Paula Deen 19241 Signature Porcelain 12-Piece Cookware Set

Paula Deen got her start in cooking in 1989 when she opened a catering business in Savannah, Georgia called The Bag Lady. She made sandwiches and other meals and her sons Bobby and Jamie delivered them. The business was very popular and soon outgrew her kitchen.

In 1996, Paula Deen expanded her cooking by opening her own restaurant in downtown Savannah called The Lady and Sons. Within a few years, the restaurant became so popular that it was moved to a larger building in the city's historic district. It is a favorite of tourists in the area.

Over the next decade, Paula Deen got her start on Food Network, eventually hosting 3 cooking shows and appearing as a guest in others. She has published several cookbooks, appeared on talk shows, and launched her own lifestyle magazine, called Cooking with Paula Deen.

In her own words, speaking about the Paula Deen Signature Porcelain 12-piece Cookware Set: "Poring through antique shops with my Aunt Peggy is one of my most cherished memories. This line was inspired by the many treasures she and I found on our adventures. My wish is that they are as fun to collect for you as they were for me."

"BEAUTIFUL looking, fast and even heating without any warping!" by customer D. M. Schmidt
5 Stars

I bought a 13 piece set in charcoal at Sam's club back in January of 2009 for $75 (last one left so it was discounted) can't go wrong with that. So far the set has held up nicely even after going through the dishwasher a few times through no fault of my own. I read that some people put their RED pots through the dishwasher and that they lost their shine. That did not not occurred with my set at all! The instructions say to hand cleaned only which is what you should do to all non-stick pots and pans. Putting non-stick pots and pans in the dishwasher will cause the teflon to break down over time. Here is a list of some other pots/pans that are NOT for the dishwasher because it will cause discoloraton: Hard-Anodized Aluminum, Porcelain Enamel-exterior, Copper bottom, Plain Aluminum.

These pots are suitable for solid plate, glass/ceramic, radiant ring, halogen and gas stoves. The thing I did learn was not to put a hot pan/pot on a cold glass burner. I have been doing it for years and I never had a problem but after reading that they can become fused to the burner I will stop doing that. The non-stick surface they use in these pots/pans is called Polytetrafluoroethylene which is another fancy name for "teflon". My only concern is that they say on their instructions that decorative pan bottoms may not conduct heat evenly on glass/ceramic stovetop's. I find this strange since the bottoms are decorative and they indicated that they can be used on Ceramic stoves.

I just want to let everyone know I have tested out the pots/pans for quite a few months now. They heat evenly and fast with NO warping, clean up is a breeze and handles stay cool to touch. I absolutely love these pots/pans and they seem to be holding up nicely so far. I know these pots/pans are not very heavy but it makes handling them easier. I have owned heavier pots/pans and when filled with food it was like lifting weights. Not good for people with arthritis in their hands. The only negative I see is that they need to offer more of these pieces individually without having to buy a whole set.

Let me just add after everything I read about these pots/pans it seems to me that people are having the most problems with the red set. It seems that the finish will crack, lose its shine, and the color will run if you accidently put them in the dishwasher. That did not occur with my charcoal set at all. So be careful as to which set color you order.

UPDATE: 12/19/10 - I still have the set and in January it will be 2 years. The set has held up and still looks almost new. No peeling, cracking or discoloration. I use it almost every day unless I don't feel like cooking. So for the price I paid I did get my money's worth.

"Paula Deen Really Delivers! Attractive, Well-Priced, Fully Functional" by customer C. M. Lacher "Mom Who Loves Books"
5 Stars

I've had this set for about a week and couldn't be more pleased! Paula Deen really delivers a set that is fully functional, pretty, while easy to clean and cook with! I actually like the fact that the pans are light. I don't have to strain my wrists or drag my pans over my glass stove-top, and risk scratching it! The non-stick surface is really good quality, the food slides off really easily. The handles are well-built, the added copper rings for hanging the pans are a nice addition. The covers are clear, great to see how the food is doing without having to uncover the pan. The copper details on the cover knobs make the covers so much prettier! Even the bottom of the pan has a pretty Paula Deen signature stamp! The only thing I wish was different was the size of the pans. Most of them are fairly small. The 1 qt. covered saucepan is really tiny. I've had to order the 5-quart covered deep sautee pan, because if I have to cook two dishes that are fairly large, I would need a bigger pan like that. But considering the price of the set, you get a great value. Some well known brands can cost over $200-$400, and for $114 and free super-saver shipping, you will not be disappointed. Oh, and the color! I got the red set. It's a very pretty shade, more like a cranberry color. I was afraid my husband would not like it, but he actually complimented me on the choice!

"LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THESE PANS" by customer M. May
5 Stars

I'm so happy with these pans. One,they're gorgeous and look great in my kitchen and two, they're the best pans I've ever used. Mine are aqua with speckles and have a great retro look.
The width on the large pot is the exact size needed for long pastas with no leaning on the edge.
Cooking is even with no sticking.
The top edges of the pans are slightly turned in so spill over when stirring doesn't happen.
The handles are soft grip and easy to hold and control the pan.
They do need to be cleaned by hand and not in the dishwasher but I've cooked lots of stuff in them by now and cleaning is a breeze.
The pieces I received in this set are all ones I use regularly and were what I consider a great bargain.

"LOVE LOVE LOVE MY New Cookware!!!!" by customer Darlene Pall "MiaLena"
5 Stars

I had to write to say I LOVE her cookware. Not just is it beautiful....it's very light weight, cleans wonderful and everything cooks so even and no sticking.
You can not beat the price either. I also bought the large chicken fryer...
I am so happy I purchased it....it goes lovely in my new red kitchen too.
You're not suppose to put her cookware in the dishwasher....I never put my cookware in the dishwasher so that did not matter to me.
IF you are thinking of buying her cookware.....go for it...you will NOT be sorry.
I love it and can't wait to cook things in it. LOL
It comes in a black and a green too.
The red is so pretty!!
Thanks Paula...I love you and my new cookware! :) :) :)