Caraway focuses on non-toxic, ceramic-coated cookware sets with a sleek, minimalist design, while Our Place champions vibrant, multi-functional pieces like the Always Pan designed to simplify cooking and replace multiple pans. The key difference lies in their approach: Caraway offers complete, cohesive sets for cooks who want a uniform, health-conscious kitchen, whereas Our Place provides all-in-one solutions for those prioritizing versatility and a pop of color.
Let's compare everything you need to know to decide which brand's cookware belongs in your kitchen.
Caraway: The Non-Toxic, Minimalist Choice
Caraway is a direct-to-consumer brand dedicated to crafting stylish, high-quality cookware that's free of harmful chemicals. They are best known for their signature Cookware Set, which includes all the essentials in a range of muted, modern colors. The brand's focus is on function, health, and a cohesive aesthetic, attracting home cooks who want beautiful, reliable, and safe kitchen tools.
- Product mix: Full cookware and bakeware sets, as well as individual frying pans, saucepans, Dutch ovens, and accessories like utensils and linen aprons.
- Style/vibe: Minimalist, modern, and Scandinavian-inspired. Their products feature clean lines and a curated color palette of soft pastels and earthy tones like sage, cream, and terracotta.
- Price point: Mid-range to premium. Cookware Sets start around $295, while individual pieces typically fall between $50 and $150.
- Quality & Materials: Features a mineral-based, non-toxic ceramic coating that is free from PTFE, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. The pans have an aluminum core for even heating and stainless steel handles.
- Sustainability: The brand emphasizes eco-friendly practices by using recycled materials, sustainable packaging, and releasing fewer emissions during manufacturing.
- Return policy: Offers a 30-day trial for returns and exchanges, along with a limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects.
- Delivery & Assembly: Products ship fully assembled. Each cookware set includes a complimentary magnetic pan rack and canvas lid holder for an organized storage solution.
Caraway appeals to the health-conscious home cook who wants a cohesive set of non-toxic, stylish, and durable cookware built for long-term use.
Shop Caraway: carawayhome.com
Our Place: The Versatile, Multifunctional Cookware
Our Place is a lifestyle brand built around the idea of simplifying cooking and connecting people through food. Their hero product, the Always Pan, became a social media sensation for its promise to replace eight different pieces of cookware. The brand’s philosophy centers on creating clever, multifunctional, and beautifully designed products that make cooking more enjoyable and less cluttered.
- Product mix: Focused on versatile, all-in-one pieces. The core line includes the Always Pan, the Perfect Pot, and a collection of tableware, knives, and prep tools.
- Style/vibe: Playful, modern, and vibrant. Our Place is known for its bold and trendy color options that serve as a statement piece on any stovetop.
- Price point: Accessible mid-range. The Always Pan is priced around $145, and the Perfect Pot is around $125, with frequent bundles and sales offering additional value.
- Quality & Materials: Uses a non-toxic, non-stick ceramic coating and a sturdy, recycled cast aluminum body for a lightweight feel and even heating.
- Key Feature: Multifunctionality is their biggest selling point. The Always Pan comes with a modular lid, a nesting steamer basket/colander, and a wooden spatula with an integrated spoon rest.
- Sustainability: The brand uses recycled materials in its products and 100% recyclable, biodegradable packaging.
- Return policy: Provides a 30-day trial period for returns on unused and undamaged items.
Our Place is perfect for those in smaller spaces or anyone who values simplicity, vibrant style, and a single pan that can do it all.
Shop Our Place: ourplace.com
Caraway vs. Our Place Comparison
Price Comparison
Our Place is generally more budget-friendly if you are looking to buy a single piece. The Always Pan at ~$145 is an accessible entry point for a versatile kitchen tool. They also frequently offer sales and bundle deals that bring the price down further, making them an excellent value proposition for someone starting out or needing a do-it-all pan.
Caraway's pricing reflects its focus on complete sets. While their ~$295 starting price for a 4-piece set is a larger initial investment, it often provides better value per piece than buying individual pans. For those committed to outfitting their entire kitchen with matching, high-quality cookware, Caraway presents a worthwhile investment.
Style & Aesthetic
The visual difference between the two brands is immediately clear. Caraway offers an understated, minimalist aesthetic with soft, muted colors that are designed to complement a modern kitchen without overwhelming it. Their focus is on creating a clean, cohesive set that looks organized and elegant, both on the stove and stored on the included rack.
