Our Place Always Pan Review: We Tried the Famous Pan to See if It Lives Up to the Hype
Updated: Apr. 22, 2023
Sure, the Our Place Always Pan is pretty. But is it useful? Our Test Kitchen and editors have been using this pan for over a year. Here's what we learned.
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You know those sponsored products that pop up on your social media feeds again and again, tempting your impulse purchase self-control? They’re always stylish, with excellent branding and thousands of likes and positive comments. For me, the trending kitchen item I kept wanting to investigate is the Our Place Always Pan.
Similar to Caraway ceramic cookware, the pan is more gorgeous than any essential kitchen tool has the right to be—but I had a suspicion that the strong aesthetics prove it’s more show than substance. When I was offered the opportunity to write an Our Place Always Pan review, I jumped at the chance to see if the viral gadget could perform in the kitchen and not just on Instagram.
What is the Our Place Always Pan?
The Our Place Always Pan claims to replace eight pieces of cookware with just one pan. It functions as a frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan and nonstick pan. Plus, it includes a spatula and built-in spoon rest. It’s 10 inches in diameter, with a 2.7-inch depth and 2.6-quart capacity.
The pan’s aluminum body is lightweight for easy maneuvering. And its cooking surface features a nonstick ceramic coating for a smooth, slick design. A mesh strainer fits neatly inside for easy steaming, and a lid keeps items warm and steam locked in. The beechwood spatula stays put, thanks to a clever knob on the pan’s handle, so you can rest the spatula mess-free when you’re not using it. Finally, two spouts on the pan make for easy pouring with minimal mess.
Upon pulling it out of the box, I was immediately in awe by the pan’s appearance. It really looks as good in real life as it does in the ads. My small kitchen is basically out of functional storage space (especially for organizing pots and pans), so I was pleased that I can proudly display this pan on my stove full-time. It actually adds to my décor! The blue shade I chose is soothing and eye-catching, and the other shades are similarly on-trend.
How We Tested the Our Place Always Pan
When creating my Our Place Always pan review, I wanted to use not only my own experience as an amateur home cook, but also the expertise of Taste of Home’s own Executive Culinary Director, Sarah Farmer. She’s been using the pan for over a year and has been seriously impressed by its performance in the kitchen.
“The Always Pan is completely display-worthy. It’s so much more than just a pretty pan. It’s got both style and substance; it is form and function,” Sarah says. “From eggs (which still don’t stick to the pan even after more than a year of use and cleaning) to pancakes, pork chops, ground beef, grilled cheeses and more, this pan truly is always in use at my house.”
After testing, Sarah’s a devotee. “Honestly, the Always Pan is a part of my kitchen now. In fact, I’m such a fan, I gave one to my parents last Christmas,” she says. “This Christmas, I’ve got one on order for my sister!”
In my own humble home cook opinion, I’m just as impressed as Sarah is. I’ve had the pan since October 2021. I use it nearly every day, and it has held up beautifully. Even if it’s not visually as perfect as it was the first few months (the bottom has blackened some), I’m very pleased with its performance and appearance.
The Our Place pan’s surface is so nonstick that I’m often tempted to sauté without oil, and it’s incredibly easy to clean. It heats quickly and evenly, and feels sturdy yet still lightweight in my hand. The built-in spatula holder is a genius detail that leaves my kitchen counters much cleaner than usual. The pan’s handle stays room temperature, so it’s easy to maneuver without feeling the heat.
And, of course, the Always Pan looks absolutely gorgeous in my kitchen. It stays on my stovetop full-time, and I’ve consistently received compliments on it. In fact, I’m strongly considering purchasing the matching Our Place Perfect Pot and the Our Place mini cookware, too.
My only issue with the pan is that its side handle isn’t temperature-controlled like the large handle is. In an unfortunate mistake early into testing the pan, I grabbed the side handle when it was at medium-high heat and burned my hand. That was certainly more user error than a defect, but it would still be a nice feature for both handles to be heat-resistant.
Pros
- Impressive nonstick surface for easy cleaning
- Heats evenly for consistent cooking
- Clever built-in spatula holder
- Comes with a mesh strainer, spatula and cleaning sponge
- Works on all types of stovetops (including induction)
- Space-saving nesting design
- Available in 11 stylish colors—it’s pretty!
