Oven-Safe Always Pan with 10 Functions Excels in Kitchen

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Pros:

✅ Nonstick coating is effective

✅ Stylish design and colors will match any kitchen aesthetic

✅ Pan is oven-safe

Cons:

❎ Lid is not super tight-fitting

❎ Hand-washing required

❎ Steaming functionality has some design flaws

We were excited to learn that Our Place’s newest generation Always Pan 2.0 (available at Amazon) goes beyond the original Always Pan's cooktop functions with oven-safe capabilities and extra-durable nonstick coating. Isn't it a huge win to find a piece of cookware that serves more than one purpose? Its promised 10-in-1 functionality includes sauteing, frying, roasting, boiling, baking, braising, searing, straining, serving, and storing. We found that it's worth an upgrade from its predecessor for its oven capability alone, but its loose-fitting lid means it doesn't excel at all 10 functions. For more Reviewed-approved cookware options, check out our list of the best nonstick pans.

About the Always Pan 2.0#

Our Place is a mission-driven cookware brand that designs aesthetically-pleasing kitchenware—think bold colors and chic designs—to inspire home cooks to want to cook and keep their equipment out when not in use.

The Always Pan 2.0 replaces an earlier version of the Always Pan that we previously tested. In addition to the Always Pan 2.0 (10.5-inch diameter), Our Place also offers the Large Always Pan (12.5-inch diameter) and the Mini Always Pan 2.0 (8.5-inch diameter) as alternative options.

Although there are multiple color options for all three pans, the Always Pan 2.0 offers the greatest variety of color choices (a whopping 11 hues, as of this writing).

The Always Pan 2.0 boasts a 2.6-quart capacity, weighs about three pounds, and is compatible with all cooktops (induction included).

The pan has an aluminum construction with stainless steel handles designed to stay cool on the stovetop (though Our Place recommends practicing caution and using mitts—or Hot Grips—when handling cookware that's in use).

The pan comes with a lid and nesting beechwood spatula, which fits nicely onto the handle as a resting place. The spatula is an especially thoughtful addition, because Our Place recommends avoiding metal utensils in the pan.

It also comes with a steamer basket/colander, which helps contribute to the brand's overall “10-in-1” claim and certainly adds to this pan’s multifunctionality. The basket fits nicely inside the pan and the handles move easily for picking up.

Note that all the accessories fit into the pan, which is helpful when it comes to minimizing storage space.

How we tested#

We performed a variety of tests in the Always Pan 2.0 to see how it handles different cooking tasks.

On the stovetop, we toasted flour in a lightly greased pan to monitor how evenly the pan browned. We tested its searing capabilities by browning chicken breasts and steaks. We tested eggs—notorious for sticking—in many different forms (fried, omelet, scrambled, frittata) to see just how effective the nonstick coating would be.

We tested the pan’s (shallow) frying capabilities by frying up some pierogies (the pan is not quite deep enough for a deep-fry). We also wanted to see how well the pan performed when transferred from stovetop-to-oven (the pan and lid are oven-safe up to 450°F), so we tested a frittata and skillet cornbread recipe. These were also good indicators of how evenly the pan heated.

Lastly, we wanted to test out the steamer basket—a unique feature of this pan—so we tested steamed vegetables and steamed dumplings.

Throughout all of these tests, we paid careful attention to how evenly the food cooked, how much sticking (or lack of sticking) occurred, overall heat retention (including handle and lid), how easy it was to maneuver the pan, the cleaning process, how effective the spatula was, how well the lid fit, and overall wear-and-tear.

What we like#

The nonstick coating is reliably effective#

Our Place touts its Thermakind technology—which is new to the 2.0—as its “exclusive, most advanced, 50% longer lasting ceramic nonstick coating made without potentially toxic materials.”

Throughout all of our tests, this nonstick coating did indeed prove to be effective and impressive. Even prone-to-stick ingredients like pierogies, eggs, and chicken had no issues flipping or stirring, and no messy residue was stuck to scrape off later.

When it came time to clean the pan (by hand, as dishwashers are not recommended), cleaning it was super simple and took little-to-no elbow grease.

Although we admit we weren’t thrilled by the lack of dishwasher usage, that's standard protocol for most nonstick cookware. Luckily, cleaning this pan by hand ultimately was not a burden because of how well the nonstick coating works. Plus, it comes with a natural sponge to help with cleaning.

Our Place recommends the following practices to preserve the nonstick coating: handwashing only, avoiding metal utensils, staying under 450°F in the oven, using low-medium heat on the stovetop, using high smoke point oils, and avoiding cooking sprays.

The stylish design and available colors will match any kitchen aesthetic#

The traditional, humble nonstick pan is admittedly not the most glamorous or trendy piece of kitchen equipment out there. But Our Place is here to put this everyday workhorse in the spotlight and give it the makeover it deserves.

With six different standard color options—and another five limited-edition color options—there is a tone for everyone and to match every kitchen. The matte finish gives it a modern, clean look, and the gray interior is neutral enough to match any of the exterior colors.

Sure, this pan is small enough that it can probably fit in a cabinet or drawer, but it’s also attractive enough to leave out.

Save yourself from washing another serving platter and serve your dish directly in the pan.