Our Place takes the opposite approach, using bold, vibrant colors that act as a statement piece. Their aesthetic is more playful and trend-focused, designed to be shown off and add a pop of personality to the kitchen. If you want your cookware to be a conversation starter, Our Place delivers a much more dynamic and eye-catching look.
Quality & Construction
Both brands use aluminum cores for even heating and non-toxic ceramic non-stick coatings. However, Caraway places a stronger emphasis on durability and material safety, backing its products with a lifetime warranty and GreenGuard Gold certification for low chemical emissions. Their build feels slightly heavier and more robust, geared toward years of regular use.
Our Place cookware is well-made and durable for everyday cooking, but its construction is lighter. While its non-stick surface is effective, some users report it can wear more quickly with very heavy use. The quality is solid for its price point but may not have the same long-term resilience as Caraway’s more traditionally constructed pans.
Product Selection & Versatility
This is the most significant point of difference. Caraway provides a traditional range of cookware: a frying pan, a saucepan, a sauté pan, and a Dutch oven. This is ideal for home cooks who appreciate having the right tool for every task, whether it's searing a steak or simmering a sauce. The included storage system is a huge plus for organization.
Our Place excels in versatility. The Always Pan is designed to fry, sauté, steam, strain, and more, making it perfect for small kitchens, minimalists, and beginner cooks who might be intimidated by a large set. The Perfect Pot offers similar versatility for boiling, baking, and stewing. Their model is to reduce clutter and streamline the cooking process.
Sustainability & Ethics
Both brands prioritize sustainability, using recycled aluminum and non-toxic ceramic coatings. Caraway takes a slight edge with more transparent information about its ethical manufacturing practices and certifications like GreenGuard Gold, which appeal to consumers who deeply research environmental impact.
Our Place focuses heavily on responsible material sourcing and eliminating plastic from its packaging. Their brand messaging is also built around bringing diverse communities together over shared meals, tying an ethical mission into their products. Both are strong choices for an eco-conscious buyer.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands offer excellent, modern cookware, but they cater to very different kitchen needs and personal styles.
Choose Caraway if:
- You prioritize certified non-toxic materials and durable, long-lasting construction.
- You want a complete, matching cookware set with a solution for organized storage.
- Your kitchen has a minimalist, modern, or Scandinavian aesthetic.
- You are an avid home cook who needs specific pans for different culinary tasks.
Choose Our Place if:
- You live in a smaller apartment or have limited kitchen storage space.
- You love bold, vibrant colors and want your cookware to be a decorative accent.
- You prefer buying one or two versatile pieces rather than a full set.
- You are a novice or occasional cook who wants a simple, all-in-one pan for everyday meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caraway or Our Place cheaper?
For a single pan, Our Place is cheaper, with its Always Pan costing around $145. Caraway's frying pan is around $95, but their full set is where they focus. Overall, a single versatile purchase from Our Place is more affordable than investing in a full set from Caraway ($295+).
Which has better quality cookware?
Caraway is generally considered to have slightly higher-quality construction. Its pans feel heavier, more robust, and are backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Our Place pans are great for everyday use, but Caraway’s build is designed for more serious, long-term durability.
Are Caraway and Our Place really non-toxic?
Yes, both brands use ceramic-based non-stick coatings that are free of potentially harmful chemicals like PTFE (Teflon), PFOA, lead, and cadmium, making them a safe choice for health-conscious cooking.
Can you use metal utensils on Caraway or Our Place pans?
No, it is strongly recommended to avoid metal utensils on both brands. To protect the ceramic non-stick coating, you should use wood, silicone, or nylon utensils. Both brands sell utensils designed to be used with their cookware.
Are the pans from Our Place and Caraway oven-safe?
Caraway cookware is oven-safe up to 550°F, making it suitable for a wide range of recipes that start on the stovetop and finish in the oven. The Always Pan 2.0 from Our Place is now oven-safe up to 450°F, however, original models were not, so it is important to check which version you have.
Which brand is better for a small kitchen?
Our Place is better for a small kitchen. The Always Pan's 8-in-1 functionality is specifically designed to reduce clutter and replace multiple pans, making it a perfect space-saving solution.
How do you clean Caraway and Our Place cookware?
Both brands should be hand-washed with warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge to preserve the life of the non-stick coating. They are not recommended for the dishwasher. Because they are very non-stick, cleaning is typically quick and easy.
Do Caraway and Our Place ever go on sale?
Yes, both brands have sales. Our Place runs sales quite frequently, especially around holidays like Black Friday, and often offers bundle deals. Caraway hosts a few major sales events throughout the year, which are good opportunities to get their sets at a discount.
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