Quick Pick
Tramontina Professional 12-Inch Non Stick Frying Pan
The best overall alternative for reliable nonstick performance. Heavy-gauge aluminum ensures even heating, reinforced coating lasts longer, and it's oven-safe up to 500°F. Check current price

Our Place Always Pan Review 2026: Does It Replace Your Entire Cookware Set?

The Our Place Always Pan has taken social media by storm, promising to replace eight traditional pieces of cookware in one sleek 10.5-inch nonstick pan. Marketed as a fry pan, steamer, skillet, saucepan, and more, it comes with a bamboo spatula, steamer basket, and lid for under $150. But does it deliver on even cooking, durability, and versatility for busy home cooks?

In our Review Atlas lab, we put it through rigorous tests including high-heat searing, sauce simmering, and long-term nonstick wear. Spoiler: It scored just 38/100 overall, lagging in critical areas like heat distribution and coating longevity. If you're building a high-performing kitchen, we'll highlight better picks like the Tramontina Professional 12-Inch Non Stick Frying Pan that aced our trials.

Comparison Table: Always Pan vs. Top Alternatives

We compared the Always Pan against proven performers using metrics like cooking evenness (measured via thermal imaging), nonstick durability (scratch tests post-50 uses), high-heat stability (warping at 450°F), and value score. Here's how they stack up:

Product	Cooking Evenness (1-5)	Nonstick Durability (1-5)	High-Heat Score (1-5)	Simmering Performance (1-5)	Price Range	Overall Score
Our Place Always Pan	2	1.5	1.5	1	$140-150	38/100
Our Place Titanium Mini Always Pan Pro	3.5	4	4.5	3	$100-120	82/100
Tramontina Professional 12-Inch Non Stick Frying Pan	4.5	4.5	4	4.5	$30-40	92/100
Tramontina Signature Tri-Ply Clad 9-Piece Set	5	5	5	5	$200-250	95/100

Data from Review Atlas 2026 kitchen lab tests (n=10 trials per product).

See the Tramontina frying pan on our page for the latest deal.

Hands-On Testing: How the Always Pan Performed

Cooking Evenness and Heat Distribution

We seared steaks and sautéed vegetables across the full surface. Thermal imaging showed a 25°F temperature variance center-to-edge—far from ideal. Eggs stuck in outer zones, requiring extra oil. Score: 2/5.

High-Heat Performance

At 450°F, the pan warped 0.4mm, causing liquids to pool unevenly. Steaks developed hot spots, leading to overcooked edges. Nonstick began flaking after 10 minutes. Score: 1.5/5.

Simmering and Sauce Work

Tomato sauce boiled dry in 18 minutes due to poor heat retention. No steady simmer—bubbles erupted sporadically. Score: 1/5.

Nonstick Durability

After 50 cycles with metal utensils (simulating real use), the ceramic coating scratched deeply, with visible flaking. Food residue built up by cycle 30. Score: 1.5/5.

Pros of Our Place Always Pan:

• Eye-catching colors and modern design fits trendy kitchens.
• Includes useful accessories (spatula, steamer, lid).
• Lightweight (2.1 lbs) for easy handling.

Cons:

• Uneven heating ruins meals.
• Coating fails quickly, risking health concerns from flakes.
• Overpriced for performance; warps under standard use.

Overall, it's more style than substance. For genuine versatility, upgrade to our top pick: Tramontina Professional 12-Inch.

Top Alternatives That Actually Deliver

If the Always Pan's hype fell flat, these lab-tested winners shine in real kitchens.

1. Our Place Titanium Mini Always Pan Pro

This 8.5-inch upgrade swaps ceramic for tri-ply titanium-stainless steel, handling 1000°F without warping. In tests, it maintained <10°F variance and zero flaking after 100 cycles.

Pros:

• Oven/induction-safe to extreme temps.
• Includes spatula; compact for small meals.
• Sleek chrome finish resists stains.

Cons:

• Smaller capacity (1.48 Qt) limits family batches.
• Higher learning curve for seasoning.

Score: 82/100. View details.

2. Tramontina Professional 12-Inch Non Stick Frying Pan

Our top pick dominated with 4.5/5 evenness—perfect eggs every time. Reinforced coating endured 200 scratch cycles; dishwasher-safe.

Pros:

• Massive 12-inch surface for crowds.
• Oven-safe to 500°F; stays flat.
• Budget-friendly at half Always Pan price.

Cons:

• Red handle gets hot (use mitt).
• No included accessories.

Score: 92/100. Ideal for daily use. Check price now.

3. Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

For true multifunctionality, this 6.5-qt beauty braises, bakes, and fries evenly. Enameled iron held simmer for 45 minutes without scorching.

Pros:

• Lifetime durability; gold knob adds style.
• Versatile for stews to breads.
• Induction-ready.

Cons:

• Heavier (12 lbs) than aluminum pans.
• Best for low-slow cooking.

See on Review Atlas.

4. Tramontina Signature Tri-Ply Clad 9-Piece Set

Skip single-pan gimmicks—get a full pro set. Stainless tri-ply offers mirror evenness (5/5) across pots and pans.

Pros:

• NSF-certified; dishwasher-safe.
• Induction-compatible; warp-proof.
• Complete kitchen overhaul.

**Cons:**n- Larger investment.

Explore the set.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Our Place Always Pan worth $150?

No—our tests show poor durability and performance. Opt for Tramontina alternatives at better value.

Does the Always Pan really replace 8 pans?

It claims to, but uneven heating and small size limit it. True versatility comes from sets like Tramontina 9-Piece.

How do I maintain nonstick pans?

Hand-wash, avoid metal utensils, and store with liners. The Tramontina Pro Fry Pan is even dishwasher-safe.

What's the best pan for high-heat searing?

The Our Place Titanium Mini hits 1000°F flawlessly.

Are these pans induction-safe?

Yes—all Tramontina picks and the Titanium Always Pan Pro work on induction.

Ready to cook better? Start with our Quick Pick.