The Our Place Always Pan is a single piece of multi-functional cookware designed to replace eight kitchen tools, while the Essentials set is a bundle that typically includes the Always Pan along with other coordinated pieces like a saucepan. The key difference is quantity and purpose: choosing between a single, versatile star player or a complete, value-oriented starter kit from the design-forward brand Our Place.
Here's a detailed comparison to help you decide which setup makes the most sense for your kitchen and cooking style.
Our Place Essentials Set
The Our Place Essentials set is a curated collection designed to outfit a modern kitchen with a few key, coordinated pieces. While the exact items can vary by bundle, it generally centers around their famous Always Pan and adds other staples like a saucepan or baking sheet, creating an instant, cohesive cookware collection.
- What it is: A bundle of cookware that includes popular Our Place items, offering a complete solution for everyday cooking.
- Key features: Typically includes the 10-inch Always Pan, a saucepan (around 3 quarts), and sometimes a baking sheet or utensils. All pieces feature a signature non-toxic, non-stick ceramic coating.
- Price: Ranges from $195 to $250, depending on the bundle and current promotions.
- Style: Minimalist and modern with clean lines and a simple, coordinated color palette, usually offered in neutral or muted tones.
- Materials/Construction: High-quality aluminum core for even heating, finished with a ceramic non-stick coating that is free from PTFE, PFOA, and other harmful chemicals.
- Pros: Excellent value for multiple pieces. Instantly outfits a kitchen with coordinated, high-quality cookware. A great option for wedding registries or moving into a new home. Consistent quality and aesthetic across all items.
- Cons: Higher upfront cost than buying a single pan. May include items you already own or don't need. Fewer color choices compared to the standalone Always Pan.
This set is perfect for home cooks looking to upgrade their entire collection at once or outfit a new kitchen with versatile, high-quality, and aesthetically pleasing essentials.
Shop this product: ourplace.com
Our Place Always Pan
The Always Pan is the viral, celebrity-endorsed product that put Our Place on the map. It’s engineered to be a single, do-it-all pan that can braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, boil, and serve - effectively replacing a fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest.
- What it is: A single, 10-inch non-stick pan with a lid, integrated steamer basket, and a custom beechwood spatula.
- Key features: Built-in steamer basket, modular lid to release or trap steam, two easy-pour spouts, and an integrated spoon rest on the handle.
- Price: Approximately $145 to $165, with frequent sales and promotions available on their site.
- Style: A trendy, eye-catching design piece available in a wide array of vibrant and muted colors like sage green, terracotta, and soft blues.
- Materials/Construction: Lightweight aluminum body for quick and even heating, a non-toxic ceramic non-stick surface, and a stay-cool handle.
- Pros: Replaces multiple pans, saving valuable cabinet space. Beautiful design makes it a "counter-worthy" piece. Incredibly versatile for a wide range of cooking tasks. Easy to clean thanks to the effective non-stick surface.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than a standard non-stick pan. The ceramic coating requires careful use (no metal utensils, no high stovetop heat) to maintain its non-stick properties. Not oven-safe.
The Always Pan is a great fit for someone living in a small space, cooks who prefer one-pan meals, or anyone who values a blend of high function and high style in their cookware.
Shop this product: ourplace.com/products/always-pan
Our Place Essentials vs. Always Pan Comparison
What’s Included & Sizing
The most significant difference is what you get. The Always Pan is a standalone product: a 10-inch skillet with a 2.6-quart capacity that comes with a steamer basket and spatula. It's designed as the hero piece of a minimalist kitchen.
The Essentials set is a bundle. You get the 10-inch Always Pan plus other pieces. A common configuration includes a similarly styled saucepan, which is essential for making rice, soups, or sauces - tasks the shallow Always Pan isn't well-suited for. It provides a more complete system for someone who cooks a variety of meals.
Style & Aesthetic
While both options share the brand's signature look, the Always Pan is a clear aesthetic statement. It’s famous for its wide range of on-trend colors that serve as a focal point in the kitchen. It’s cookware designed to be seen and displayed.
