I've been watching The Rachael Ray show for years and have always wanted to get my hands on her bakeware. I've been admiring those colourful casseroles and all those other items she has created for her personal cookware line for some time now. The colours are so cheery and the items are so sleek and trendy.
I recently had the opportunity to try out a bunch of Rachael Ray's bakeware and her EVOO dispenser that are available to us here in Canada. Unfortunately, we Canadians don't have access to the multitude of colours she has available in her full cookware line in the U.S., but we do have Orange and Eggplant!
If you love the purple colour called "Eggplant", you can find the 9X13 Lasagna Lover baker and the Divided Dish in this great colour, in addition to Orange. All other items, (so far anyways), are available here only in the bright Orange hue. If you start getting excited looking at the Rachael Ray Store, hold back, because they do not ship to Canada. (Boohoo!)
I loved each and every one of the pieces that I got to try out! I love the colour! I love the shape! And I love the functionality of them all! Do I sound excited? If it didn't translate through all my exclamation marks, then let me tell you one more time - I loved them! Like many of her recipes, these items did not let me down!
First off, this bakeware is dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven safe up to 500F/260C. The handles on them are great! Unlike many casserole dishes that have flat horizontal handles, these have raised handles that smoothly slope up from the main part of the dish. They are super easy to grab when using pot holders to take something out of the oven, thanks to the oversized holes on the handles. I find them easier to carry around than conventional casserole dishes. Full casserole dishes are often heavy, especially with the larger ones, so it's important to have a good grip on them when taking them out of the oven. I made a bunch of different things in these dishes, most which included cheese. And we all know how cheese is notorious for becoming hard and sticking to casserole dishes, making elbow grease a necessity when cleaning! While they are not classified as non-stick, I did find them be very easy to clean afterwards with very little scrubbing. Who doesn't love an easy to clean casserole dish?
To no surprise, the 9" X 13"
Lasagna Lover is ideal for baking lasagna. In fact, it's great for practically any casserole.
The way the dish slopes lower in the middle allows the heat to better circulate inside the dish, promoting better browning on top. I made my Grandmother's Hashbrown Casserole, and a batch of Rachael Ray's Que Pasta Mexican Mac & Cheese in it and it was perfect! The contrast of the purple dish against the browned top was beautiful! This dish retails for $59.99 and is available here in Canada at Walmart and at Target. If you want the Eggplant colour though, you'll have to get that at Target as Walmart is only carrying the Orange.
The 2-Piece Bubble & Brown Oven Ovals are not named "Bubble & Brown" by coincidence! Like the Lasagna Lover, the slope of the dish in the center gets those casseroles bubbling hot and gets that cheese on top nice and brown! This 2-piece set nests nicely together, making them easier to store in the cupboard. It includes a medium 2-1/4 quart sized baker, as well as a small 1-1/4 quart baker. I love the shape of these dishes! They are perfect for practically any casserole, along with desserts like Apple Crisp, Fruit Cobbler, and No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake! Just be sure to modify your recipe to be certain it's the right amount for the dish you choose to make it in, as most recipes call for a 9X13 dish. These retail for $59.99 and are available at Target.
The Casseroval is a 4-1/4 quart covered deep oval baker. Its extra wide handles are great for gripping this dish and comes in the colour Orange only here in Canada. This dish is great for large batches of pasta! While it's not made for use on the stovetop itself, it would great for reheating a big batch of chili or stew in the oven and even slow cooking a small roast on low in the oven. It retails for $49.95 and is available here at both Target and Walmart.
The
14" Divided Dish is great for entertaining, as well as everyday use. You can easily put 2 different types of vegetables on either side of the dish so that they don't touch - a sacrilege in some children's eyes! LOL Or one side macaroni salad and the other side potato salad. You could put tortilla chips on one side and salsa or a nacho dip on the other side. There are so many uses for this dish! This one comes in Eggplant as well as the Orange and is available at Target. It retails for $49.99.
The
3 Quart Round Baker is a nice size to use for a large batch of pasta, or even for
Chicken Pot Pie! Shepherd's Pie,
Quiche Supreme or even a no-bake cheesecake would work and look great in this one too! It retails for $39.97 and is available here at Walmart.
Her
10oz Ramekins are handy for dips, sauces, condiments, or even single servings of pasta like lasagna. You could even use them for a small side of veggies for a single or 2-person family or make mini desserts in them. They would easily double as a very small mixing bowl when making small amounts of sauces or condiments. You will find them here in Canada in Orange only, and they retail for $6.97 each at Walmart.
And of course, these Rachael Ray items wouldn't be complete without her 24oz
EVOO Bottle! In Canada, this oil cruet is available in Orange. It's a great tool for maximizing the life of your olive oil, and makes drizzling oil a cinch. It retails for $16.99 and is available here at Target and at Walmart.
These Rachael Ray items are practical & perky like her personality & the only thing I would change is to add lids that either come alongside the dishes or be available for purchase as an accessory. They can be a bit of a challenge to cover with tin foil when baking because of their unique design. Thankfully, casseroles don't typically require covering, so it's not that big of a deal. It's a very small price to pay for such a colourful, enjoyable product with a one-of-a-kind design! Wrapping them with foil just takes a bit of creativity.
For great recipes from Rachael Ray, I recommend her cookbook
Look + Cook! This cookbook is great not only for delicious and easy recipes, but also for beginner cooks who aren't confident in the kitchen. Each recipe lays out step by step pictures, along with general instructions, making them fool-proof. You can find this cookbook at any bookstore or at your local library!
Using one of Rachael Ray's catchphrases, I give these products a huge "Yum-O!" (Which is also her non-profit organization!) And one final word? Please, oh please, oh please, bring more colours and products to Canada, eh?!
***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****
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