Our Place Always Pan Product Review

We had the same reaction as everybody else when we first saw the Always Pan – “It’s beautiful, but is it worth it?”

We’re constantly cooking in the kitchen because we’re food bloggers, and having a product that’s multifunctional as well as super aesthetic was something that we’ve always dreamed of!

We’ve been skeptical of the pan because we weren’t sure if it’s been overhyped on Instagram or if it’s actually a great product. It seemed almost too good to be true.

Our Place was like, “bet” — they sent us this pan to cook with and find out for ourselves.

We’ve been using this pan for about a month now, and we’re ready to share what we think!

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About the Always Pan

The Always Pan is a piece of ethical cookware that is designed with functionality in mind. The brand’s mission is create products that are ethically and environmentally responsible, and encourages people to connect by preparing a home-cooked meal together.

The pan has taken the internet by storm because of its beautiful design, 8-in-1 multifunctional features, and down-to-earth branding.

Before we begin our review, you find this article helpful and decide you’re ready to purchase an Our Place product, please use our affiliate discount! Click “Learn More” below for promo code details. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Table of Contents

• The Quick Review
• Pros and Cons
• Key Features
• Cooking Performance
• Caring for the Product
• Our Experience with the Always Pan
• Is the Product Right for You?
• Final Thoughts
• Thank you for reading! (discount link available here)

The Quick Review

For the quick answer, we feel that based off of our needs and our experience the Always Pan is a great product.

However, although we enjoy using the product, we don’t think it’s suitable for everyone, and it really depends on what you’re looking for/what you find is important in a piece of cookware.

In our opinion, the pan is fantastic for certain activities like general stovetop cooking, bulk steaming, and serving. The user experience is also enjoyable, because of its stylish appearance, ease of use, and seamless transition from stove-to-table.

Referring back to their mission statement, this pan has definitely got us excited to finish up work at the end of the day so we could meet each other in the kitchen to prepare home-cooked meal!

But is it right for you? Our long answer (this article) will help you decide if it’s worth trying out for yourself. Read on for more details!

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Multifunctional features	Price
Nonstick ceramic coating	Not recommended for high heat (common mistake is using this over high heat like typical pans, can cause damage if not aware of this)
Brand is focused on ethical, environmental, and community values	Not oven safe
Satisfying and easy to use	Special Care Regimen
Add-ons available for purchase to increase functionality (example: wood steamer, tahdig)	Minor design flaws (example: steam escapes even in “locked” position)

Key Features

Nonstick coating

This pan features a non-toxic, nonstick ceramic coating. Compared to steel pans, this allows for easier cleanup and can reduce the amount of oil or butter needed for cooking. This feature is essential for faster cleanup and healthier cooking.

To test the nonstick feature, we did the egg test — pan frying an egg without any oil or butter.

On the first try, we cooked the egg over low heat. Once cooked, we tilted the pan, and we found that the fried egg would move around like a slip-n-slide!

On the second try, we cooked the egg over medium heat. We tilted the pan again, and it seems like the newly formed crust made it stick in a couple places.

Although we couldn’t get it to slide, a gentle nudge with the spatula released the fried egg with no effort at all!

When you move the food around with a spatula or you add just a bit of oil, this nonstick coating works great. If you don’t use any oil or you don’t move the food around at all, chances are it may get stuck but will come off easily anyways.

Non Toxic and Ethically Sourced Materials

According to their website, Our Place has a central mission to run their business in a way that supports the environment and communities.

The Always Pan is partially made from recycled materials, and is free from toxic materials (PFOAs, PTFEs, other PFAs, lead, cadmium, toxic metals, and nanoparticles.)

It’s packaged in plastic-free, recyclable, and biodegradable materials.

The Always Pan is made in a small factory in China, which is female-owned and focuses on high-quality craftsmanship.

The company utilizes ethical practices so that factory employees receive above-living wages, access to health care, professional development, and bonuses.

Other Features

• Integrated spoon rest for the spatula (included with the pan)
• Wire steamer basket (included with the pan)
• Pour spouts on opposite sides
• Aluminum body
• Compatible with all cooktops
• Cool-to-the-touch handle
• Lid with a “lock” position to seal in steam

Cooking Performance

Boiling

One cool thing we liked about this pan is that it’s 2.7 inch depth allows you to fill it up to make soups, braises, or curries.

Using our gas stove at medium heat (product is not recommended for high heat) we were able to bring 2 inches of water to boil within 14 minutes.

It may sound like a lot of time, but time flies when you’re cutting and prepping your ingredients.

We’ve cooked udon noodles, spaghetti noodles, and soup and found that this pan can easily make enough food for 2-4 people.

Steaming

Steaming is definitely one of our favorite features of this pan.

Before we had this product, we had a metal strainer that didn’t fit into any of our pans, so we placed it awkwardly on top of a saucepan and covered it with foil or a random pot lid.

So when we learned that the Always Pan came with a built-in steamer attachment, we knew this would be a game changer for our kitchen!

Wire steamer

The wire steamer basket is an included accessory that fits perfectly in the pan. It has feet that allows you to keep the basket raised above water, and handles for easy use.

While this steamer basket is very convenient, one down side to this is that the basket sits very low. You can only fill about 1/4 inch of water to the pan.

