qt., 12″ diameter, 2-1/2″ depth

Technorati Tags: Cast Iron, Cast Iron Caserole Dish, cast iron cookware, Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Cast Iron Grill Pan, Cast Iron Skillet, Cookware, lodge cast iron cookware, Lodge Cookware, Lodge Signature Series

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

Except for those who take cooking really seriously, most people have not used or are not considering purchasing titanium cookware. Aside from the higher price tag, another reason for this is that they don’t really care much about the type of cookware that they have in their homes. Sure, each cookware material has its own unique features that can spell the difference between a totally blah meal and a truly mouthwatering, gourmet fare, but most of us do not know the pros and cons that each cookware type brings. Usually, most people think of aluminum and stainless steel pots and pans when they go shopping for cookware.

Thanks to the immense popularity of cooking shows and celebrity chefs, more and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of using titanium cookware. Titanium is a great material for cookware because of its remarkable durability and strength, the reason why it is used in building aeronautical equipment.

It is true that titanium cookware costs more than the other types such as copper and aluminum, but you will definitely get your money’s worth when you purchase those sleek and durable titanium pots and pans. Here are some reasons why:

· Healthy cooking is more possible with titanium cookware

Because of the non-stick feature of titanium, you don’t need to use lots of water or oil when cooking. For health-conscious individuals who shudder at the very idea of fats clinging to their meals, this is certainly a blessing. The less oil or butter you use in cooking, the fewer calories you will consume.

· Titanium cookware is low maintenance

It is every cook’s nightmare to have to scrub stubborn grease off his beloved pots and pans. For common cookware materials, you will need a wide range of cleaning agents to remove dirt and grease off the cookware. This is not the case with titanium pots and pans, because of its consistent non-stick quality. You just need to rinse and let dry. It’s easy as that.

· Its durability means you don’t have to buy another set of cookware anytime soon

So what if you have to plunk down more cash than usual for a set of titanium cookware? This set will definitely last longer than other types of cookware, which makes the extra dollars so worth it. This metal has high resistance to scratches and dents that usually make pots and pans look older and heavily used. Think of titanium cookware as an investment.

· Shorter cooking time

Cooking in titanium pots and pans is faster compared to other cookware types because of the metal’s fast-heating quality. You don’t have to slave for long hours on the stove when you use titanium cookware.

· It is actually less hazardous to your health

A lot of people are not aware that some metal types are dangerous when mixed with food. Some consumer groups advise against using aluminum and stainless steel cookware because of the health hazards they present once the metals get inside the body. Titanium is considered as non-toxic material and is definitely safe for cooking.

Technorati Tags: celebrity chefs, durable titanium, healthy cooking, low maintenance, pots and pans

With the new year just around the corner, thoughts of making resolutions are on everyone’s mind. What’s the #1 New Year resolution every year? Losing weight by eating healthier, of course.

So let’s get back to earlier times and cook the way early man did, by using terra cotta cookware!

Dating back to early civilization terra cotta (clay from the earth),  has been used for different things ranging from sculptures and pottery to roof shingles and bricks. Early man would sculpt the partially dried clay into what ever form he needed and then lay it in out in the sun to dry. After it dried it would be placed in the ashes of an open hearth to harden.

Terra cotta, whether glazed or unglazed is still a very popular item today. It is dishwasher, microwave, stovetop and oven safe while still being easy to clean. It is one of the best ways to prepare nutritious and delicious meals. Because terra cotta retains liquid, little or none is needed when using it.  This means essential vitamins and nutrients are kept in the food, not wasted away being watered down. Simply soak your cookware for a few minutes in water, add your food, and place in a cold oven.  Then set the temperature and bake.  When using terra cotta a few minor adjustments are necessary, increase your temperature by 100 degrees and bake for 30 minutes less. While baking, the porous terra cotta creates a perfect combination of heat and moisture for your food.

Your entire meal can be cooked in one dish so that all of the flavors of the meal are integrated.  Plus, what could be quicker and easier than cleaning one dish?

Important points to remember :

Soak your pot in water for a few hours before its first use to season it

Hand washing is recommended. Although terra cotta is dishwasher safe, it is not recommend due to the absorbency of the material, soap may also become absorbed.

Cracks in my cookware???  Don’t worry, this is called crazing. It is caused by the expansion of the pot from hot to cold. They will disappear as the pot dries.

Why does my pot leak?  This may happen a few times with a new pot, but again don’t worry, as your pot ages this will stop.

Hey! my pot is pinging!!!  That’s ok, the more you use your pot this will stop, it’s the natural settling of your pot.

Technorati Tags: clay cookware, earth cookware, mother nature, terra cotta

There are some cookware that are made specifically to work with an induction cooktop. This cookware is usually constructed of a metal that isn’t ferrous that is coated with a metal that is ferrous. These types of cookware should work with a gas or electriccooktop however, the coating that makes them ferrous could be damaged if used on a gas or electric stove for an extended period of time. If you are unsure about your cookware the best possible way to find out is to consult your owners manual.

Technorati Tags: Cookware, induction cooktop, Induction Cookware