Our Place Always Pan review – is this the only pan you need in your kitchen?

THE ALWAYS Pan lives up to its name as it's almost always sold out online.

Our Place has become a bestseller thanks to its claim that you can ditch the clutter because the Always Pan can replace the job of 8.

This multi-purpose pan sounds (and looks) too good to be true, so I've decided to see what all the fuss is about to give you the full rundown. Here's everything you need to know.

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Always Pan, £130

Pros:

• Versatile and multi-use
• Non-toxic, non-stick ceramic coating
• Spoon-rest on the handle
• Looks beautiful

Cons:

• More expensive than other non-stick pans
• Careful washing up needed to maintain the quality
• Not as good for searing food as steel or cast iron pans
• Starting to lose some of its non-stick qualities after a year of daily use

Rating: 4/5

Our Place Always Pan review: quick summary

The selling point of the Always Pan is that it's incredibly versatile: you can use this one pan for everything from frying and sautéing to steaming and boiling.

Plus, the pan looks as good as a pan can, and the Our Place branding is spot-on. The Always Pan is certainly an on-trend, must-have addition to your kitchen.

It's easy to use every day for numerous meals, and its incredible non-stick coating makes it eco-friendly. It's also made without potentially toxic materials.

It's also brimming with handy features such as a removable stainless steel basket for boiling and a simple but game-changing spatula/spoon that can rest on the handle.

On the downside, it claims to be dishwasher-proof but recommends washing up to retain the non-stick coating. Metal utensils are also not a good idea—the pan isn't as hardwearing as steel and requires a bit more TLC.

Also, it's not oven-safe, so if you want to transfer something to the oven you would need to use another dish.

But overall, I loved it. It was quick and effective to use, the food tasted great, and the washing up was super simple. Plus, it looks lovely sitting on my hob.

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Our Place Always Pan review: full review

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Always Pan, £130

First impressions

First, I'll admit I'm not a passionate cook and have never been bothered by cookware, but from the moment you open the box, the Always Pan feels exciting.

The clever branding makes you feel like you're joining an exclusive club. Statements like "Welcome to our place; we saved you a seat" and simple notes telling you all the different ways you can use the pan, plus a special sponge to clean it, make you feel like you're joining an exclusive club.

The pan itself looks beautiful, and I love that you can choose from nine different colours.

The one I tested was "spice," but there are also colours such as lavender, sage, and steam.

What's it all about?

The claim is that the Always Pan can replace eight traditional pieces of cookware: a frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula and spoon rest.

The main selling point is that this multi-purpose pan allows you to braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry and boil using the same pan.

So, in theory, you only really need one pan to use "always". That means that even if the pan is quite expensive (which it is), it's an overall saving as this is the only pan you need in your kitchen.

Plus, it looks so good you'll want to show it off. I agree with the reviewer who said that "it usually stays on our stovetop because it's so beautiful."

Key features:

• Non-stick: The pan has an incredible non-stick ceramic coating, which makes it super-easy to fry everything from meat and fish to eggs and vegetables.
• Non-toxic: Unlike many other non-stick pans, the Always Pan's ceramic non-stick coating is made without potentially toxic materials like lead, cadmium, toxic metals and nanoparticles.
• Fast, even heat: The pan's aluminium body allows for fast, even heat distribution while remaining lightweight and easy to use.
• Little oil for cooking: One to two tablespoons of oil or butter is more than enough to lightly coat the Always Pan's entire surface.
• Pour spout and modular lid: To allow you to let the steam escape or keep it in as required.
• Stainless steel steamer basket: This clever basket allows you to steam or boil noodles, spaghetti or whatever you like: just add the boiling water and lift the basket out when you're done.
• Spoon-rest on the handle: A notch on the handle that you can rest your beechwood spatula (that comes with the pan) on when you're not cooking so you can always easily find it and avoid getting food marks on your worktop.