We suspect that this is because the designers wanted to maximize the amount of food you can hold in the basket, since you’re limited to fitting food + water inside the exact space of the Always Pan.

On this note, we recommend using the wire steamer basket for smaller portions (enough for 1-2 people) or quick steaming (like 10 minutes.) Any more than that and you may have to work in batches or refill the water.

Spruce steamer

The spruce steamer is a 2-level steamer set that you can purchase as an add-on. It stacks on top of the pan so you can have multiple levels of steaming!

We really enjoyed using this because it literally cooked an entire meal at once. We cooked fish, veggies, and frozen dumplings and everything was ready in 15 minutes.

The spruce steamer seals in the steam very well. And compared to the wire steamer basket, it holds much more food. You can probably fit enough food for 3-5 people.

Stir frying and sauteing

Stir frying and sauteing with this pan is as easy as pie. The pan heats up quickly and you need only a bit of oil or butter to cook your ingredients.

We can get our vegetables and meat nicely browned just by using medium heat.

Not suitable for high heat

According to the website, high heat over long periods of time could damage the nonstick coating. It’s recommended to cook on low to medium low heat, which is fine because the aluminum body provides efficient heat distribution.

Although the website says the occasional sear is fine, we decided not to test this out ourselves because we’ve seen several people we know who also have this pan and tried to cook on high heat.

Not surprisingly, using this pan on high heat for a sear poses the risk of blackened food that is difficult to remove without damaging the ceramic coating in the process.

Although high heat setting on the stove is something to be avoided, it’s not necessary to even be that high because this pan does a phenomenal job of distributing heat even when the stove is low. For example, our stove would be set at a 2/6 and we could get a nice braise or saute going.

Caring for the Product

Like all pieces of cookware, the better you care for it the longer it lasts. Here are some key points to get the most out of the pan:

• handwash the pan and spatula (wire basket is dishwasher safe)
• keep the heat on low-medium low
• use high smoke point oils (EVOO, avocado, peanut, etc.)
• use silicone or wood cooking utensils that won’t scratch the nonstick
• let the pan cool before hitting it with cold water (limit extreme temperature changes)

This special care regimen may be a drawback if you prefer to place everything in the dishwasher. But this extra effort of care is surprisingly easy to get used to and will extend the life of the product.

Our Experience with the Always Pan

How has it affected our experience in the kitchen?

For starters, it has definitely reduced some of our pain points.

• The lightweight product (3 lbs) means that it’s easier to lift up and handwash in the sink.
• The cool touch handle has reduced the number of hand burns we get (we always forget to grab our cast iron with a towel.)
• The pour spouts on both sides means that both of us get to transfer food without any awkward movements (fun fact: Elijah is right-handed and Noelle is left-handed).
• The aesthetically pleasing design encourages us to get excited about cooking as well as serving.
• Our dirty dishes have been reduced overall. And we stopped using the makeshift steamer with our small saucepan.

As we continued to cook with the pan we did notice some minor design flaws:

• Steam still escapes when the lid is in the “locked” position. However, the spruce steamers contain the steam much better.
• The wire steamer basket sits very low, so it’s easy to overfill and lead to spillage.

For us, the pan is worth it because we feel like we get the most out of its features.

We cook a lot already, so it was easy to start incorporating it into our cooking routines. We also cook a variety of dishes, so we have used all of the multifunctional features.

We’re willing to put in the time and effort take good care of it because we want it to last as long as possible. And we find that the brand’s mission aligns with our personal values.

We view this product as a multiplier for our personal cooking habits. We already like to steam our food, and this product allows us to do more in less time. We already like to eat together, and this product has encouraged us to eat at the table (rather than the couch) more often.

Is this Product Right for You?

Remember that buying a “new” or “hyped” product doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly be Chef Ramsay. This is simply a tool for you to use (albeit quite a nice one!), and how useful it is will depend on you and your cooking preferences!

With that said, here are some reasons why we think this product would be a right or wrong fit for you:

This pan is a “Yes!” for you if:

• You primarily cook via steaming and/or stovetop cooking OR want to cook more with these methods
• You can imagine yourself using all of the multifunctional features of the pan
• You care deeply about the UX (your interaction/experience with the product)
• Your values align with the brand’s values
• The price is within your budget
• You are willing to give it proper care

This is NOT the pan for you if:

• You primarily cook by deep frying, searing, or oven roasting
• You can’t imagine yourself using all of the multifunctional features of the pan
• You prefer to place everything in the dishwasher
• The price is not within your budget

Final Thoughts

The Always Pan from Our Place is an incredibly useful piece of cookware for the casual home cook. It will speed up time, decrease dishes, and make you want to cook with your loved ones.

No product is perfect and everyone’s experience is different, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and think in terms of how this product aligns with YOUR values and needs.

(July 2022 update: we’ve been using our Always Pan DAILY for over a year and it’s still looking brand new! We’ve also acquired many of their other products such as the Perfect Pot and Knife & Cutting Board Set to use daily and we’re loving them!)

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We hope this review was very helpful for you!

If you found this article helpful and are ready to purchase an Our Place product, please use our affiliate discount! Click “Learn More” below for promo code details. Thank you for supporting the blog!

References & Further Reading

https://fromourplace.com/blogs/magazine/made-for-our-place

https://fromourplace.com/pages/faqs