The only thing better than cooking with high-quality cookware? Cooking with beautiful high-quality cookware.
The Pioneer Woman brand aims to bring the beauty of bright colors and floral prints to non-stick cookware sets at a great price.
I like the Vintage Speckled 10-Piece Cookware Set because it gives the best bang for your buck.
But some may not want aluminum pans, while others may prefer a single piece over an entire set. Still, others might opt for stainless steel or another material. There are lots of factors to consider.
Fortunately, I’ve rounded up some Pioneer Woman Cookware Sets, as well as an individual piece and an alternative. Here are the cookware sets I’ve reviewed:
- The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 10-Piece Non-Stick Set: Best Overall Cookware Set
- The Pioneer Woman 4-Quart Dutch Oven with Lid: Best Single Piece
- The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-Piece Combo Set: Best All-In-One Cookware Set
- Alternative Cookware Set: GreenPan Valencia Pro Set
I’ve broken down the pros and cons of each to give you all the information you need to decide which is right for you.
Ready to find out more? Keep reading my Pioneer Woman Cookware Reviews guide for more.
Contents
Pioneer Woman Pots and Pans Reviews
The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 10-Piece Non-Stick Pre-Seasoned Cookware Set: Best Overall
This Pioneer Woman Cookware Set comes in a pretty vintage speckled robin’s egg blue exterior. You can find a red version, as well. The full cookware set includes the following 10 pieces:
- 1.5-quart (1.42 liters) saucepan with lid
- 2.5-quart (2.37 liters) saucepan with lid
- 5.5-quart (5.2 liters) Dutch oven with lid
- 4.6-quart (4.35 liters) covered sauté pan
- 9.5-inch (24.13 cm) fry pan
- 12″ x 8″ (30.48 x 20.32 cm) ceramic baker
It has all the essential pieces to get you started in the kitchen. All the pots and pans except the baker feature an aluminum core with a Teflon non-stick coating on the interior cooking surface.
The ceramic baker is great for casseroles and features the Pioneer Woman’s signature floral design.
These nonstick pans feature rubberized handles that stay cool while on the stovetop. The tempered glass lids have steam vents and allow you to monitor food while cooking.
This Pioneer Woman set is oven-safe for up to 400°F (204°C). The glass lids can handle temps up to 350°F (177°C). For the stovetop, however, you should stick to low or medium heat. High heat could potentially warp or damage the pan.
Be sure to use only silicone or wooden cooking utensils; Metal utensils could scratch the nonstick coating. This cookware is not dishwasher-safe, either, so you’ll have to hand wash it. Most users said this cookware was easy to clean.
Customers raved about the beautiful appearance of this Pioneer Woman cookware set. They loved the speckled blue color. They also liked the excellent heat conduction and even heat distribution.
Some customers had issues with their pots flaking or warping after a while. Others had issues with fading after a year or so.
If you’re looking for a forever cookware set, this won’t be it. But if you want affordable and beautiful cookware with great value, this set is pretty nice.
Pros
- Beautiful appearance
- Non-stick
- Even heating
- Oven-safe to 400°F (204°C)
- Affordable
- Heat-resistant, cool-touch handles
Cons
- Not metal-utensil safe
- Handwash only
- Not super durable
The Pioneer Woman 4-Quart Dutch Oven with Lid: Best Single Piece
The Pioneer Woman line doesn’t just include cookware sets. It also offers individual pieces, like this 4-quart (3.79 liters) Dutch oven with a domed lid, my favorite of all the Pioneer Woman pots.
At that capacity, you could feed four people with this cookware piece. It’s on the smaller size for a jumbo cooker.
This pot comes in a bright floral design and features a thin layer of porcelain enamel over a stainless steel interior. The porcelain enamel makes the pot stick-resistant, but you should not expect the food release you get with the Teflon-coated set.
As far as oven safety, this non-stick piece can handle high temperatures. With a maximum temp of 500°F (260°C), you’ll have no problems making a variety of dishes.
