The Always Pan from Our Place and classic cookware from Le Creuset both promise style and function, but they serve entirely different purposes in the kitchen. The Always Pan is a modern, lightweight, non-stick pan designed for versatility and everyday convenience, while Le Creuset is famous for its heavy, enameled cast iron pieces that offer superior heat retention and are built to last a lifetime.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which iconic cookware is the right long-term fit for your kitchen.
Our Place Always Pan
The Always Pan soared to popularity as a stylish, all-in-one cooking vessel designed for modern kitchens where space and convenience are key. Our Place markets it as a replacement for eight common kitchen tools, combining a skillet, sauté pan, and steamer into one minimalist design. Its trendy colors and thoughtful features have made it a go-to for small apartments and style-conscious home cooks.
- What it is: A versatile, non-toxic, ceramic non-stick pan that functions as a do-it-all tool for frying, steaming, and sautéing.
- Key features: Comes with a nesting beechwood spatula and stainless steel steamer basket, features a built-in spoon rest on the handle, and includes a modular lid that can both trap and release steam.
- Price: Around $145
- Dimensions: 10.5 inches in diameter, 2.7-inch depth, with a 2.6-quart capacity.
- Materials/Construction: Lightweight aluminum body for quick and even heating, with a toxin-free Thermakind™ ceramic non-stick coating. It is compatible with all cooktops, including induction.
- Style: Sleek and minimalist. It is available in a wide range of modern, soft-matte colors that are often displayed on the stovetop.
- Pros: Lightweight and easy to handle, excellent non-stick performance is ideal for delicate foods like eggs and fish, incredibly easy to clean, streamlines kitchens by replacing multiple pans, stunning aesthetic.
- Cons: The non-stick coating has a finite lifespan and will wear down over time, not suitable for high-heat searing, oven-safe only up to 450°F.
This pan is ideal for the daily cook living in a smaller space who values convenience, style, and easy cleanup over high-heat performance and generational durability.
Shop this product: fromourplace.com/products/always-pan
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Cookware
A fixture in kitchens for nearly a century, Le Creuset is the gold standard for enameled cast iron cookware, especially its iconic Dutch oven. The French brand is celebrated for its exceptional craftsmanship, vibrant colors, and unparalleled performance in retaining and distributing heat. These pieces are workhorses designed for everything from baking bread to slow-braising meats, all while being beautiful enough to serve from at the table.
- What it is: Premium, heavy-duty enameled cast iron cookware known for its longevity and cooking performance.
- Key features: Superior heat retention and distribution, durable enamel interior resists staining and dulling, tight-fitting lid locks in moisture and heat, compatible with all cooktops and ovens at high temperatures (typically 500°F).
- Price: $200 - $600+, depending on the piece and size.
- Dimensions: Available in a vast range of sizes, from 1-quart saucepans to 13.25-quart Dutch ovens.
- Materials/Construction: Heavy-gauge cast iron core coated with multiple layers of chip-resistant porcelain enamel.
- Style: Timeless and classic. Known for a huge selection of graduated, vibrant colors that act as a statement piece in any kitchen.
- Pros: Virtually indestructible and designed to last generations, unbeatable for searing, braising, stewing, and baking, excellent oven-to-table presentation, retains heat exceptionally well, backed by a lifetime warranty.
- Cons: Extremely heavy and can be difficult to lift and store, significantly more expensive, takes longer to heat up than aluminum, enamel can chip if dropped or handled roughly.
Le Creuset is for the passionate home chef who sees cookware as a long-term investment in performance and culinary tradition.
Shop this product: lecreuset.com/dutch-ovens-casseroles
Always Pan vs. Le Creuset Comparison
Materials & Construction
The core difference between these two lines of cookware lies in their materials. The Always Pan uses a lightweight aluminum core that heats up quickly and evenly, finished with a smooth ceramic non-stick surface. This construction makes it approachable and easy to use daily. However, all non-stick coatings are consumable and will eventually degrade, regardless of quality.
Le Creuset is built from enameled cast iron - a dense, heavy material that takes longer to heat up but retains and radiates that heat with unmatched efficiency. This makes it perfect for achieving deep sears, maintaining steady simmers for hours, and even baking. Its enamel coating provides a durable, non-reactive cooking surface that can last a lifetime if cared for properly.
