30 Minute Meals

Approval Rate: 83%

83%Approval ratio

Reviews 50

Sort by:
  • by

    mbk7b15a

    Wed Feb 09 2011

    In the beginning I would have given her a solid 5 stars, but the past year and a half maybe more her attitude towards her show is not very favorable. She acts like she would rather be any other place then doing her show. I never would have thought that she would get a big head and become like every other person on t.v. who thinks they are more important then they are. The main reason she was so enjoyable to watch was because she was so excited and seemed like she was really having fun. If she doesn't want to do it anymore, let her go, I will guarantee if she keeps up like she has been the ratings are going to take a nose dive. She has a constant angry look on hear face, she barley talks unless she absolutely has to and when she does it seems like she is doing her viewers a favor. I have stopped watching her along with my family and friends. It is a shame that she has changed so much, because it used to be a enjoyable show to watch.

  • by

    keatingmag

    Thu Jan 22 2009

    Rachael shares some great tips and does cook pretty good meals in 30 minutes using minimal "prepared" products. However, I think she uses too many herbs. Take notice of how much herb chopping she does in 30 minutes. Also, I wonder if she really writes all of her own recipes?

  • by

    shroomwoman

    Tue Jan 13 2009

    I'm not a big fan of Rachael Ray, but "30-Minute Meals" does offer some pretty good ideas for home cooks. I appreciate the way Ray uses basic items to prepare her dishes, and she's not snobby like many celebrity chefs. However, Ray's use of cutesy cooking terms and her cheesy humor can really push me over the edge. I'll probably stick to her magazine to avoid the annoyance!

  • by

    ladyjesusfan77_7

    Fri Jun 13 2008

    Rachael Ray has some really good ideas. It's hard to believe she cooks all that food in just thirty minutes.

  • by

    edt4226d

    Sat Aug 04 2007

    I sort of got a kick out of her when I first came upon her on TV, but by now, she's ubiquitous, and more and more grating. That perpetual giddiness, the constant Joker-like grin, the idiotic expressions like "Yummo",  the near-orgasmic ecstasy when she bites into a piece of food, any piece of food...I don't hate her like some well-advertised websites do, or as Anthony Bourdain seems to (I like his show and his books), but he's made a valid point about her. Bourdain sees cooking as an art form; Ray, who has had no culinary training in her life, boils all that "art" down to its most prosaic elements. According to Bourdain, the average schlub sitting in his armchair watches her show and thinks, "Hey, I could do that...if I wanted to...but then I'd have to heave my fat posterior outa the chair, and amble into the kitchen, and actually do something other than vegetate..." To some, Bourdain's attitude might seem elitist, but after watching Ray enough times, you get his point. I used to occas... Read more

  • by

    lovingtherealw_orld92

    Wed Jul 11 2007

    I Really dislike what she makes, but the show is very entertaining with her voice and postitve attitude for cooking.

  • by

    mystikmadame

    Thu Jul 05 2007

    I liked this for in the beginning but now I feel that she makes things I couldn't get my nieces and nephews to touch.  The only meal I've ever taken from her is the Chicken Cordon Bleu Burgers which are awesome but thats about it.

  • by

    1dragontat

    Mon Jun 25 2007

    If she could start the show without so much hand gesturing, that would be great.

  • by

    sandyp

    Sun May 27 2007

    Great receipes,,,,,easy to use! Love Rachel.

  • by

    theoden

    Wed May 23 2007

    Another "discovered" celebrity with no brains. She and Paula Deen need to take a 3 year cruise, and give everyone's ears a rest. Rachel is loud, annoying and contributes next to nothing...that's why she got HER OWN DAYTIME SHOW!!

  • by

    withit03

    Thu Nov 16 2006

    Love it. She makes dishes that anyone at home can make easily. I could do without the "EVOO" acronym all the time, but overall I really like the show.

  • by

    solenoid_dh

    Thu Jul 20 2006

    Before today, I had never watched Rachel Ray, though I have heard of her. After seeing so many negative comments on Rateitall this morning about her, I decided to turn on the Food Network and watch one of her programs. All I can say now is....if you guys would rather look at old reruns of Julia Child, then go right ahead. HAR HAR HAR

  • by

    marlane

    Sat Jul 01 2006

    Rachel is a cute as a button and actually has inspired my 20-something daughter to finally start to cook for herself! So thank you Rachel! You're going to be very busy, they say, but stay nice, please???

  • by

    jimorama

    Mon Jun 12 2006

    Good idea, but she's drunk half the time on the show. She's a little overexposed too. I dig her because she's still an Adirondack gal who is kinda funky. I think she's kinda wicked too.

  • by

    mega_b

    Tue May 30 2006

    Having such a large family, this show is a big help in monthly meal planning! Would like to see more on Salmon.