What’s more? You can cook with this pan on any cooktop, including induction. The wide looped handles make for easy lifting.
Users were able to cook a variety of dishes in this Dutch, including bread, soups, and stews. One customer warned that the handles get hot while cooking on the stove. But overall, the reviews were positive.
And for cleaning? Although this pot is not dishwasher-safe, it is easy to clean. Simply hand wash with mild soap and warm water.
Pros
- Stainless steel construction
- Stick-resistant porcelain enamel
- Induction-compatible
- Safe for oven use up to 500°F (260°C)
Cons
- On the small side
- Hand wash only
The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-Piece Combo Bakeware & Cookware Set: Best All-In-One Set
If you want the best of Pioneer Woman bakeware and cookware, this set is for you. It has a substantial 24 pieces, including the following:
- 1-quart (.95 liters) covered saucepan
- 2.5-quart (2.37 liters) covered saucepan
- 5.5-quart (5.2 liters) Dutch with lid
- 9.5-inch (24.13 cm) fry pan
- 12-inch (30.48 cm) skillet
- 4 ceramic measuring bowls
- 4 ceramic measuring spoons
- 8-inch (20.32 cm) pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet
- 2 mini cast-iron au gratins
- 2 silicone sleeves
- 2 acacia wood cooking utensils
- 1 nylon spatula
The two saucepans are on the smaller side but still functional for most people. The frying pans do not have lids to go with them, but the 5.5-quart (5.2 liters) pan does.
One thing that distinguishes this cookware set from other cookware sets is the pre-seasoned cast-iron frying pan and mini cast-iron pans.
It’s unusual to include cast iron cookware in a set that also has non-stick pots and pans. But this marriage of materials can replace a few sets with just one complete cookware set.
Some people, myself included, use cast iron for certain tasks, like searing steak, and non-stick for others, like frying fish. Different materials in one cookware set covers all the angles.
The nylon spatula and wooden cooking utensils are ideal for use on both the cast iron frying pans and the non-stick pieces. And the silicone sleeves help when handling the cast iron frying pan.
The saucepans, skillet, 9.5-inch (24.13) frying pan, and Dutch all have an aluminum core and a Teflon non-stick coating on the interior. And the speckled exterior comes in an eye-popping cherry red color. There is also a turquoise option.
The silicone handles stay cool while cooking and the tempered glass lids allow you to monitor food.
For baking, this cookware can handle temperatures up to 400°F (204°C). The lids can handle heat up to 350°F (177°C).
Customers were pleased with this cookware set. Several recommended letting the pans cool completely before handwashing to avoid any fading of the exterior color.
Speaking of cleaning, you should avoid using the dishwasher with these pans, both the non-stick and cast iron pieces.
Users were happy with the heat distribution, as well. It’s important to avoid high heat on the stove. Low to medium heat allows you to cook almost anything with these pots and pans.
The biggest customer complaints involved staining and denting. Several said these pans are easy to dent, while others had issues with everything turning red. Some may have put their cookware in the dishwasher, however, which might have been the cause.
Pros
- Large set, 24 pieces
- Includes bakeware & cast iron
- Lightweight
- Oven-safe to 400°F (204°C)
- Affordable, cost-effective
Cons
- Not dishwasher-safe
- Reports of denting and staining
- Not safe for metal utensils
Pioneer Woman Alternative: GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard-Anodized Ceramic Non-stick 11-Piece Pots and Pans Set
Looking for an alternative? This GreenPan Valencia Pro set is among the best in non-stick ceramic cookware. It has a core of hard-anodized aluminum and a ceramic non-stick coating.
The cookware set comes with the following 11 pieces:
- 8-inch (20.32 cm) frying pan
- 9.5-inch (24.13 cm) frying pan
- 11-inch (cm) frying pan
- 2 quart (1.89 liters) & 3-quart (2.84 liters) saucepans with lids
- 3-quart (2.84 liters) skillet with lid
- 5-quart (4.73 liters) casserole with lid
This non-stick ceramic cookware set is stick-resistant and has good food release. But these pots and pans will require a little oil, unlike a Teflon coating.
