My comrade WIRED critics are some of the smartest people I know. Ask a Gear team member any question, whether it’s zipper quality, button feel, material durability, or whether a shade of blue is actually greener, and he will have an informed opinion (and resources to back it up). A few years ago, when my late grandmother gave me the Our Place Always Pan, I was a little nervous. WIRED contributor Joe Ray gave it a 3 out of 10..
But I loved my grandmother, who was very excited to get me something trendy and useful, and the pan looked cool. So I cooked on it. And since then, I’ve cooked 99 percent of my meals there.
Our Place has heard feedback from customers and reviewers. Ray wasn’t the only person on the Internet who took issue with the first iteration of Always Pan. The one I received, and the one that’s on sale now, is the revamped Our Place Always Pan 2.0. It is available in three sizes. I have always used the standard size, which is 10.5 inches. And I love it to pieces.
Photography: Louryn Strampe
Second chance
The negative feedback on the first iteration of the pan was valid. It had quality control issues, such as an uneven surface on the bottom, inconsistent cooking surfaces from pan to pan, and inconsistent paint jobs. It wasn’t oven safe either. But I’m happy to report that based on my experience with two separate Always Pan 2.0 models (the gift I received and another one I called to compare), this pan is now nearly perfect. And that’s before you factor in any of the myriad accessories available to complement it. It comes in many colors, and each pot includes a lid, a steamer basket (which doubles as a strainer), and a nesting spatula.
I contacted the company to see what had changed between the original pan and the Always Pan 2.0. The new pan has improved non-stick performance, better stain resistance and an induction-friendly and oven-safe design. The shape has also undergone some changes, such as a roomier assist handle and curvature improvements. The company hasn’t officially addressed the convex cooking surfaces or peeling paint that Joe Ray took issue with, but my cooking surfaces (on two pans) are good and the paint on both pans looks great (even up close ).
Photography: Louryn Strampe