  • by

    underspin

    Fri May 19 2006

    A key component to Rachel Ray's continued success (she currently hosts three separate tv shows and has released numerous food-related books) has been that the average American - female or male - can easily relate to her shining personality and winning style. Simply said, she's a hard person to outright dislike. As a host, she typically comes across as easy going, amusing, relaxed and unpretentious. As a cook, she has a creative yet simple approach to her culinary creations. She's smart, yet attractive, without being excessively girlie girl (i.e. Sandra Lee). Her recipes/advice tends to be practical, interesting and always informative. Refreshingly, there's no air of elitism in her style, as seemingly, she understands that average people often have little time to prepare meals and are always looking to find/make great food at inexpensive or moderate prices.

  • by

    laurieny

    Wed Mar 15 2006

    Rachael Ray is absolutely awful. The worst celebrity (note I did not say "chef") on the Food Network.

  • by

    kamylienne

    Sat Mar 04 2006

    While she is a little too hyper for my tastes (maybe because she's rushed in that little 30-minute time span?), the show and her recipes are great. Great premise for a cooking show (to make a full meal "from start to finish" in 30 minutes or less). I could probably do without her abbreviating "Extra Virgin Olive Oil" to "EVOO" every time she mentions it (it might be easier to write, but it doesn't save any time verbally, and she ends up explaining what it means again, anyway). Overall, good show.

  • by

    konstanze

    Sun Feb 19 2006

    What an inspiration to watch this show. Never a dull moment, always tutorial every second of the show, unlike like some shows that put you to sleep. For the people who don't care for her format, I have a suggestion. DON'T WATCH IT! Jeesh!!

  • by

    johnspina

    Thu Feb 16 2006

    She makes quick easy meals and is sweet and very cute.

  • by

    nenaflow

    Fri Jan 27 2006

    listen. I know there are people who like her and people who dont. I think her attitude is down to earth and likeable. i think she's fun and has good ideas, i have used a couple of her recipes- they were yummy!! Her attitude is refreshing amidst people who think their **stuff** doesn't stink..hahaha. and as for her vocabulary i think the whole purpose is to make sure the average Joe can understand it. I don't think she's ditzy at all. She seems normal, and my 5 year old thinks she's cute. I can turn off cartoons to try and figure what i want for dinner!! It's great. hahaha. chow down peoples!!!

  • by

    kathie

    Fri Jan 13 2006

    Love this show!!!!!!!!

  • by

    davidspeaks

    Fri Dec 09 2005

    ugh, it is time for her to go. she was great at first, but geez, it is sickening now.

  • by

    siae7a32

    Fri Dec 02 2005

    Oh My God. Has anyone seen Rachel Ray's show lately? She looks like someone else. Someone skinny who wears nice makeup and quite quiet and classy. Did she and her producers read this site? She actually had on tight skinny little black pants. Looks like she took classy classes.

  • by

    katina_smith

    Thu Nov 10 2005

    Rachel Ray is cool: However she is just a little to goofy for me, and I never see her wash the meat off before she cooks it. " I hate that lil sayin she does, "How good is that" --- I say " How annoying is that"? Ms. Katina Smith

  • by

    samtheman

    Tue Nov 08 2005

    I am certain that I am going to surprise a lot of the women on here. This Rachael Ray was voted one of the sexiest 100 women of 2004. She is in 92nd position... Demi Moore is in 86th position. This survey was done by FHM (For Him Magazine). It's a very tame version of Playboy or maybe GQ is a better match. Still hides the important things. Maybe it isn't a surprise as women always seem to know how attractive other woman are, whereas guys don't have a clue to what guys look good. At best we can judge them on not being fat or dirty and even that's sort of iffy. I thought she had a big rear-end since she seems to try to hide it as much as possible and it seems she's real curvy in the jeans that gives the impression that fat is held in. I about fell over when Yahoo had a link of the most popular things people were searching for. She has a real good body and a lot of bathing suit photos. On camera she just looks like she weighs 30 lbs more than her pool photos. Anyway, here is this girl's... Read more

  • by

    gobthehotcop

    Wed Oct 26 2005

    Rachael Ray is hot!!! I love her show. Yes, she seems like she's hopped up on a permanent sugar rush, but that's what's so great about her. Her cookbooks are awesome as well. Yummo!

  • by

    msdbeach

    Thu Oct 20 2005

    Okay, I watched it by sheer accident - but hey, I thinks she extremely inventive and entertaining. Love the gnocci/bread cube idea with Tomato & Basil sauce. Great ideas for time robbed people like me who love to eat and can't spend to much time in the kitchen. Thanks Rachel - WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

  • by

    wharts

    Sun Sep 18 2005

    With her load mouth and gating voice I was just sure her grandmother was Martha Raye. Apparently not.

