Always Pan 2.0 by Our Place

PRICE$145
RATING7.8 / 10
BEST FORRenters and small kitchens who want one do-it-all pan instead of a cabinet full of cookware
WORTH IT, MOSTLY

The Always Pan 2.0 is worth buying if you cook on low-to-medium heat and want a single pan to replace a fry pan, saucier, steamer, and spatula rest. It's not built for searing or high-heat cooking, and the coating needs gentler care than a cheap nonstick skillet.


PROS

  • Genuinely replaces a fry pan, saucier, steamer, and spatula rest for most weeknight meals
  • Ceramic nonstick coating is PFOA, PTFE, and heavy-metal free, so eggs and fish release without added oil
  • The domed lid doubles as a splatter guard and a rest for a dirty spatula, a small detail I actually use daily
  • Comes in over a dozen colors that look intentional enough to leave on the stovetop
  • Included steamer basket handles vegetables and dumplings without buying a separate steamer insert

CONS

  • Nonstick performance visibly drops after 8 to 12 months of regular use, especially with metal utensils or higher heat
  • Manufacturer caps recommended heat at medium, which rules out searing, blackening, or a hard crust on meat
  • At $145 it costs three to four times more than a comparable ceramic-coated pan from Caraway or GreenPan with a similar real-world lifespan

I've had my Always Pan 2.0 on the stove almost daily for about five months, and it earns its keep for the boring, constant stuff: scrambled eggs, sauteed vegetables, a quick pan sauce, reheating leftovers. It genuinely cut down how many pans I dig out on a normal weeknight, and the steamer basket that snaps into the rim is more useful than I expected, especially for broccoli and dumplings.

The design details are the real selling point. The lid isn't just a lid, it's a stand for a dripping spoon, which sounds minor until you realize how much counter mess it prevents. The coating is also genuinely toxin-free, no PFOA or PTFE, which mattered to me after reading about older nonstick pans breaking down at high heat.

The catch is durability. Our Place markets this as an upgrade from the original Always Pan specifically because the first version's coating wore out fast, and while the 2.0 is better, it's not immune. Mine still releases eggs cleanly, but a friend who cooks on it daily at slightly higher heat than recommended is already seeing faint sticking after ten months. You have to actually respect the medium-heat ceiling, which takes discipline if you're used to cranking a burner.

For $145, I'd call it a solid buy for someone who wants fewer pans and cooks gently, not a steak-searing workhorse. If your cooking style leans toward high heat, a cast iron or stainless pan will outlast this by years and cost less upfront.

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