This ceramic coating is infused with diamonds for extra hardness and durability. GreenPan claims it’s safe for metal cooking utensils, but I would stick to silicone or wooden cooking tools, to be on the safe side.
You can use these GreenPan pots on an induction stovetop. You can also put them in the oven for temperatures up to 600°F (315°C), making this a versatile cookware set.
The tempered glass lids allow you to keep an eye on food while cooking, and the stainless steel handles are stay-cool, so you can handle these pans without worry.
This GreenPan set will be more expensive than the Pioneer Woman cookware sets, however.
Pros
- Hard-anodized core
- Ceramic non-stick coating
- Max temp of 600°F (315°C)
- Induction-compatible
Cons
- Expensive
- Does require oil
Pioneer Woman Brand Guide
Who is the Pioneer Woman?
Ree Drummond, a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman, is an American blogger, cookbook author, and TV personality.
She shares her life as a wife and mother on her family’s ranch in Oklahoma. Her down-to-earth feel and practical recipes and lifestyle tips have made her wildly popular.
In 2011, Ree Drummond’s show, “The Pioneer Woman,” premiered on the Food Network. Since then, the Pioneer Woman brand has only expanded as Drummond has gained in popularity.
The Pioneer Woman line of cookware was launched in 2015, along with a collection of bakeware, glassware, tableware, and more. It is available both online and in Wal-Mart stores in both the U.S. and abroad.
To see Ree in action, watch this video as she prepares a Sausage, Pepper, and Potato Skillet recipe:
Who Makes Pioneer Woman Pots and Pans?
Gibson Overseas, Inc. is a U.S.-based producer of tabletop products and housewares. It’s responsible for producing all the cookware in the Pioneer Woman collection, as well as other brands.
Are Pioneer Woman Pots and Pans Safe?
Pioneer Woman Cookware is mostly aluminum with a Teflon non-stick coating on the interior surface. There is more than one cast iron pan in the 24-Piece set, as well.
The Pioneer Woman cast-iron pan does not have any harmful chemicals, but cast iron is reactive. Avoid simmering acidic food for a very long time in your cast iron fry pan to avoid any reaction.
The aluminum and Teflon in the other cookware is similar to what you would find in a T-fal set. At extremely high heat, the non-stick can start flaking and peeling.
At extreme temperatures, Teflon can also release toxic fumes that cause flu-like symptoms. If you stick to normal cooking temperatures, however, you should not have any problems or safety concerns.
Is Pioneer Woman Cookware Oven-Safe?
Yes, Pioneer Woman pots and pans are oven-safe up to 400°F (204°C). The tempered glass lids have a maximum oven temperature of 350°F (177°C).
The Pioneer Woman stainless steel Dutch can reach up to 500°F (260°C), allowing you to cook all types of stovetop-to-oven dishes.
Are Pioneer Woman Pots and Pans Dishwasher-Safe?
I get it. Tossing your pots and pans in the dishwasher is just so convenient. But it’s not an option for this cookware. Pioneer Woman pans should be hand-washed.
The good news? Due to the non-stick coatings, most people had an easy time hand washing these pans.
Is Pioneer Woman Cookware Compatible for Induction?
Some pieces are, while others are not. I could not find reliable information regarding the vintage speckled set, but based on the product materials, I‘m confident it’s not.
The Dutch oven, however, is safe for induction cooktops. If you’re unsure about induction compatibility, be sure to check the product description for confirmation.
Pioneer Woman Cookware Reviews: Which One is Best?
If you want the best Pioneer Woman Cookware Set, I would recommend the Pioneer Woman 10-Piece Cookware Set.
This set has all the basic pieces. It performs well and gives you the best bang for your buck. If you’re looking for beautiful, affordable cookware, Pioneer Woman pots and pans make for a good choice.
