The Always Pan is one of the most popular items offered by the kitchenware brand Our Place. The key thing to know is that "Our Place" is the company, and the "Always Pan" is their best-selling, multifunctional pan designed to replace eight traditional pieces of cookware.
Here's everything you need to know about the Always Pan from Our Place to decide if it's the right choice for your kitchen and cooking needs.
Our Place Always Pan
The Always Pan is a thoughtfully designed, non-stick pan that aims to be your kitchen's go-to piece of cookware for almost any meal. It combines the functionality of a frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest into one sleek product. Famous for its stylish look and variety of modern colors, it appeals to home cooks who value aesthetics, versatility, and creating more with less.
- What it is: A 10-inch, 2.6-quart multifunctional pan with a durable aluminum body and a non-toxic ceramic non-stick coating.
- Key features: Replaces 8 pieces of cookware, includes a nesting steamer basket, and a beechwood spatula with an integrated spoon rest. Comes with a modular, domed lid that traps steam.
- Price: ~$145
- Dimensions: 10-inch diameter, 2.7-inch depth, 2.6-quart capacity.
- Materials/Construction: Cast aluminum body for even heating, finished with a PFA-free, non-toxic ceramic non-stick coating. The handle is designed to stay cool on the stovetop.
- Style: Modern, minimalist, and available in a wide range of popular, contemporary colors like Sage, Terracotta, Blue Salt, and Steam.
- Pros: Extremely versatile and reduces kitchen clutter. Aesthetically pleasing design looks great on the table or stovetop. Non-toxic coating is a healthier choice. Lightweight and easy to handle and clean. Comes with useful accessories like the steamer basket.
- Cons: Not intended for high-heat searing or deep-frying. The ceramic non-stick coating requires proper care - no metal utensils and hand-wash only. Not designed for oven use. Premium price point.
The Always Pan is ideal for anyone living in a small space, looking to minimize their cookware collection, or prioritizing a stylish, non-toxic, and functional pan for everyday cooking tasks.
Shop this product: ourplace.com/products/always-pan
Breaking Down the Always Pan's Key Features
Dimensions & Scale
The Always Pan features a 10-inch diameter, a common size for a primary skillet, making it ideal for cooking meals for one to four people. With a 2.6-quart capacity, it’s deep enough to function as a saucepan for smaller batches of pasta or sauces but not so large that it becomes bulky or difficult to store.
Its thoughtful design makes it a great fit for apartments, small kitchens, or anyone trying to follow a more minimalist lifestyle. The scale is perfect for daily tasks like frying eggs, sautéing vegetables, or steaming dumplings without taking up unnecessary cabinet or stovetop space. The visual weight is light and modern, unlike heavy traditional cast iron skillets or bulky stainless steel sets.
Materials & Construction
The pan's body is made from sturdy and lightweight cast aluminum, chosen for its excellent ability to heat quickly and distribute warmth evenly across the cooking surface, preventing hot spots. This is topped with a non-toxic, ceramic non-stick coating that is free from potentially harmful chemicals like PTFEs, PFOAs, lead, and cadmium.
The lid is also made of cast aluminum, which helps trap steam effectively, and has a small vent to let excess steam escape. The stay-cool handle makes it easy to move around the kitchen, and it includes clever design details like two easy-pour spouts, making it a well-constructed piece for frequent use.
Price & Value
Priced at around $145, the Always Pan is a mid-range, premium cookware item. While the upfront cost is higher than a single standard non-stick frying pan, its value comes from its multifunctionality. Since it is designed to replace a fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucepan, and more, it can save you the cost and storage space of buying all those pieces separately.
When you consider that it also comes with a nesting steamer basket and a beechwood spatula, the value proposition is clear. It’s an investment in a simplified, stylish cooking system rather than just a single pan.
Style & Versatility
Style is where the Always Pan truly shines. Our Place has created a piece of cookware that people are happy to leave on their stovetop as a design element. With an ever-growing palette of beautiful, muted colors, there’s an option to complement nearly any kitchen decor, from modern minimalist to bohemian or cottage-style.
That aesthetic appeal is matched by its kitchen versatility. You can use it to steam vegetables for dinner, pan-fry chicken, boil pasta, and then serve directly from it at the table. Its biggest limitation is its lack of oven-readiness, but for stovetop cooking, it handles a huge range of tasks exceptionally well.
Who It Works Best For
The Always Pan isn't an all-powerful, do-everything pan for a professional chef, but it's exceptionally well-suited for a specific type of home cook. It's a fantastic choice for those living in smaller spaces like apartments or condos where clever, space-saving solutions are essential. It's also perfect for someone just starting their cooking journey or looking to replace a mismatched set of worn-out pans with a single, high-quality piece.
Aesthetically driven consumers who want their kitchen tools to match their home's decor will love it, as will health-conscious cooks who prioritize non-toxic cooking surfaces. If your goal is to simplify your kitchen routine with one reliable and beautiful pan for everyday meals, the Always Pan is a great fit.
Should You Choose the Always Pan?
The Our Place Always Pan is a game-changing product for many, but it's not the right tool for every single cooking task.
Choose the Always Pan if:
- You want to downsize your cookware collection and reduce clutter.
- Kitchen aesthetics are important to you, and you want a pan that's beautiful enough to serve from.
- You want to avoid traditional non-stick coatings that use PTFEs and PFOAs.
- Your daily cooking involves mostly sautéing, steaming, simmering, and light frying.
- You live in an apartment or small home with limited storage space.
Look for another option if:
- You do a lot of high-heat searing on steak or other proteins.
- You need cookware that can go from the stovetop directly into a hot oven.
- You prefer the convenience of using metal utensils or cleaning pans in the dishwasher.
- You are on a very tight budget and just need a simple, single-function frying pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Our Place and the Always Pan?
There is no difference in the sense of comparing two product options. "Our Place" is the company that makes design-forward kitchenware, while the "Always Pan" is their famous, signature product. It's the most well-known pan from the Our Place brand.
Is the Always Pan oven-safe?
No, the Always Pan is not designed to be used in the oven. Its construction and handle are meant for stovetop use only. If you need a pan that can go from stovetop to oven, you'll need to consider a different option like a cast-iron or stainless steel skillet.
What can the Always Pan replace?
The Always Pan is designed to replace eight pieces of cookware: a fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest. This all-in-one approach is what makes it so popular for reducing kitchen clutter.
Does the Always Pan work on induction cooktops?
Yes, the Always Pan is compatible with all cooktops, including gas, electric, and induction. This makes it a versatile choice for nearly any kitchen setup.
How do you clean the Always Pan to protect its coating?
To preserve the slickness and lifespan of the ceramic non-stick coating, you should always hand-wash the Always Pan with a soft sponge and gentle soap. Avoid using abrasive scrubbers or putting it in the dishwasher, as harsh detergents can degrade the surface over time.
Is the non-stick coating safe?
Yes, the ceramic non-stick coating is free of potentially harmful chemicals like PFOAs, PTFEs, other PFAs, lead, and cadmium. This makes it a popular choice for health-conscious consumers.
What kind of utensils should I use with the Always Pan?
To avoid scratching the ceramic coating, you should only use non-metal utensils like wood, silicone, or nylon. The pan conveniently comes with a wooden spatula that nests perfectly on the handle's integrated spoon rest.
Is the Always Pan really worth $145?
Whether it's "worth it" depends on your needs. If you value its multi-functionality, space-saving design, aesthetics, and non-toxic surface, then it offers a lot of value. It eliminates the need to buy several other pieces of equipment, making the single investment worthwhile for many home cooks.
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