The $145 Always Pan is internet-famous, but is it really worth the money or the hype?

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In the age of social media and hyper-targeted advertising, it’s pretty commonplace for products you never heard of one day to be literally everywhere the next. It’s happened to all of us. You’re randomly browsing the web or even having an IRL convo with friends, and then within just a few days, the product that you clicked on or mentioned to your friend is all over your feeds. That’s the world we live in now.

If you’re on Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok or pretty much anywhere on the Internet, then chances are you’ve at least seen Our Place’s Always Pan. It has a beautiful eye-catching design, and its claim to replace eight pieces of traditional cookware in your kitchen is undeniably compelling. If you were tempted to click on the product link, then you know this pan is $145. For real.

You’re probably wondering, “Is everyone in the world richer than me? How do people have this much cash to spend on a single pan?” But here’s the truth: If you cook frequently, it’s worth the investment.

Our Place Always Pan Review

Always Pan, $145

Credit: Our Place

As much as I would like to be a minimalist who meticulously curates the “stuff” in my home, I’m not. Between my job as a shopping editor and my propensity for treating myself, I have accepted that I will always have a full apartment. So while I like the idea of one pan replacing several others, that’s not why I decided to buy the Always Pan. The truth is, I just liked the way it looked. And there’s no shame in that. If you’re going to have cookware that needs to be stored on the stove at all times, then it should look good, right?

When I received my Always Pan in the Blue Salt color, I wasn’t disappointed. It looks just as good IRL as it does on the computer screen. Fortunately, it’s not just an attractive kitchen item; it’s also really functional.

I decided to cook ground beef to break my Always Pan for the first time. When I use a regular pan, it always sticks, so I wanted to put the Always Pan’s nonstick capabilities to the test. As promised, the cooking surface is amazingly slick, and the meat didn’t stick at all. I was also pleasantly surprised by how easy the Always Pan is to handle. Though it looks substantial, it’s not heavy, and I was easily able to drain the meat by holding the pan in one hand and a slotted spoon in the other.

After my first success, I decided to up the ante by cooking other things in my Always Pan. Four months in, I’ve used it to fry and steam dumplings, to sauté chicken breast with an accompanying lemon butter sauce and even to pan fry salmon fillets. Nothing has stuck so far, and clean-up is super easy. The pan wipes clean with hardly any effort at all.

If I had one note, it’s to follow the usage instructions for the cooking surface of the Always Pan. I accidentally tried to grab a dumpling with a metal fork and made a little nick in the bottom of the pan. That was definitely my bad. The packaging instructions explicitly warn against using metal or sharp objects that can damage the coating, which is why the pan comes with a wooden spatula that won’t scratch or ruin it. So no fault of Our Place there, that was all me.

While I will not deny that $145 is pretty hefty for a pan, I still think the Always Pan is worth the money and the hype. I still like how good it looks, and you can cook so many different things in it. It’s also a really great option if you are a minimalist (i.e., not me) or if you’re just starting your kitchen collection. If you don’t already have a bunch of pots and pans, you really can make just about anything in this one.

If you liked this story, check out Solo Stove’s new pizza oven.

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