Our Place Always Pan 2.0 Review: The Internet's Favorite Pan Got a Makeover, But Is It Better?
We go hands-on to see if our problems with the original are solved with this update.
By
Leila Barber
Our Place
Over the pandemic, I fell for the heavily marketed Our Place Always Pan. I was spending more time at home and an aesthetically pleasing, 8-in-1 pan that promised ease of use and simple cleanup was tempting. It was obvious to me that this was a product intended for city dwellers with limited space. The concept and design looked appealing online, but after cooking with my original Always Pan, I realized the product completely missed the mark.
The woman-owned brand with a mission, the concept of a beginner-friendly all-in-one pan and the fact that it looks nice made me really want to love it. But after cooking with it just a few times, the pan was noticeably used. It quickly and easily picked up stains, the non-stick coating wore down after only a handful of uses and the beautiful color on both the interior and exterior of the pan had begun to chip. I was so disappointed with the pan that I thought it must be defective, so I contacted customer service thinking that the issues I experienced fell within their warranty (they didn’t).
That purchase single-handedly changed how I shop online and why I don’t fall for high-quality, branded social media ads anymore. No longer am I buying products because they look pretty online or have great photography — especially if it’s a newly founded company. But. I still loved the idea of the Always Pan, so when the brand unveiled a new 2.0 version that claimed to make some major improvements over the original, I knew I had to try it myself and see if my original dream pan from Instagram existed after all.
Our Place Always Pan 2.0: What We Think
After cooking with the Always Pan 2.0 regularly over the last couple months I can confidently say that it is better than the original. It’s the same size, has same chic look and is now marketed with 10-in-1 functionality thanks to the fact that it is now oven-safe. If you’re tight on space and need versatile cookware that can perform many different functions, and you have the time and patience to abide by its list of dos and don'ts to ensure it stays in good condition, then it’s worth considering.
But it still isn’t a perfect pan. I was disappointed to see that they didn’t make the helper side handle out of the same heat-resistant material as the main handle and lid knob, which was one of my biggest gripes from the original version. And the pan is still very finicky when it comes to maintenance since it isn’t dishwasher-safe, can’t withstand high temperatures and has specific oil preferences.
A major selling point of the original Always Pan was its striking good looks. It comes in an array of beautiful pastel shades and features soft curves that make it extra photogenic. Its looks are what originally drew me into buying the original pan, and I’m happy to say that the Always Pan 2.0 looks exactly the same. The included wooden spatula that nests nicely on top of the handle is thinner and lighter, but other than that, the pan looks pretty much identical to me, and it’s the same size as before. And that’s definitely a good thing: If Our Place had messed with the gorgeous design of the Always Pan, there likely would have been an open revolt on Instagram. As of this review, the pan comes in your choice of six regular colors, plus four limited-edition colors, so there’s a look for every kitchen and taste.
Leila Barber
Leila Barber
The pan is now oven-safe
The biggest improvement the Always Pan 2.0 makes over the original is unquestionably is the new pan is oven-safe. The fact that you couldn’t put the original Always Pan in the oven was a major drawback that limited its versatility, and the ability to toss the new pan in the oven goes a long way toward allowing the Always Pan to more accurately live up to its "one pan to rule them all" billing. The 2.0 is oven-safe up to 450°F, and I’ve found myself grabbing this pan more often than I did the original pan for this reason.
They didn’t fix the helper handle
The helper handle is made from the same aluminum as the body of the pan and quickly gets hot.
Our Place
I was disappointed to see that Our Place didn’t make the helper side handle out of the same heat-resistant material as the main handle and lid knob. Why have three high-touch points and not make them all out of the same material? If the brand thinks it makes sense to have a handle made of the same metal material as the pan itself then it should include a little mitt to use with the handle as intended. This is currently available as an add-on that consumers can purchase separately, but I personally think it should be included because you do not want to be touching that side handle without a mitt after it’s been on a hot stove.
The non-stick coating has improved & the pan seems more durable
For the Always Pan 2.0, Our Place concocted a new non-stick ceramic coating called Thermakind. It’s non-toxic like the coating on the original pan, but according to the brand, it lasts 50 percent longer. In my experience, it’s considerably better than the original. I have yet to have any food stick to it or stain it to the point of no return — something that occurred just after a few times of using the original. The Always Pan 2.0 still heats up quickly and evenly, but it seems more durable than before. I have yet to see any staining or chipping on the 2.0, which is probably partly because I’ve strictly adhered to keeping it on medium heat or less.
The Always Pan 2.0's new ceramic coating is significantly better than the non-stick coating on the original pan which stained quickly and easily (shown right).
Leila Barber
It's still pretty finicky
Outside of it now being able to go into a hot oven, the Always Pan 2.0 is just as high-maintenance as the original. You still can't cook with it on the stove at temperatures above medium heat, and you have to handwash it — it can't be put in the dishwasher. (A little guide sticker is now included for easy reference.) To be fair, these issues aren't exclusive to the Always Pan — other non-stick ceramic-coated pans suffer from the same issues — but for a pan that's meant to be beginner-friendly and super-easy to use, it'd be nice to see Our Place find some workarounds for them. Maybe in the Always Pan 3.0.
Always Pan rules to live by.
Leila Barber
Our Place Always Pan 2.0: Alternatives
Part of the draw of the Always Pan has always been its uniqueness. There aren't a whole lot of pans on the market that are deep enough to boil and steam while still being shallow enough to fry and saute while also being oven-safe. But with the original having been on the market for a couple years now — and being a tremendous success — competitors have risen up. The most notable comes from appliance and cookware veteran Ninja, which makes the Always Pan-inspired Ninja Foodi NeverStick PossiblePan. Like the Always Pan, it comes with a steamer basket and a nesting spatula, and it's available in a variety of attractive colors. It claims 12-in-1 functionality and is oven-safe up to 500°F. And, unlike the Always Pan 2.0, it's dishwasher-safe. But unlike the Always Pan, the PossiblePan uses traditional PTFE-based non-stick coating that is not classified as non-toxic, which may be a dealbreaker for some.
If you prefer to keep things non-toxic and also beautiful, then Caraway's pans are a great choice. They're arguably even better looking than the Always Pan and are made of non-stick ceramic that, in my experience, is long-lasting and high-performing. But keep in mind these are regular pots and pans, so you'll need a whole set to do all of the functions of an Always Pan. They're also just as finicky as the Always Pan, with a medium-heat limit on the stovetop and a handwashing requirement.