The Essentials set has a more understated, cohesive aesthetic. The available colors are typically more neutral and uniform, creating a modern, minimalist-coordinated look rather than a single pop of color. It's less of a statement and more of a complete, refined system.
Materials & Construction
Both the Essentials set and the standalone Always Pan are built with the same core materials: a lightweight aluminum body for fast, even heat distribution and a non-toxic, PFOA- and PTFE-free ceramic non-stick coating. Quality is consistent across the board. The construction is solid but designed to be lightweight and easy to handle, not heavy-duty cast iron. The primary difference isn't in material quality but in the range of cookware shapes and sizes offered.
Price & Value
The Always Pan costs around $145 to $165 on its own. The Essentials set, often priced between $195 and $250, might seem more expensive upfront. However, the value proposition is strong. For an additional $50 to $100, you are getting at least one or two other high-quality pieces of cookware.
If you genuinely need both a versatile skillet and a saucepan, the Essentials bundle offers a much better value per item than buying each piece separately. If you already have a great saucepan and are just looking for a new do-it-all skillet, the Always Pan is the more direct and cost-effective purchase.
Who Each One Works Best For
The recommendation comes down to your current kitchen setup and cooking needs. The Essentials set is ideal for anyone starting from scratch, moving into a new apartment, or looking to replace a mismatched, worn-out cookware collection. It provides a foundational, matching set that covers the basics for a wide variety of meals.
The Always Pan alone is better for people who already own a good set of pots but want to add a stylish, high-performing non-stick skillet for daily eggs, stir-fries, and one-pan dinners. It's also perfect for minimalists and those in small city kitchens where a single, multi-functional piece can save a tremendous amount of space.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both offerings from Our Place are excellent, but they cater to different kitchen needs and priorities.
Choose the Our Place Essentials set if:
- You're starting a kitchen from scratch or doing a major cookware overhaul.
- You want a coordinated look across all your pots and pans.
- Value is a high priority, and you need more than just one skillet.
- You cook a variety of meals that require different types of cookware (like soups or sauces).
Choose the Our Place Always Pan if:
- You live in a small space and need to maximize cabinet storage.
- Kitchen aesthetics are very important to you, and you want a colorful statement piece.
- You primarily cook one-pan meals and need a versatile skillet for daily use.
- You already have quality saucepans and pots and are looking for a specialty replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Essentials set and the Always Pan?
The Always Pan is a single, multi-functional 10-inch pan. The Essentials collection is a curated bundle of cookware that usually includes the Always Pan plus other staple pieces, like a saucepan, to provide a more complete kitchen setup.
Is the Always Pan included in the Essentials set?
Yes, most Our Place "Essentials" bundles are built around their signature Always Pan and add complementary items to create a versatile set.
Are Our Place pans oven-safe?
No, the Always Pan and many of Our Place's other cookware pieces are not designed to be used in the oven. This is a critical limitation to be aware of if you bake or finish skillet dishes in the oven.
How do you clean the Always Pan's non-stick surface?
It's best to wash it by hand with a soft sponge and mild dish soap after the pan has cooled completely. Using the dishwasher or abrasive scrubbers can damage the ceramic non-stick coating over time.
Is the ceramic non-stick coating durable?
The ceramic coating is very effective but requires proper care. To ensure its longevity, avoid using high heat, aerosol cooking sprays, and metal utensils. With gentle use, it should last a considerable time, but like all non-stick pans, the coating will eventually wear down.
What is the Always Pan made of?
It's constructed from a sturdy yet lightweight cast aluminum body with a non-toxic, ceramic non-stick coating. The handle is designed to stay cool, and it includes a natural beechwood spatula.
Which option is a better value for the money?
The Essentials set offers better value per piece if you need multiple items of cookware. If you only need a single non-stick skillet, the Always Pan is the more economical choice as you aren't paying for items you don't need.
Do Our Place pans work on induction cooktops?
Yes, the Always Pan and other cookware from Our Place are designed to be compatible with all cooktops, including gas, electric, and induction.
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