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Have you seen the recent ads and endorsements for the Our Place Always Pan on social media?
As a foodie, I wanted to find out if the Instagram frenzy behind the Always Pan (and the brand) is justified.
For my Our Place review, I tested a whole range of their most popular products in my home kitchen.
I found that Our Place products aren't all perfect, but they ARE a great option for many home cooks. This is especially true for those tight on space who value versatility and sustainability.
Today I'll share my full results and show you how the products performed in real-life tests...
My family and I tested many of Our Place's most popular products for this review. They include the Always Pan, Perfect Pot, Night & Day Mugs, Bakeware Set, Dinnerware, and Wonder Oven.
We thoroughly evaluated each product for durability, looks, function, toxicity, and value.
I also looked at sustainability, environmental impact, and ethical manufacturing. I checked supply chain transparency, and impacts on communities and culture. I also looked at customer service.
✔ Lightweight Design
✔ Replaces 10 Pieces of Cookware
✔ Easy to Clean
Personal Experience: In my experience, the standout feature of the Always Pan is its versatility.
It allows me to cook multiple dishes using just one pan, which saves on cost, washing time, and storage space.
I found that the Thermakind ceramic non-stick coating was more effective at preventing food from sticking than other ceramic pans I've tested.
This pan is perfect for everyday use thanks to its lightweight construction and ease of cleaning (I recommend handwashing). I find it much easier to pick up and move around than some of the cast iron pans I own.
I tested the Always Pan across a range of recipes, and because of its depth, it was perfect for black bean fajitas (a Miller family favorite). It's deeper than a standard fry pan, which helps prevent food from spilling onto the stovetop.
Most cookware includes low-grade accessories that are often useless. However, I find the modular lid, steamer basket, and wooden spatula that ship with the Always Pan very useful. My wife loves the steamer basket, which she says helps her boil dried noodles to perfection.
I found a couple of limitations you should be aware of. Firstly, the Always Pan should only be used on low to medium heat. So if you want to braise meat or get a good sear on a steak, you'll still need something that can handle high heat (such as cast iron).
Another minor issue I faced was when I tried to roast a chicken. While the Always Pan is deeper than most other fry pans on the market, I feel it's still too shallow to roast a decent-sized bird. If roasting meat is your thing, you might be better suited with the Perfect Pot.
Personal Experience: Along with the Always Pan mentioned above, the Perfect Pot is one of my favorite pieces of kitchenware.
The ceramic non-stick coating is free from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium.
I've been genuinely impressed by this pot's versatility. It's replaced my stockpot, Dutch oven, saucepot, and more. I love that I can roast a joint of meat in the pot and then use it again (after a quick rinse) to make pasta and sauce while the meat is resting.
I've used my Perfect Pot so much that the lovely Blue Salt outer coating has started to fade in places. This is a minor annoyance, but it's purely cosmetic and does not affect the pot's performance.
✔ Space Saving Stacking
✔ Dishwasher, Microwave, and Oven Safe
✔ Restaurant-Grade Chip Resistance
Personal Experience: My youngest daughter chose the Night & Day Mugs because she thought they'd be good for bedtime cocoa.
She was absolutely right!
There is something satisfying about how these mugs feel in the hand. They're perfect for wrapping your hands around on cold evenings. Very cozy!
I appreciate the use of natural ceramic stoneware. This shows a commitment to reducing environmental impact, which is crucial when deciding which brands to give my money to.
I also love the durability of these mugs. We use them every day, and the restaurant-grade quality shines through.
My daughters take turns loading and emptying the dishwasher as part of their household chores. And so far, despite them both being very heavy-handed, there is not a chip to be seen on these mugs.
My daughters can also neatly stack these mugs to save some storage space. My wife especially appreciates this feature. She hates clutter!
However, I do have one slight word of caution. These mugs can get rather hot if put in the microwave for a long time. For example, if I heat milk from cold for more than two minutes, I need to let it rest for a minute to allow the rim to cool down.
Personal Experience:I couldn't actually test the griddle pan included in the Bakeware Set. That's because it was too big for my oven (due to the handles) and didn't work on my induction stovetop.
However, it appears to be very well made. So, if your oven is big enough, and your stove is gas or electric, I've no doubt it will be an excellent addition to your kitchen.
I hope to find a way to test it soon. I was impressed with the reusable oven mat included as a parchment paper alternative. This emphasizes Our Place's commitment to reducing kitchen waste,
I was able to test the Main Bake, Side Bake, and Loaf Pan...and was impressed!
The ceramic glaze used makes cleanup easy. Even the stickiest bakes are simple to wash away. All three of these bakers are dishwasher-safe. However, I only even handwash them. It's effortless, and I feel it will help them last longer.
It's not just bakes where these pans excel. The Main Bake is also the perfect size for a family lasagne.
As with many Our Place products, this set has been cleverly designed to nest together and save on storage space. All three bakers sit perfectly in the griddle pan. I recommend putting the silicone mat in the griddle pan when storing the bakers on it. This will avoid scratching its non-stick surface.
✔ Chip-Resistant Ceramic
✔ Restaurant-Grade Quality
✔ Multiple Colourways
Personal Experience: Our Place dinnerware is the daily workhorse in the Miller house. We love it!