Cons
- No temperature control on the side handle
- More expensive than some nonstick pans on the market
- Bottom has become discolored after one year
- Wooden spatula needs priming with oil to stay fresh
How to Clean the Our Place Always Pan
Cleaning the Our Place Always Pan feels like much less of a chore than my usual dishes. That’s because the nonstick pan’s surface makes sauces, crumbs and everything else slide right off and into the sink. A quick rinse with dish soap is all it takes to clean the pan. It comes with a loofah-like sponge as well, which makes scrubbing easy—not that I ever had to scrub much anyway.
The New Always Pan 2.0
As of April 2023, there’s a new tool in town! Our Place is phasing out the original Always Pan and replacing it with the Always Pan 2.0. A very similar remake of its predecessor with some notable tweaks, the Always Pan 2.0 has 10 functions, rather than the previously touted eight, because it can go in the oven. This means, in addition to braising, searing, steaming, sauteing, frying, boiling, straining and serving, it can also bake and roast. (See our full review of the Always Pan 2.0.)
Furthermore, this iteration of the internet-famous pan has a heightened emphasis on sustainability. The 2.0’s aluminum core is made of 100% certified post-consumer waste, meaning it’s recycled. And the ceramic nonstick surface has been refined to last 50% longer than that of the 1.0.
FAQ
Can the Our Place Always Pan go in the oven?
The original Our Place Always Pan cannot go in the oven. However, the Always Pan 2.0, released in April 2023, is oven-safe up to 450°F. This is one of the handful of differentiations between the two models. If you purchased your pan before April 2023, be sure to keep the kitchen staple safe and sound on the stovetop.
Does the Our Place Always Pan have Teflon?
No, the Our Place Always Pan does not have Teflon, a chemical coating commonly found on nonstick cookware. Rather, the Always Pan’s nonstick surface is called Thermakind. Thermakind is a toxin-free ceramic coating exclusive to Our Place; it’s made of water, alcohol and a sand derivative.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
More than 32,000 customers have chimed in with their thoughts on the Always Pan, and much like ours, their reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
Nancy W. gave the multi-purpose pan a perfect five stars and said, “I have never used a pan as smooth as this one. I am in my sixties, too, so that’s saying something! I only wish I would have bought it sooner. It also has an even cooking surface. No more overdone sections while other sections are underdone!”
Admittedly, Our Place promises a lot with this product, and customer Julie J. believes the company keeps all of them: “It’s everything they say. Beautiful, functional and lightweight. I’m waiting to save for the pot and mini pans.”
Cheryl R. shared a relatable anecdote about a kitchen whoopsie that would’ve proven much worse with a lesser pan. She wrote, “Once I got distracted and burnt cheesy tuna in it. Everything cleaned up with a quick swish with a cloth under running water. NOTHING sticks. It is the MVP tool in my kitchen.”
Product Comparison
With several internet-famous ceramic and nonstick cookware brands out there today, how does the Our Place Always Pan stack up? For starters, it’s a frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan and nonstick pan all in one. It boils pasta, sears meat, sautés veggies and so. much. more. It’s nonstick qualities rival the Green Pan‘s (both are ideal for fuss-free clean up), and the included steaming basket and lid make it the only piece of cookware you need. Plus, it’s much lighter than a cast-iron skillet.
The fact that it replaces eight pieces of cookware means cluttered kitchen cabinets can finally be a thing of the past. The one thing it doesn’t quite replace, however, is whipping up soups and stews in our favorite Dutch ovens. For that, you’ll need the Our Place Perfect Pot!
The Final Verdict
Since cooking with my Our Place Always Pan for more than one year, and talking to Sarah about her professional experience, I still wholeheartedly recommend purchasing the Our Place Always Pan. It won over both me as an amateur home cook and Taste of Home’s Executive Culinary Director—no easy feat!
It makes a great gift for foodies, gift for cooks or an upgrade to your worn-out cookware. Though it might be pricey at $145, it’s worth the cost for its high-quality, thoughtful design and its ability to replace multiple pieces of cookware.
Where to Buy the Our Place Always Pan
The Our Place Always Pan is currently only available for purchase online through Our Place’s website. We recommend grabbing your favorite color quickly, though, because they tend to sell out frequently. While you’re waiting for the pan to arrive, start daydreaming about all of the delicious dinners you’re going to cook!
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