  • by

    rjy22751

    Thu Aug 11 2005

    A good show to watch to kill time.

  • by

    helmut

    Fri May 20 2005

    kiss the cook, saying you enjoy watching her show is an understatement at best. Rabid wolves could not keep you from missing Rachel Ray. helmut(hitting his thumb with a hammer): OUCH!!! kiss_the_cook: Hun, could you be quiet? I'm watching 30 Minute Meals!

  • by

    groggnicole

    Fri May 06 2005

    I have 2 kids and a husband in the air force and not alot of time to make meals

  • by

    askmeiknow

    Tue May 03 2005

    Give this girl some valium or prozac please. Anything that will stop that giggle would help. May be one of the top 10 anoying people on the tube

  • by

    kattwoman

    Sat Apr 02 2005

    i love the show. you just love her shes always so happy why anyone would want to remove a positive thing

  • by

    lexia02d

    Sat Mar 26 2005

    I Looove Rachael Ray. She rocks! And for all these people with silly comments to make about her, you are obviously depressed and need a bit more sunshine in your life(though I get a kick out of reading the hilarious comments as some of them are true). But hey, it's just tv. I look forward to whenever $40 a day or 30 minute meals come on, just so I can enjoy her quirky personality. Go on, girl!!!

  • by

    pasta10

    Sat Mar 19 2005

    Rachael is terrific. Her recipes are well thought out, easy, and contain ingredients you either already have, or will find in your grocery store. I've also learned a lot from Rachael, including how to chop, using the correct utensils, and some wonderful new brands of basics I always have on hand (such as canned tomatoes).

  • by

    xterminator

    Sun Feb 27 2005

    I like this show that Rachael does. If more people would get in the kitchen and spend 30 minutes to prepare a good meal instead of spending 5 minutes going thru the drive thru,I think more people could maintain their weight better.

  • by

    ldcalifornia

    Sat Jan 22 2005

    Rachel I LOVE YOU !!!! The food is great and I love how you make me hold my breath every time your load yourself up and head for the counter. And you make it every time!!! WAY COOL

  • by

    flick01

    Sat Jan 22 2005

    I have a crush on Rachel..... and she can cook, too.

  • by

    tocwelsh

    Mon Jan 17 2005

    Rachel has to be one of the worst cooks on TV, this includes her gandpa also, her false laughing bouts, everything she does can be repeated by a chimpanze, and the wasted food that she tosses into the Garbage bowl is a sacrilege to say the least.....my granma would turn in her grave if she seen such good food being tossed away...

  • by

    newcook74

    Fri Jan 14 2005

    Awesome, Awesome show!!! What I like best is she is REAL! She just makes you feel like you can cook too!! I used to be so intimidated by cooking and now I look at it as FUN! Rachel you do ROCK

  • by

    grandma_no1

    Sun Dec 12 2004

    In think she Is fantastic on the show.I print a lot of her recipes

  • by

    dolly65

    Sat Nov 20 2004

    I have not tried your recipes yet,however I will. I am going to the mall first chance I get to buy one of your cookbooks. I wanted to make a comment about your laugh. It comes from your heart.Dont let any of those comments bother you. As they dont have a cooking show, You do, YOU DO ROCK, from a 65 yr old Grandma that really likes you and your show. dolly

  • by

    braxtontaigu

    Sun Nov 14 2004

    I just made Rachel Ray's cream cheese smashed potatoes, and my family is now considering throwing a party in my honor! They were SO AMAZING! I have tried many of her recipes, and they've all been easy and great. Her lame sense of humor cracks me up, too! She rocks!

  • by

    shadowpardus

    Sat Nov 06 2004

    Loved Rachael Rays 30-Minute Meals Cooking Show!!! Had some wonderful recipes. Will watch again when given the chance.

  • by

    detour

    Wed Oct 20 2004

    i can't stand rachel ray. she says cauliflower like collie-flower and she laughs at herself much too much.

  • by

    majibb

    Wed Oct 20 2004

    The show is good to watch, but I can't stand her shrilly laugh. Some of her recipes are too bland for me. Turkey burgers? Yeech.

  • by

    duckie067

    Thu Aug 26 2004

    Rachel Ray and her humor makes me feel very queasy. I am sure anyone can whip up a 5 course meal w/ some tv magic and lots of practice w/i 30 mins.

  • by

    lisa80

    Mon Jul 26 2004

    This is the best cooking show on right now. Wonderful food in 30 minutes!!!

  • by

    jakeev

    Fri Jul 16 2004

    Rachael is a single guy's goddess in my opinion. Doesn't hurt that she has a great personality. But she makes cooking fun would it should not be a chore. Rachael if you are out there reading any of this, you ROCK!!!!!