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Always Pan, £130

Home taste-test

As mentioned, I'm no pro chef, but was excited to give my new pan a go.

I whipped up some scrambled eggs in minutes and was impressed with how quickly and evenly the pan heated and the non-stick was incredible, which meant the pan was also super quick to wash up.

My son declared the eggs to be "the best he'd ever tasted", which sounds like a rave review.

I also used the pan to steam and sauté some broccoli and green beans for dinner. Again, the pan heated up quickly, and you didn't need to use much oil. The modular lid came in handy for the steaming, too.

One downside of a ceramic pan like this is although you can sear meat such as steaks or seafood in it, you often don't quite get the charred effect from a very high heat that you could achieve with a steel or cast iron pan.

But for everyday use, a ceramic pan ticks most of the boxes.

I loved all the nifty features of this multi-purpose pan (in particular, the spatula resting on the keep-cool handle was revolutionary—why has this not been done before?).

However, some of the new features will take some getting used to. Remembering to use the spatula rest when you're not used to it or boiling using the basket rather than a smaller pan means updating your usual cooking habits.

Our Place Always Pan review: final verdict

The price tag is pretty hefty compared to similar-sized pans, but the economy of one pan replacing many, the versatility of uses, and the special features make it feel like good value for your money.

It heated up quickly and evenly cooked my eggs, meat and vegetables to perfection with no sticking and hassle-free washing up.

The steel steamer basket and spoon rest on the handle are really clever—all pans should have this!

I also liked that the ceramic coating was non-toxic and that you didn't have to use much oil, which makes for healthier cooking overall.

It is advisable to take good care of the pan and wash it up carefully (using the provided sponge if needed) rather than shoving it in the dishwasher. And don't use metal utensils that might scratch off the non-stick.

You also can't put your Always Pan in the oven.

However, overall, I love how versatile the Always Pan is and how good it looks—frankly, I'm obsessed.

Where can I buy the Always Pan in the UK?

The cult cookware is extremely popular, so it should come as no surprise that quite a few popular retailers stock the fan favourite.

You can walk into most high-street stores that stock cookware, but we know that not everybody has the time to make the journey out, so here's a quick list of online retailers from which you can get your hands on one—whenever the pots are in stock, that is.

Is there an alternative to Always Pan?

It's tough to find something quite like the Always Pan; otherwise, it probably wouldn't be as widely popular as it has become.

However, similar-quality non-stick pans are still available from a range of competitors, including ProCook, Ninja, and Le Creuset.

Just remember they don't claim to be able to replace eight pans in your kitchen.

• The Pan' Aluminium Non-Stick Saute Pan & Glass Lid, 28cm, £50 at John Lewis - 
• GreenPan Rio Healthy Ceramic Non-Stick 30 cm/4.8 Litre Sauté Pan, £53.99 at Amazon -
• Ninja Foodi ZERO STICK 26cm Sauté Pan, £ 69.99 at Ninja -
• ProCook Professional Granite Frying Pan with Lid, £57 at ProCook -
• Le Creuset Toughened Non-Stick Saute Pan 26cm & Glass Lid, £189 at Le Creuset -

Can you put the Always Pan in the oven?

No, unfortunately, the original Always Pan is not safe to go in the oven and can only be used on your hob.

However, there is a cast iron Always Pan, which will set you back £135 - .

Can you put the Always Pan in the dishwasher?

The Always Pan is dishwasher-safe but it's recommended to wash by hand to help retain the non-stick.

Ceramic isn't as hardwearing as steel and it can take a bit more effort to keep it in the best condition.

How to clean an Always Pan

Although it can go in the dishwasher, it's suggested that washing up by hand will help prolong the life and retain the non-stick coating on the pan.

The pan also includes a natural scourer, which you can use to gently scrub the pan clean without damaging it.

Can you use the Always Pan on an induction cooktop?

Yes, you can use the Always Pan on ceramic, gas, electric and induction hobs.