Skillet Questions

[redwind30]

What is the difference between a skillet and a french skillet?
Has anyone tried the Rachle Ray products? What do you think?
Thanks!

[jennyema]

French skillets usually have higher sides and wider bottoms.

I have never used RR's cookware but have seen it in stores and it looks sort of cheap to me.

[Andy M.]

In general, famous chef cookware is more money for less product. The price is higher because it has a famous name on it. So, for the same money, you can get better quality stuff if you focus on the product's features rather than the name.

[CharlieD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyema ... looks sort of cheap to me.

ME 2

[oldrustycars]

Ever see an Emeril cast iron skillet? Has a wooden handle pounded on to a sharp tang on the skillet, like a file. And it was over $60. Lodge 12 inch skillet is $18. Don't buy "TV Chef" cookware.

[TheNoodleIncident]

i was just going to mention emerilware - i normally agree 100% about NOT buying "celebrity" products, but i have to say that the non-stick emerilware is pretty good stuff....we have a set and it is well constructed, thick, performs well, the coating is durable (so far), and its made/backed by All-Clad (do i get semi-bragging rights for that??)....it wasn't overpriced, and im confident that it performs as well as or better than the other "high-end" brands you see at the big box stores (ie calphalon)....we really did our research before selecting a set, considering all the major brands, and this one got very good reviews by consumers and rating agencies

the only reason i wouldnt buy it (well, it was a gift) again is if i went with a stainless set instead (though not emeril stainless, see below) - since most non-stick cookware eventually wears out, it may have been smarter for us to get a stainless set, and supplement it with a few non-stick skillets....but so far it works great especially since we prefer to use almost no oil with our cooking (usually just a tiny non-stick spray)...also, all-clad offers a lifetime warranty, so it will be interesting to see how they respond when the coating eventually begins to fail (though, it hasn't shown any signs of that yet)

ive seen the cast iron and the stainless emerilware - agree that buying the cast iron is a bad idea because a top notch CI skillet can be had for very cheap....as for the stainless, i didnt love it because it used a disk bottom with very thin sides....

[RPCookin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNoodleIncident i was just going to mention emerilware - i normally agree 100% about NOT buying "celebrity" products, but i have to say that the non-stick emerilware is pretty good stuff....we have a set and it is well constructed, thick, performs well, the coating is durable (so far), and its made/backed by All-Clad (do i get semi-bragging rights for that??)....it wasn't overpriced, and im confident that it performs as well as or better than the other "high-end" brands you see at the big box stores (ie calphalon)....we really did our research before selecting a set, considering all the major brands, and this one got very good reviews by consumers and rating agencies

Have to agree, I have Emerilware non-stick that is more than 7 years old now and still looks as good as new. I'm careful to use nondestructive utensils, but otherwise I use it a lot and it just keeps on going.

I too have looked at some of the other stuff marketed under his name and didn't care for it.

[CharlieD]

I guess the point was/is that it is not really bad or good, but rather that you can get same or better quality for the same money if it is not sold under somebodie's name.

[oldrustycars]

I suppose it would be better if Emeril or Rachel or Nigella were in a lab somewhere, working on what is the best cookware. But they're not, just getting paid for the use of their name. I like Alton Brown's policy of no "single use" cookware. He also said if he had only one piece of cookware, it would be a Lodge 12 skillet. I don't think he has his name on anything, but I have no problem buying what he suggests.

[TheNoodleIncident]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieD I guess the point was/is that it is not really bad or good, but rather that you can get same or better quality for the same money if it is not sold under somebodie's name.

the non-stick emerilware even does well in that catagory....it was well priced, certainly cheaper than the calphalon stuff (again, the emeril performs as well or better)...but, in general, i think celebrity stuff is overpriced AND crappy

and, one thing i heard (though i may just be buying in to marketing BS), is that emeril refused to put his name on either a poor product, or have it priced outside the range of what his viewers could afford....apparently, he worked with all-clad to make pans that performed well and were well priced, and wouldnt settle until it met his demands....he does have some credibility, seeing how he is a successful chef instead of just a celebrity (like Rachel)...plus, you would hope that a premier name like all-clad would not tarnish its reputation by putting out an overpriced, inferior product

id also been more willing to buy something with AB's name on it....though i still wouldnt purchase it blindly, without doing my own research