Our Place Always Pan review UK: Is this the only item of cookware you need?
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Beauty products are always going viral and we've even seen a few clever home gadgets cropping up on our social media feeds, but did we ever expect to see a frying pan causing a stir online? Not so much.
Dubbed a “kitchen magician” by Oprah Winfrey (yes, the Oprah), the Always Pan by US brand, Our Place, has whipped up a whirlwind on TikTok with over 5 million views under the #AlwaysPan hashtag and over 7 million on #OurPlacePan.
To date, the Always Pan has sold out 10 times, accrued a wait list of over 50,000 and has racked up over 14,000 five-star reviews.
Up until last month it wasn't available in the UK but brace yourselves, because now it has hit our digital shelves we're sure you'll be hearing even more about it now.
Everything you need to know about the Always Pan
For starters, it isn't just a frying pan, it's actually a 8-in-1 piece of kitchenware designed to replace eight traditional pieces of cookware. Yes, really.
The Always Pan replaces your frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan and non-stick pan with an all-in-one solution - creating countless cooking options to braise, steam, fry... the list goes on.
It's coated with nonstick ceramic, which is made without any chemical PFAs, lead and other toxic metals.
It's also compatible with all cooktops, comes with a modular lid, custom stainless steel steamer basket and beechwood spatula, which fits perfectly onto the integrated spoon rest on the pan (which in itself is genius).
Plus, it comes in eight very aesthetically pleasing hues, from sage green and a dusky rose, to classic charcoal and a minimal nude.
At £125, the price does place this pan into the investment category of purchases, so we were curious to find out whether it lives up to the hype.
Four Yahoo Life UK editors put it to the test - all with different cooking abilities and home set-ups - to see if the pan really does deserve its glowing reputation.
Tested by: Flic Everett, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Overall rating: 5/5
Putting it to the test
I cook a lot and generally have a pile of pans like The Sorcerer's Apprentice, waiting to be washed up.
It's fair to say they're not quite as non-stick as they once were, due to violent spoon-scraping over the years.
So one pan that claims to do everything with a non-toxic, non-stick coating sounds like a fever dream. And like any dream, I'm highly doubtful that it could really happen.
Still, to test it, I thought I'd go big or go home (I was already at home, but I could have gone to the living room), so I started with sautéed new potatoes, without par-boiling them first. That's the hardcore cookery this pan was up against. It took a while, admittedly, but they emerged crispy and uniformly sautéed. None were over or undercooked, and with one wipe, the pan was restored to gleaming new-ness.
My partner decided to test it next, with a fry-up. I am vegetarian, and I can't fully describe my dislike of old, greasy frying pans piling up, smelling like a burger van on the A6. But it all crisped up without leaving a single mark or burnt-on bit of sausage.
The steamer basket, a pleasing little round, steel contraption, which fits neatly inside the pan, also played a blinder with some broccoli, and acts as a colander too, if you boil pasta.
Should it be Panned?
I will admit you'll need another pan if you don't want a one-pot dinner every night, and you can't put it under the grill (sorry, tortilla fans).
Is it Pantastic?
It's light, cooks evenly and looks great. I love it - and did I mention how easy it is to clean?
Tested by: Marie-Claire Dorking, Freelance Contributor
Overall rating: 4/5
Putting it to the test
Looks wise this stylish and ethically made cookware is certainly Instagrammable enough to leave out on your worktop. While it rivals Le Creuset with its sleek design, it scores extra brownie points for not being too heavy to lift one handed. The first test run of the pan was to cook a chicken noodle dish, had my husband and I were immediately sold.
The non-stick coating meant the outside of the chicken cooked to a crispy treat, while inside remained lick-your-lips juicy. Winning!
We also tried out the pan’s clever removable steamer basket (which also serves as a colander), adding a bit of water to perfectly steam the broccoli.
Because of its generous size and shape we were able to toss the veg in with the chicken, which meant the pan also doubled (or is that tripled?) as a wok - genius! We particularly loved the handy design feature, which meant we could rest the spoon on the handle, cutting down on pesky cooking drips.
Should it be Panned?
While this has totally become our go-to pan in the kitchen - not sure we've actually used another pan since we started using this - it loses points because you can't just chuck it in the dishwasher. Saying that, it does come with a special scourer for fuss-free cleaning and is still super easy, and quick, to restore to its pre-cooking best.
Is it Pantastic?
Totally! Deep enough to cook a stir fry and boil pasta, it's also shallow and wide enough to whip up a full English. And let's not forget it's good enough for Oprah!
Tested by: Maisie Bovingdon, Shopping Writer
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Putting it to the test
I’ve recently bought my first home, so it's safe to say my collection of kitchenware and crockery is minimal and space is a little tight. So I was thrilled that the Always Pan truly does let you cook in different ways using just one pan.
The bold colour brightened up my kitchen, and I loved the attention to detail, from the button on the handle to keep the spatula in place and prevent it from dripping, to the arrow on the lid so you know where to place it for steaming, boiling or frying exactly the way you like it.
I was also impressed by the fact that a gentle scourer and wooden spatula are included and the steamer doubles as a sieve.
Should it be panned?
Though it’s listed as being a lightweight design, weighing 1.36kg, I found it quite heavy and bulky, with the handle crossing my hob, it didn’t fit easily into my space-limited kitchen cupboards - I’d have to hang it up, or get rid of my other pans. The price tag is not the most purse friendly for those on a tight budget.
Is it pan-tastic?
It really does do what it promises, and you can cook everything from steak to steamed dumplings in one non-stick pan. It’s a pan you could use for something different every day.
Test by: Sabrina Carder, Shopping Editor
Overall rating: 5/5
Putting it to the test
I was hesitant from the get-go as I read the words “compatible with all cooktops”, as anyone who has an induction hob will tell you, that’s definitely not usually the case. However, let my burnt finger be testament to the fact it definitely does work (friendly reminder: never touch the bottom of a pan even if you are 99% sure it’s not on).
As for cooking, maybe I’ve been using the wrong cheap non-stick pans, or maybe the Always Pan is a creation sent from the cooking heavens: either way, it’s an absolute game changer. Not even the cheesiest Cacio e Pepe was a match for the non-stick coating. It simply glided off.
The big base also allows a lovely even and quick cook on everything from veg to fish and when you put the lid on top it’s so quiet it’s actually easy to forget you have a red Thai curry sauce simmering.
I too used the steamer basket in its unofficial capacity as a colander and felt very smug using the spoon rest (seriously why has this not been a thing sooner?), it also comes with a gentle scourer so you don't ruin the non-stock coating. The accessories further prove that no stone has been left unturned when it comes to each and every design feature of the pan.
Should it be Panned?
The pan's size is one it's biggest pros, as well as a con. While I have already had compliments on it from friends, as it sat on my stove top, if you want to find a permanent storage solution out of sight, some kitchen cupboards will most definitely need to be re-arranged. It's also on the heavier side, however the wooden spoon really excels in design with a great curved angle that actually efficiently scooped up even the trickiest of foods, so you don’t actually have to pick the pan up all that often.
At £125, there is no denying it's an investment, however considering how long we all own our frying pans for, as well as the fact that it actually makes me enjoy cooking more and reduces the amount of time spent washing up I'm going to say it's worth the price tag.
Is it Pantastic?
Absolutely, not only do I honestly feel slightly hard done by that I’ve been soaking and scrubbing pans for years, it has made me reevaluate my cooking abilities: do I really have a knack for burning things, or has the Always Pan simply been missing from my life?
