A little over a year and a half ago, I decided to treat myself to an Always Pan during one of their sales. I had seen it popping up on Instagram in the kitchens of influencers I follow, and I won’t lie: I was initially drawn to it because of how gorgeous it is. Once I looked into it a bit more, I was sold by its promise to replace eight pieces of cookware. I lived in a studio apartment with a tiny kitchen at the time, and that sounded like an amazing space-saving solution to me.
Now, after using it for more than a year, I can say it is hands-down my favorite piece of kitchenware. I’ve sung its praises to my family, friends, and coworkers alike. I think it’s important to note that I am not someone who splurges often. I like to consider myself a budget queen, always looking for dupes and deals. But this one purchase I can justify splurging on, purely because of how often I use it.
What is the Always Pan?
The Always Pan is a bestselling piece of cookware from the Los Angeles-based and woman-owned brand Our Place. Shiza Shahid, who also cofounded the Malala Fund, started Our Place with the mission to simplify cookware and bring connection back to the kitchen. The brand invests in ethical labor and responsible materials, so you can feel good about your purchase. They also partner with different charities and celebrities—including, most recently, Selena Gomez and the Rare Impact Fund. Our Place also has other products, like the Perfect Pot and more kitchen essentials.
The Always Pan is made with a nonstick ceramic coating that’s free of any potentially toxic chemicals, which makes both cooking and cleaning easy. It comes with a wooden spatula, a stainless-steel steamer basket, and a lid. The pan is ideally sized so you can braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, and boil, all with the same piece of cookware. It’s truly the ideal option if you love the convenience of one-pan or one-pot meals.
Why I Love It
It looks beautiful in my kitchen
As I mentioned above, I was immediately drawn to the style and design of the Always Pan. I’m someone who loves to make my home as aesthetically pleasing as possible, so I really appreciate how this fits right into my home decor. I leave it out on my stove 24/7, and I truly think it adds a little something special to my kitchen.
I have the color Spice, which is a warm, dusty pink, but you can now choose from more than 10 stunning colors. Are neutrals more your thing? Try Steam, an oatmeal hue, or Char, a deep charcoal color. Or if you’re loving the green kitchen trend, Sage is perfect for you. Prior to this pan, I always had ugly cookware that was hidden away in a cabinet, so I really love the added value of wanting to show it off.
It makes my kitchen less cluttered
The Always Pan combines eight pieces of cookware into one, replacing your fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, nonstick pan, and spatula. And although my kitchen is now slightly bigger than that studio I mentioned, space-saving solutions are always a good idea when you live in a city.
After I purchased the Always Pan, I got rid of most of my other cookware because I hardly ever used it. This pan is extra convenient because I just leave it out on my stovetop—meaning I don’t actually have to store any pots or pans at all.
It’s easy to use and easy to clean
I have heard some criticism about the nonstick coating not being so nonstick or the pan not being durable, but I truly disagree. I have used my Always Pan at least four times per week for over a year and a half, and it looks and functions just as it did when I first got it. You do have to follow the care instructions provided by Our Place, which are super simple: cook with low to medium heat, lightly coat the pan with an oil before cooking (like EVOO, avocado oil, or ghee), only use wooden or silicone utensils with it, and hand-wash it with the sponge they provide after each use.
I was a bit apprehensive about the hand-washing aspect, but it really could not be easier. The nonstick coating means that everything washes right off. No matter what I cook in the pan, it takes about one minute to clean it. I have made cheesy one-pan pasta dishes, caramelized onions, sautéed vegetables, and more eggs than you can imagine in this pan—and I’ve never once had an issue with sticking.
so you can put that Always Pan to use!
