Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-piece Cookware Set

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There’s something exciting and satisfying about setting up a brand new cookware collection in your kitchen. Everything matches, you’ve got all shapes and sizes you need for all dishes, and you can get rid of those old, nasty pans (or recycle them!).

However, you need the right cookware set, or you’re facing a whole lot of disappointment. To help you in your search, we have studied the Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-piece Cookware Set so you can either rule it out or put it at the top of your list.

(If you’re wondering who “The Pioneer Woman” is, her name is Ree Drummond and she’s a prolific food writer, blogger and TV personality who lives on a ranch in Oklahoma).

What’s included

The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-Piece Cookware Set comes with:

• 1-quart saucepan with lid
• 5-quart saucepan with lid
• 5-quart Dutch oven with lid
• 5” fry pan
• 12” skillet
• 8” cast iron skillet (pre-seasoned)
• Set of 4 measuring spoons (ceramic)
• Set of 4 measuring bowls (ceramic)
• Wooden spoon (acacia)
• Wooden turner (acacia)
• 2 mini au gratins (pre-seasoned cast iron)
• 2 silicone sleeves
• Spatula (nylon)

The overall look of this set is really pretty, in a choice of turquoise or red, with a speckled exterior. The interiors are a dark charcoal color and are made from enameled porcelain (more on this further below!).

The measuring spoons and measuring cups are covered in bright, bold colors and florals. This is definitely a feminine-looking cookware set and would suit a feminine, pretty aesthetic preference.

Why Porcelain?

The pots and pans in this cookware set, (excluding the cast iron items), are made from enameled porcelain over an aluminum base. Porcelain enamel is made from a glass-like material which is fired at a super high heat to fuse with the aluminum base to create a tough yet lightweight product.

The aluminum base material is a great choice because it is a great heat conductor and is really durable. Porcelain enamel is a strong, lightweight and durable material, making it great for cookware.

The cookware surface is non-reactive which means it won’t leach chemicals when in contact with acidic foods (especially tomatoes!). Because the surface is very tough, it can handle metal utensils without chipping or scratching.

However, this particular set does come with a recommendation to use softer utensils such as wood and nylon. No worries! The set comes with wooden and nylon utensils so you’re all set.

One of the best aspects of enameled porcelain as a cookware surface material is that it’s nonstick. This helps with fat-free or reduced-fat cooking, and it makes clean-up much easier.

And finally, it is oven-safe, which is always a great feature for cookware as it means you don’t have to change cookware between stovetop and oven processes.

Overall, the material choices are really impressive.

Pros and cons

Notable features

Cast-iron skillet and au gratin: one of the coolest features about this set is that it comes with cast iron items. A cast-iron skillet is not so common with cookware sets, so we were pleased to see it here! Cast iron is an incredibly tough material which can last forever if properly maintained. It can withstand very high temperatures on the stove and in the oven.

The cast-iron items in this set come pre-seasoned, but you will have to re-season them whenever they become dry or lose their nonstick property. We love the mini cast iron au gratin pans (the little, oval-shaped pans with ring handles).

These small pans are perfect for making mini lasagnas, pies or individual baked meat dishes. Because they’re made from cast iron, they can be subjected to a high heat in the oven, ideal for broiling cheese and getting a super crusty or charred top!

Silicone sleeves: two silicone sleeves are included in the set; a long one which slips onto the cast iron skillet handle, and a small one which slips onto the helper handles on the mini au gratin pans. These are heat proof and are designed to protect your hands when dealing with the cast iron items as they don’t have cool-touch handles.

Glass lids: the lids which come with the two saute pans and the Dutch oven are made from transparent glass, with vent holes to allow steam to release. The lids are rimmed with metal for a tight and snug fit. The great thing about glass lids is that the food inside is totally visible to you (as long as bubbling or excess steam isn’t obscuring the view!).

This is handy for when you want to check if your dish has reached the boiling point, or if your rice has cooked through, but you don’t want to remove the lid and let all that heat escape. The lids are oven-safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Utensils and measuring tools: this set comes with wooden spoons, a nylon spatula, measuring spoons (¼ tsp, ½ tsp, 1 tsp and 1 Tbsp) and measuring cups (1, ½, ⅓ and ¼ cups).

We think this is a great touch, as measuring tools are crucial and it’s handy to have an extra set on hand for when one set is in the dishwasher. The measuring bowls and spoons are so pretty and colorful that they’d look great stored out in the open on your countertop.

What utensils to use with the Pioneer Woman Cookware Set

You don’t need to think too hard about this one…because you get the perfect utensils right there in the box. The wooden turner and wooden spoon are both perfect for stirring sauces in the saucepans and moving veggies and meats quickly around the fry pan and skillet.

The nylon spatula is there for when you need to flip burgers, fish, fritters and pancakes. These utensils are ideal because they’re made from soft, gentle materials (wood and nylon) which pose no threat whatsoever to the cookware surfaces.

Is it oven-safe and dishwasher safe?

It sure is! You can use the enameled porcelain pots and pans in the oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cast iron pieces up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Everything is dishwasher safe (except the cast iron pieces), which is a huge bonus for some people, especially if you’re super busy. However, we do recommend that you hand wash your cookware whenever possible.

Over time, the dishwasher can damage the cooking surface and even contribute to a warped or uneven base if you’re unlucky! To preserve the nonstick nature of the surface, a quick rinse and scrub with a soft brush is the best way to go.

To clean cast iron, wipe the surface down with a paper towel to remove any excess oils. Give it a gentle scrub with water and a soft brush, but don’t use harsh detergents as they will strip the seasoning.

Who does this set suit best?

Because of the low price and the sheer number of items included, this would be a great choice for anyone on a tight budget. Students looking to kit-out their dorms or couples moving into a new home on a budget would get a lot of value for money with this set.

If you’re looking to stock up the kitchen in your holiday home or beach house, this set would add extra design flair plus everything you need, all for a very friendly price.

If you’re after a plain, subtle set which will blend in to a neutral-toned color theme, this isn’t the one for you. However, if you want something a little brighter and with a distinct feminine flair, this could be perfect thanks to the bright exterior and floral accents.

Conclusion and final thoughts

The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-piece Cookware Set is a very affordable cookware set which offers a comprehensive collection of items. If you’re looking for pots, a Dutch oven, a frying pan, a cast iron skillet, wooden spoons, a spatula and measuring utensils, then you can get them all in one.

This isn’t the most durable, heavy or high-quality set on the market, but it’s definitely great value for money. The fun, bold colors are perfect for cheering up your kitchen, and the enameled porcelain-on-aluminum is nonstick and great at conducting heat.

We think this would be the perfect set for a “one and done” stocking of a student kitchen, beach house or simply for anyone with a small budget and a great taste for attractive cookware.