Performance & Versatility
The Always Pan's versatility comes from its shape and included accessories. It excels at everyday tasks like scrambling eggs, sautéing vegetables, steaming dumplings, and making one-pan pasta dishes where a non-stick surface prevents sticking and makes cleanup effortless. It is not, however, designed for high-heat searing or developing a deep crust on meats, as high temperatures will damage the non-stick coating.
Le Creuset's versatility lies in its ruggedness and heat control. It can go seamlessly from stovetop to oven, making it ideal for braises, roasts, stews, and baking artisan bread. The cast iron's ability to maintain high, steady heat gives you a far better sear on steaks and other proteins than any non-stick pan can achieve. While it can handle delicate tasks, its primary strength is in slow-and-low or high-heat cooking techniques.
Style & Aesthetics
Both brands prioritize aesthetics, but they appeal to different tastes. The Always Pan champions a modern, minimalist look with its clean lines, matte finishes, and trendy color palette like Sage, Steam, and Terracotta. It's often treated as a countertop accessory, designed to be seen.
Le Creuset’s style is classic, vibrant, and timeless. Its signature graduated colors - like the iconic Flame orange - add a touch of rustic French country style to the kitchen. A colorful Le Creuset Dutch oven is a statement piece that evokes quality, tradition, and a passion for cooking.
Price & Value
At around $145, the Always Pan is a mid-range piece of cookware. It offers good value for its multi-functionality and a design-forward aesthetic. However, its value decreases over time as the non-stick surface wears out, making it more of a short-term solution that might need to be replaced every few years.
Le Creuset is a significant financial investment, with its most popular pieces costing between $300 and $500. The value proposition here is long-term. This is heirloom cookware that performs consistently for decades and is backed by a lifetime warranty. While the upfront cost is high, many owners will never need to buy another Dutch oven again.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both are excellent additions to a kitchen, but they're built for very different cooks and cooking styles.
Choose the Always Pan if:
- You prioritize convenience and fast, easy cleanup over all else.
- You live in a small apartment or have limited kitchen storage space.
- You mostly cook quick, everyday meals like stir-fries, eggs, and steamed vegetables.
- Your home decor style is modern and minimalist, and you want cookware to match.
Choose Le Creuset if:
- You are a passionate home cook who enjoys techniques like braising, searing, and baking.
- You view cookware as a "buy it for life" investment and value durability.
- You want a workhorse piece that can go from stovetop to high-temperature oven to the dining table.
- You appreciate classic, timeless design and want to invest in heirloom-quality pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Always Pan and Le Creuset?
The principal difference is the material. The Always Pan is a lightweight aluminum pan with a limited-lifespan ceramic non-stick coating. Le Creuset is heavy-duty enameled cast iron designed for superior heat retention and lifetime durability.
Is the Always Pan oven safe?
Yes, the Always Pan 2.0 is oven safe up to 450°F (232°C). Le Creuset's cast iron pieces are typically oven safe up to 500°F (260°C), giving them an advantage for high-heat baking and roasting.
Why is Le Creuset so expensive?
Le Creuset's high price is due to its premium materials, time-intensive manufacturing process in France, rigorous quality control, iconic design, and a lifetime warranty signaling it is intended to last for generations.
Which is better for a beginner cook?
The Always Pan is generally more forgiving for beginners. Its non-stick surface makes cooking things like eggs and pancakes much easier without the risk of sticking, and its lightweight body is simpler to handle.
How long does the Always Pan's non-stick coating last?
With proper care (avoiding metal utensils, high heat, and dishwashers), the ceramic non-stick surface typically performs well for one to two years with regular use before its non-stick properties begin to decline.
Can you get a good sear in the Always Pan?
No. Non-stick pans are not designed for the high, direct heat needed to achieve a deep sear on meat. Attempting to do so can damage the coating. Searing is a task where enameled cast iron from Le Creuset excels.
Which pan is easier to clean?
Initially, the Always Pan is much easier to clean, as food slides right off the non-stick surface. However, Le Creuset's enamel surface is also quite easy to clean and extremely durable, allowing for more aggressive scrubbing on tough messes if needed.
Do I need both?
They serve very different functions and are not direct competitors. An ideal kitchen setup for a passionate home cook could easily include both: an Always Pan for quick non-stick tasks and a Le Creuset Dutch oven for heavy-duty cooking.
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