Rachael Ray Dinnerware Little Hoot 20-Piece Flatware Set

Questionable quality
Cute little owls make this a very popular pattern. This set has been selling like mad since it was introduced earlier this year. It's something that would be nice if you have kids, since it's either whimsical or juvenile, depending on your point of view.

This is not expensive stainless, so the price point makes this attractive. You can find less expensive flatware, and also more expensive, so this is moderately priced. But I have questions about the durability of this over time according to my internet research.

Since this is 18/0 stainless flatware, I took a look at the differences between the various types of stainless steel:

18/10:

* Brilliant luster
* Rust-resistant material
* Durable construction
* Easy to maintain

18/0:

* Soft shine
* Zero nickel content
* Economical design
* Subject to staining

18/0 --- 18 percent chromium and 0 percent nickel
18/8 --- 18 percent...

Quality silver for the price, ergonomic feel, unique owl pattern
We find the owl pattern fun for use at our mountain cabin where owl and bear patterns fit in nicely.
All pieces of the set look good (shiny, solid, medium size) and handle well (balanced, shaped nicely, and with smooth edges).
These are dishwasher "safe" but came with a recommendation to hand wash if you want to keep the original smooth luster.
We've been putting them through the dishwasher and while they may not keep the "like new" luster, they continue to look good.

Perfect complement to the Little Hoot dinnereware
Of course these were meant to coordinate with the Little Hoot dinnerware collection and so they do! I thought at first the little owl was perhaps a bit too juvenile but I've received several compliments on them and directed people to them online.

I use these for my everyday flatware and run them through the dishwasher. So far so good. I tend to use the lemon detergents which can sometimes be a problem with flatware but I've noticed no ill effects.

I did get one spoon where the edge wasn't very smooth and I had to set that one aside for just stirring coffee and such. A little too sharp for eating but overall I'm satisfied with this cute set.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Rachael Ray Stoneware 1-1/2-Quart and 2-Quart Round Bubble and Brown Bakers, 2-Piece Set, Purple

Made my reluctance to cook for the family dissipate--these are efficient and fun!
These Rachael Ray Stoneware 1 1/2 quart and 2 quart round Bubble and Brown Bakers, which come together in a 2-set package, got me interested in cooking again.
My present family is what you might call a... strange (???-- we don't think so!--but...) family. The combination of a meat-eater, a vegetarian, a vegan, and two children with autism who are terribly picky eaters don't really make for the usual sort of "news discussion of the day", and/or "general merriment around a dining table" type dinner meal.

I do recall what (so-called) NORMAL is, from my childhood. I remember gathering around the dining table, wax tapers lit, linen napkins in napkin rings, and my father at the head of the table; my mother at the other end. We all ate the same stuff: hamburgers and peas. With a glass of milk. Sometimes we had succotash instead of peas. I liked the succotash. Possibly I am a changeling and come from Native American stock. Now that would be cool.

At any rate, my...

Pretty, but not as practical as I'd like
There are two reasons to order this casserole set: you really really love purple or you watch Rachael Ray and love the look of this bakeware.

I really love purple and had seen these bakers on the show and thought they looked fun.

The color is a deep purple, a little brighter than eggplant. Some foods look better in them than others. The cheesy potato bake I made looked very good because yellow/orange is a complementary color to purple. Things that are white like rice or green like broccoli also look good. But the tomatoey red sauce of another casserole I made didn't look as pretty in this dish.

I wish the bottom of these bakers was glazed. I store them nested and worry the smaller one will scratch the inside of the larger one. Also, when I saw Rachael Ray use these on the show, I liked the idea of the holes on the side to grip them. In practice this isn't as helpful as I expected. My oven mitts are too thick to fit well in the holes and the...

Awkward to Cover, Overflow Risk
Oh Rachael Ray, there are many reasons why you told Alton Brown that "you're a cook, not a chef". Your Bubble and Brown Bakers help prove that point. While this baker set is very attractive, it's not very well designed for cooking food. The reasons are many:

1. Any bake ware that sports several warning about "do not soak", "glaze chipping" and "how to clean off stuck food to avoid soaking" make me a little wary about how durable this piece really is. While I'm one to follow instructions, how many people actually do not soak an over ware piece that has food baked onto it? The main reason would be to avoid glaze deterioration because the piece is very porous. That said, if you treat the piece correctly, you shouldn't have a problem - but it's not infallible. One customer already had a problem with quality control and the glaze bubbling up. I did not, so hopefully it's a one time thing - but I'm still a little concerned about how long that glaze will stay on...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Rachael Ray 76010 Stainless Steel II Colors Dishwasher Safe 10-Piece Cookware Set, Black

Decent Pans that are Light and Heat Quickly
This is a good pan set for the price. The pots have stainless steel interiors. The fry pans are non-stick. Overall I think they are thin. But that makes them light and easy to handle. Also if you put in large amounts of cold ingredients, the pan cools significantly (compared to my other set of Circulon cookware). The thinness may have also been the reason why two of the pots I got in my set were a little dented at the lip. It was very slight and didn't effect how the glass lids fit. The glass lids are pretty standard. They are universal/transferable to my other pots/pans not from this set. I also like that the pots are stainless inside with no finish. I can scrub it as vigorously as I like and not have to worry about destroying the pots. This set will definitely work for now. They're nothing fancy and great for daily use and abuse. I'm kind of glad of the price point because that means I don't have to baby them too much. But I still dream of buying and collecting fancier cookware in...

Looks good, Great for those of us stuck with electric heat
I am very pleased with this cookware set. The pots have a quality feel to them, with the weight being not so light that would indicate a cheap thin gauge metal, yet not so heavy that it breaks my wrist to handle them when filled with food. The base is aluminum encased in stainless steel, and they heat evenly and are plenty thick, which is great because it will prevent the frying pans from warping, as the thinner pans are prone to do. The size of the bottoms fits 6" and 8" electric burners perfectly. (I do miss gas very much)

I like the back enamel exterior - it is actually a very practical color, and I'm hoping it will not show the slight discoloration near the base that usually builds up over time. The handles are quite comfortable to hold and hopefully will be as durable as the cookware. The glass lids seem very thick and sturdy, being encased in a thick metal rim, and the riveted handles have a quality feel to them as well. One thing I wish they had is a slight relief...

Decent cookware at a decent price.
Seems like Cooking celebrities have paired up with various manufacturers to brand their products. Without RR's name on this set, maybe it would be 1/2-2/3 the price? But despite this, this a decent set that will get the stovetop job done well enough. Best part about it is that these should work with induction stovetops for those that have 'em. The silicone handles are great and the glass lids are nice to be able to see how things are progressing. These are not difficult to clean, but I admit I routinely put smaller pots and pans in the dishwasher. So time will tell how long the finish lasts.

My absolute favorite cookware set is Farberware stainless steel set <$70. I love this extreme value set because they're REALLY light and very easy to clean. My FW pots (not the frying pans) still look brand new after years of use and cleaning. My least favorite is, ironically, my expensive Cephalon set, which is very heavy and kinda of a pain to clean. The RR set comes...

Click to Editorial Reviews