So much so that over time, we've accumulated a collection of eight Dinner Plates, eight Salad Plates, eight Dinner Bowls, and eight Soup Bowls.
They're incredibly hardwearing. Even though we've used them daily for almost a year, they still look nearly as good as new.
Every item is dishwasher safe and comes out looking sparkling clean every time (even on the energy and water-saving eco setting).
One small fly in the ointment is the generous size of the dinner plates. They're lovely to eat off, but they're about half a centimeter too big for our dishwasher (the washing arm keeps hitting them).
This means I have to handwash them. However, this is a minor inconvenience, and I'm happy to accept it in return for using such high-quality, eco-friendly dinnerware.
Every item in the range is safe to use in a microwave. However, as with the mugs mentioned earlier, they get very hot with extended microwave use. This is not a significant issue. You just need to be careful and make sure your mitts are close to hand.
My Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands article provides a more in-depth review of Our Place Dinnerware and alternative options.
✔ Multifunctional (6-in-1)
✔ Small but Powerful (Space-Saving)
✔ Multiple Color Options
Personal Experience: The Our Place Wonder Oven has impressive multifunction power for such a small unit.
If you need a new air fryer for your kitchen then this is the one I would recommend at the moment.
Check out my Safest Non-Toxic Air Fryers article for a more detailed review of the Wonder Oven and other air fryer options.
I admire Our Place's ability to make new cookware. They do this while staying dedicated to sustainability.
For example, I love the use of Thermakind™. This advanced ceramic nonstick layer is exclusive to Our Place. It's 50% longer-lasting than some traditional ceramic coatings. This significantly increased the longevity of the pan, saving money and resources.
Our Place is also committed to not using toxic chemicals such as PFAS, PTFEs, and PFOAs. This helps protect your health and the health of the planet.
The company also takes part in efforts to support environmental and social causes. For example, 20% of the profit from Crescent Always Pan sales goes to The Middle East Children's Alliance. They provide critical aid in Gaza and beyond.
Our Place works hard to make sure that all factories and warehouses making its products adhere to strict standards. These standards cover the following areas:
Our Place products come in various colors and sizes and are designed to be proudly displayed, not hidden in a cupboard. Each product is also carefully manufactured to ensure it's as functional as it is beautiful.
This 'form and function' approach is clearly evident in excellent multifunction products such as the Always Pan, Perfect Pot, and Wonder Oven.
Our Place doesn't skimp on durability, either. Its dinnerware, in particular, is built to last, resisting chips and scratches and withstanding heavy daily use.
The non-stick nature of the pots and pans will start to reduce over time. This is natural.
However, you can reduce the impact by handwashing instead of using the dishwasher. You can also season the coating from time to time with a high smoke point oil.
Our Place loves to bring people together and celebrate diversity through food.
Traditionware™ is Our Place's tribute to the rich tapestry of global customs. It spotlights the vibrant traditions that unite us, especially those from BIPOC and other underrepresented groups.
You expect premium customer service when paying a premium price for a premium product.
I experienced how well Our Place treats its customers when the courier damaged my first Always Pan in a warehouse fire.
Our Place quickly sent out a replacement and even upgraded shipping to next day, so I wasn't without my pan for too long.
There's no getting away from it...Our Place products are expensive! But that doesn't necessarily mean they're not value for money.
I feel Our Place offers good value for money when you consider the durability and multifunctionality of its products.
With Our Place, your money also supports ethical manufacturing practices. Knowing that your purchase backs fair labor, safe working conditions, and sustainable materials adds ethical peace of mind to your purchase.
Yes, the Our Place Always Pan can go in the oven. It's oven-safe up to 450°F.
The Always Pan from Our Place is made from 100% certified post-consumer recycled aluminum with a non-toxic ceramic coating.
The handle of the Always Pan does not get hot when used on the stovetop. However, the handles of the Perfect Pot do get hot after extended stovetop use.
Yes, Our Place is a toxic-free brand. Its cookware is free of Teflon (PTFE), PFAS, and other potentially toxic materials.
My Always Pan and Perfect Pot have not stained. Even after being used for cooking tomato dishes (such as pasta sauces), which are well known for staining pans and utensils.
Our Place makes its pans in a carefully selected and regularly audited factory in China. The factory is ethically run, and all workers are paid a fair, living wage.
Our Place uses recycled and biodegradable materials (mostly cardboard with zero glue and tape) for its product packaging. It also strives for efficiency in shipping to reduce its carbon footprint.
So, is the Always Pan (and the Our Place brand in general) worth the hype? Yes, I think it is!
I was impressed by the range of tough dinnerware and mugs. I also liked the space-saving versatility of the Always Pan, Perfect Pot, and Wonder Oven.
If you're an eco-conscious cook looking to declutter your space and minimize your environmental impact (while also doing it in style), Our Place most likely has a solution for you.
Not everything they do is perfect, but it's a lot better than most comparable brands out there. I love using Our Place products daily, and I'm sure you will, too.
Are you an Our Place devotee? Or are you sick of the social media ads clogging up your feed? Do you have your own Always Pan review that you'd like to share? Drop me a line and let me know.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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