We did notice a tiny bit of the paint appeared to scratch off after only a few uses, which was disappointing to see, but it was only specifically where the handle meets the pan and did not happen elsewhere. (We also observed chipped paint in our testing of the original Always Pan, in a different area.)

The upgraded oven-safe capability widens its functionality#

Unlike its predecessor, the Always Pan 2.0 is oven-safe, which is a major perk. This unlocks a much larger array of recipes that can be cooked in this pan, whether they’re strictly oven-based (skillet cornbread) or stovetop-to-oven (frittata).

(Note the handle gets quite hot and the pan does not come with mitts, so ensure you’re handling the transfers safely.)

The Always Pan 2.0 can withstand oven temperatures up to 450°F, which is a pretty considerable range and covers most standard baking recipes, aside from broiling. We appreciated being able to first sear chicken breasts on the stovetop, and then simply transfer the pan to the oven (as opposed to having to dirty another dish).

We were also impressed by the even cooking on a skillet cornbread and frittata, and we were very pleased when, upon inverting, the baked dishes released from the pan seamlessly without sticking.

What we don’t like#

The lid is not very tight-fitting#

The importance of a tight-fitting lid really depends on what you’re cooking. But it’s worth noting that, despite the many clever design features of the Always Pan 2.0, the lid is not very tight—and that could pose some issues.

If you’re braising or steaming, trapping heat and moisture plays a big part in the cooking method. And given the lid's inherent airflow, this may not be the most effective pan for these types of dishes. Recipe cook timing may be significantly impacted.

This is less of an issue if you mainly use the Always Pan for searing, sauteing, frying, and boiling, as you won't need to trap that steam in tightly.

We did appreciate that the lid can be twisted and allow for more or less air to escape from the opening by the handle, but regardless of this design element, there is still a noticeable gap for air to escape even when it’s in its “locked” position.

Additionally, both sides of the pan have a tiny “lip” in the design, presumably for pouring purposes, but these two lips also are areas where the lid is no longer 100% aligned and sealed with the pan, and therefore air will escape.

Hand-washing is required#

Unlike its predecessor, the Always Pan 2.0 is not dishwasher-safe. We recognize there are plenty of cookware pieces out there that recommend against using the dishwasher. However, it is an inconvenience worth noting, especially for those who are not used to hand-washing pans.

The pan weighs about three pounds, so while it’s not the most cumbersome piece of equipment out there (compared to, say, heavy Dutch ovens), this may be tricky for some home cooks to maneuver by hand.

As previously noted, the nonstick coating is very effective so very little scrubbing is needed to clean it, but it’s important to ensure you’re using soap and hot water (just think about how hot those dishwashers get to kill bacteria!).

We also noticed the pan handle could get pretty warm during cooking, so be careful and let the pan fully cool before washing so you can handle it safely.

The steaming functionality has some design flaws#

We tested the steaming functionality of this pan by cooking both steamed vegetables and dumplings in the steamer basket. Both ultimately cooked through and were certainly edible, but it didn’t seem like a “true steam.”

In addition to the aforementioned poorly-fitted lid, the design of the steamer basket itself doesn’t seem optimal for steaming. It is barely elevated within the pan (this was also a complaint in our review of the original Always Pan). The little “feet” at the base of the colander are only about one centimeter high, so the basket is almost touching the bottom of the pan, providing very little room for water to accumulate—let alone have any room in between for steam.

It was difficult to avoid having water directly touch the food in the basket, which is not ideal when steaming. That may not always be a major issue, but most of the time you probably don’t want certain items actually coming in direct contact with water.

Also, because the lid is not clear, it’s difficult to check the progression of anything you’re steaming, and uncovering the pot to check your food’s status releases all the heat/steam that’s built up, ultimately slowing cooking.

It’s certainly nice to avoid pulling another colander out from the cabinet, but if you’re using this pan to boil pasta, for instance, note that it’s not a very deep pan (or a deep colander, for that matter), so you’re limited in the amount of pasta you can reasonably boil and strain.

Depending on how much pasta you need to make, you may be better off with a deeper pot. (If you’re cooking for just one or two, it should be okay, but keep in mind pasta will expand as it cooks.)

Should you buy the Always Pan 2.0?#

Yes, especially if your original Always Pan needs an upgrade. But don't expect this pan to do it all#

This versatile pan performed well when it came to searing, shallow frying, and sauteing, and we appreciate its excellent nonstick coating, even heating, and oven-safe capabilities. We also love the sleek design and attractive color options that make you want to use it, and for those who prioritize aesthetics, it’s definitely appealing.

If you’re a die-hard fan of the original Always Pan but have felt limited by the lack of oven usage, it could be worth investing in the new model so you benefit from the same great ceramic nonstick capabilities, plus the new oven flexibility (as long as you don’t mind hand-washing).

That being said, $150 is not cheap for a nonstick pan and we think the price could be justified if the pan was truly effective for all the promised “10-in-1” cooking methods. But because we’d probably opt for a different pan/pot/steamer for steaming/boiling/deep frying, it may not be worth the price tag to some.

If you're in the market for a traditional nonstick pan that yields reliably even cooking results (and can be tossed in the dishwasher), our favorite is the OXO Good Grips Pro 10-inch nonstick skillet, which is also oven-safe and currently only about $30.