I Went to Culinary School—Here’s Exactly What I Think About Eva Longoria’s New Cookware Line, Risa

My first true love in life was food. From an early age, I grew up cooking Venezuelan cuisine with my mother and grandmother. On lazy weekends spent at home, we made everything from arepas to empanadas, not to mention some of my fondest core memories since childhood. So, upon hearing that one of my favorite actresses—aka the one and only Eva Longoria—launched her own collection of cookware inspired by her love for food, family, and Mexican heritage, I knew I needed to try it.

Risa, which means laughter in Spanish, is the name of Longoria’s new multi-functional cookware line that she says she hopes will bring people together in the kitchen. It features a wide array of super-practical cooking pieces made with high-quality materials and killer design (think: beautiful stove-to-table centerpieces made to show off any homemade meal). After testing out the cookware, it’s safe to say I’m a fan of much more than just Longoria’s on-screen talent: Risa is stellar for cooking with, and will definitely help anyone craft their own joyful memories… in addition to delicious meals, of course.

Here are my honest thoughts on Risa, Eva Longoria’s new cookware line

One of the most important lessons I learned during my time at culinary school was that keeping your kitchen clean and your workspace free of clutter is imperative. Unfortunately, apartment living typically means one thing: You’re bound to have minimal counter space and even less room for stashing all of your kitchen tools out of sight.

Aside from the fact that Risa’s cookware is made with quality materials—and no PFAS like PTFE, PFOA, PFOA, PFCA, lead, or cadmium—its crafty design makes space-saving storage a dream. Risa’s collection includes pots, pans, splatter screens, and a stackable steamer, to name a few, all of which have been thoughtfully crafted to make cooking convenient, cleaning up a breeze, and stowing away simple.

The Risa pot and pan

The stars of the collection, of course, are the gorgeously designed Risa pot and pan that are sold separately (for $125 each) or as a set (for $199). They come in three colors: deep blue, cool grey, and natural ivory. (I went with the deep blue for a pop of color.) The non-toxic ceramic coating that lines the interior of the pot and pan was impressively non-stick, and each piece is the perfect size for batch cooking for a crowd, meal prepping, or even whipping together something quick and easy for a party of one. (BTW, they’re also oven-safe up to 400°F, which means you can give that fresh-baked bread or cheesy pasta the crisp topping of your dreams.)

The Risa Cookware Set — $199.00

IMO, three main factors sets this Risa apart from other cookware I’ve tried. First of all, I was mesmerized by the bottom of the pan: It has a honeycomb-like induction plate that ensures ultra-efficient heat transfer. And it’s true—my ground turkey bolognese sauce cooked incredibly evenly and just as well as it has in my beloved (read: $$) enamel-coated cast iron Dutch oven for years.

Secondly, unlike the many times that sauces have (seemingly instantly) gone from harmless liquid to disastrous stuck-on mess around the edges of my pots and pans, Risa’s nonstick surface ensured that every last bit of my marinara sauce made onto my dinner plate. Look ma, no steel wool needed! I was truly shocked at how easy it was to clean the surface of this cookware, even after reducing a rich tomato sauce for hours.

Lastly, I couldn’t help but marvel at the utility of the pot’s space-saving lid rest. Instead of taking up even more real estate on my already limited countertops, the lids were designed to nestle securely on the handles—aka completely out of the way from my cutting board area. When cooking, this meant I could fully focus on my mise en place without constantly moving things around in my kitchen to find free space.

The Risa accessories (including a splatter screen, pot holders, serving stand, and stackable steamer)

Aside from the pot and pan, the cookware collection also includes a few accessories—namely, a stackable steamer, splatter screen, pot holders, and a serving stand. The stackable steamer ($30) is great for steaming veggies and dumplings and is dishwasher-safe and compatible with the Risa pan and lid. Meanwhile, the pot holders ($19) and serving stand ($25) are highly practical accessories—they’ll keep you from burning yourself or your delicate countertops.

Stackable Steamer — $30.00

And although I didn’t test it out myself, the splatter screen ($30) is something I know will be on my holiday wishlist this year. It’s made with durable silicone and conveniently folds in half to save space—plus, it’s a genius solution to preventing dangerously hot oil from splattering onto your hand or making a greasy mess all over your stove. Talk about a win-win.

Splatter Screen — $30.00

How to eat pasta seven days a week, according to an RD: