Our Place, AKA everyone's favourite cookware brand, is having a huge Valentine's Day sale
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The Always Pan has taken the culinary world by storm over the past few years and is now synonymous with modern-day cookware. It first launched in the UK back in July 2021, with Our Place selling out 10 times over in the US and racking up a waitlist of more than 50,000 (!) people.
When full-price, the Insta-approved kitchenware can be costly, but right now the brand has a huge Food Lover’s Sale for Valentine’s Day, where the more you buy, the more you save. There's everything from the coveted Always Pan and Perfect Pot to kitchen utensils and family-sized bundles in the sale.
You can also get a generous discount on the premium Cast Iron Cookware Set which is reduced to £280, down from its original price of £410, while the four-piece Cookware Set is reduced to £280 from £490 with bundle and sale savings. The discounts are live now and running till the 14th of February 2024, with savings up to 25% off.
The kitchenware brand counts the likes of Selena Gomez, Cameron Diaz and the Beckham’s among its fans, and it’s no secret why. If you’re still juggling between a frying pan, roasting dish and steamer to whip up your weekly meal prep, we’re here to tell you that the brand's best-selling pan sets are an absolute godsend.
While a quality, non-stick frying pan can last you up to five years if cared for correctly, its lack of versatility has always been a major downfall. As such, a 10-in-1 pan with Insta-worthy credentials and a non-stick surface which claimed to do the job of eight pieces of kitchenware was always going to pique the interest of food obsessives and budding chefs alike.
Our Place Always Pan Sale – our top picks:
Of course, the question on everyone's lips: what's different about the Always Pan 2.0 and will it actually be worth the hype? Here’s everything you need to know before gifting yourself or a loved one (the Always Pan and Cast-Iron Always Pans make great gifts for foodies).
Always Pan 2.0 technical specs, pros & cons at a glance:
- Included with purchase - Always Pan, modular, steam-release lid; Beechwood spatula, steamer basket and colander (eco-friendly sponge no longer included)
- Pan material - Aluminium core, made from 100% post-consumer waste
- Pan lid material - Domed, self-basting aluminium lid
- Non-stick material - NEW Thermakind™ 50% longer lasting toxin-free non-stick cermaic
- Weight - 1.76kg - we weighed it ourselves!
- Size - 51 x 31 x 17cm - again, measured by hand by yours truly
- Metal utensil compatible? No
- Dishwasher safe? No, hand wash with a non-scratch sponge
- Oven-safe? NEW - yes! Up to 230°C
- Induction hob compatible? Yes
- Recommended maximum temperature - Low-medium heat recommended, roughly up to 175°C - same as AP 1.0
- PFOAs + PTFEs? Free from, plus potentially toxic materials like lead and cadmium
- PRO: It's lightweight at only 1.76kg – and it looks like a dream on your countertop.
- PRO: Has an impressive 10-in-1 functionality - the most of all Our Place's products - and is oven-safe without the cumbersome weight of the cast-iron iteration
- PRO: A purchase with Our Place is a purchase that not only supports a female-founded brand, but an immigrant-owned brand, too.
- PRO: It's compatible with all cooktops, including induction hobs.
- PRO: The handle is heatproof and really grippy.
- PRO: It comes with a nesting beechwood spatula.
- PRO: The chemical-free non-stick coating is so impressive you don't need to cook with any oil.
- PRO: Buyers will receive a £30 discount if they choose to upgrade from their existing Always Pan original to the 2.0
- CON: It can't go in the dishwasher.
- CON: The Always Pan 2.0 doesn't have a heatproof handle like its predecessor, so you'll need oven gloves or the brand's own silicone grips. Unfortunately, Our Place don't sell the handle-encasing grip that comes with the cast-iron iteration and, instead, only offer the smaller side grips to purchase.
- CON: It's quite expensive.
- CON: Your pan package will no longer include a natural sponge for scratch-free cleaning
What is Our Place?
First, some context. Our Place is a female-founded American cookware retailer which is marketed as "Le Creuset for millennials". Listening? We thought so. It was founded by entrepreneur Shiza Shahid who has built a leadership team composed primarily of women and people of colour. Speaking on the brand and the launch of Our Place's all-new Always 2.0, Shiza commented, “Our Place began with a promise to bring the world brilliant, multifunctional cookware that enables you to do more with less. “This spirit of invention of creating new kinds of products that make a huge difference in your cooking practice is at the centre of everything we do. And it's a promise we take very seriously, which is why we re excited to launch a newer, better, even more versatile Always Pan.”
Our Place products are stylish and ethically made: pieces that are designed to be fuss-free for home cooks of every level. While the Always Pan and Pan 2.0 are OP's hero products, you can also find drinking glasses, dinnerware sets, chopping boards, griddle pans, dumpling steamers, hot grips, Diwali fry sets and the Our Place Perfect Pot on site.
One more thing? Our Place has some impressive sustainability initiatives. They have already reached carbon neutrality, and they are committed to non-toxic products (free from potentially harmful PFOA chemical coatings, as well as PTFEs), sustainable packaging, and working with eco- and socially-conscious factories across the world. Not to mention the Always Pan 2.0 is made from 100% certified post-consumer waste. So. Damn. Cool.
What is special about the Always Pan and Always Pan 2.0?
Okay. Back to the OG. The Always Pan and Pan 2.0 are the products Our Place are best known for: an all-singing-all-dancing non-stick pan that was once upon a time nicknamed the "kitchen magician" by Oprah Winfrey.
We say frying pan... but that actually doesn't do it any justice. The Always Pan promises to become your fryer, saute pan, dumpling and veggie steamer (with a stainless steel added steaming basket), wok, saucepan, beechwood spatula and spoon rest in one. While the AP 2.0 adds in-oven functionality for all your roasting, grilling and baking needs. This, in essence, means you can do everything you need to prep your culinary creations in one pan without the need for 74822 different kitchen gadgets. Impressive, huh?
Always Pan 2.0 unboxing
Upon unboxing the Always Pan 2.0, we were impressed. Plastic-free packaging has been used throughout. When you open the box, every element has been layered, stacked and protected by cardboard boxing, a paper sleeve or a biodegradable and compostable bag (made from two layers of mineral oil).
By “every element”, what do we mean? There's the pan itself, a postcard containing care instructions and a wooden spatula which, ingeniously, slots onto a built-in spoon rest on the handle. It saved a tonne of mess when I was cooking.
How did the Always Pan perform?
In order to give the newest iteration of the Always Pan a thorough testing, we're giving it several months to see how its coating and oven-safe functionality fares. In the meantime, here's our in-depth Always Pan 1.0 tested review:
The Always Pan, overall, is really really good. Top of my criteria when it comes to judging good cookware is whether it actually lives up to its non-stick claims, and the Always Pan definitely does. The non-stick ceramic coating is chemical-free, first of all (read: free of PFOAS or PTFES chemicals that can transmit into your food).
I cooked a few different meals in it: spag bol, scrambled eggs, stir fry... and I didn't struggle with food burning to the bottom on any occasion. In fact, you don't even need any oil to cook. The pan heats up quickly and evenly on my gas hob. As such, the pan was easy to wash up afterwards, and no rigorous scrubbing required if you're on dish duty. Top marks.
Size-wise, it's the perfect depth for searing, sautéing, and frying without any mess. I cooked enough broccoli for myself and three friends in a single layer with room to spare, as well as five portions of pasta in one go on another occasion. Sure, if I had six(+) people round (I never do – my flat is tiny), I might want to whack out another casserole dish... but for cooking for myself and a few others? The space offered is plentiful.
That takes me to the stainless steel steamer basket feature, which worked like a total dream. I steamed broccoli, carrots, green beans... the lot, and they were all cooked to perfection with a little bit of a crunch. If you want to mix things up, you can snap up the brand's bamboo steamer, which has also been designed to fit comfortably inside the pan. I haven't tried it myself, but the Our Place social media army isn’t disappointed.
Anything else to note? I rated the pour spouts on both sides of the pan, which enabled me to pour saucier dinners without any spills – the handle stayed cool at all times when on my stovetop. Oh, and on the note of aesthetics, the matte finish oozes Scandi appeal, and the pastel pink hue is very pleasing. I'm not at all surprised that Instagram is obsessed.
Any downsides?
Some reviewers reported that the original Always Pan lost its non-stick coating over time so, if you're the proud owner of the AP first iteration, we'd recommend following the brand's advice. That is: cooking on low-to-medium heat, as high heat over a long period of time can degrade the quality of the non-sticking coating - the occasional sear is fine.
The Always Pan 2.0, however, promises a 50% longer-lasting non-stick coating, with thanks to the all-new Thermakind™ technology. Watch this space, reader, we'll be back in two flashes with our long-term Thermakind™ thoughts…
Does the Always Pan need to be seasoned?
In short, no. The original Always Pan and Always Pan 2.0 promise a nonstick coating from the moment you take them out the box, while its sister cast-iron iteration states explicitly on the brand's website, “No seasoning required!”
For owners of the original Always Pan (AP 2.0 advice pending as above), in our experience, it only takes one mishap and an accidental burning of your evening meal to mar the glossy slickness of the Alway Pan's ceramic coating. Uh oh.
In this eventuality, online advise suggests mixing the following, before boiling in your Always Pan for 10 minutes:
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- ½ cup white vinegar
After this, hand wash your pan as usual and rub olive oil into the ceramic to re-season any lost non-stick coating from your overheating accident.
Can the Always Pan go in the oven?
If you're wondering whether the original Our Place Always Pan is oven-safe, it's actually not. Or at least, iteration one of the Always Pan isn’t. If having something oven-safe is a priority, consider the Always Pan 2.0 or the Cast Iron pan, which are oven-safe up to 230°C and 215°C respectively. The latter boasts all the same qualities as the OG, just made from premium enamelled cast iron.
Can you deep fry in the Always Pan and Always Pan 2.0?
No, deep drying requires a minimum temperature of 350 Fahrenheit (176 Celsius), and the Always Pan shouldn't exceed temperatures of 175 Celsius. In the AP 2.0, too, the brand recommends staying within a low-medium heat range to preserve the pan's non-stick coating. We were hoping to see a deep-frying functionality in this newest iteration but, of course, that is the beauty of the brand's cast-iron model.
Always Pan + Always Pan 2.0 vs Always Pan cast iron:
Our Place's cast iron Always Pan does not pose the same temperature limitations and so, if frying is a priority for you, the cast iron edition would perhaps make a better Always Pan alternative for you.
Can you boil pasta in the Always Pan?
Yes. The Original, 2.0 and Cast Iron Always Pans have been designed to be deep enough to cook pasta (at the same time as being shallow and wide enough to fry an egg). So much better than one-use, traditional pieces of cookware.
Is the Always Pan dishwasher safe?
Nope. The Original Always Pan or 2.0 version are not dishwasher safe, but rather suitable for hand washing only.
How to clean Always Pans:
Previously, the Always Pan came with a natural loofah sponge, but the brand have ceased including these in their packaging. As such, we'd recommend using a mild dish detergent - such as Ecover - alongside a scratch-free sponge to clean your Always Pan. Stay clear of scourers and steel wool.
What are the dimensions of the Always Pan?
25.5 cm diameter, 6.86 cm depth, 2.46 L capacity, in the original. 51 length x 31 diameter x 17cm depth in the 2.0, based on our at-home deductions.
What's the deal with the Mini Always Pan?
In 2022, Our Place launched their bestselling; original non-stick Always Pan in an adorable mini version. The smaller size is ideal for smaller kitchens, and means you can whip up some side dishes, travel with it or fry-up the perfect egg. A great companion to the original, or a standalone piece of kit.
Our final verdict:
We're fans. While there are lots of other non-stick pans on the market that do a really great job (and come in a lot cheaper), it makes a really great gift and effectively helps you save on cupboard space. We love how multifunctional it is, love the brand's sustainability ethos and found it a joy to use.
After more content like this? Shop the best pancake pans, the Sarah Gordon x Anthropologie homeware edit and the best cookery gifts to wow your loved ones. For more from Glamour UK Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx. For more from GLAMOUR UK's Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess.
