The Best-Selling Always Pan Just Got Supersized — Here’s What We Think
The larger version offers more versatility with the same slick performance.
Photo c/o Our Place
By now you’ve probably heard of the best-selling Always Pan from Our Place; it’s the chic and sleek pan that’s been splashed across the Instagrams of home cooks and celebrities alike since it first launched in 2019. The classic pan got an upgrade in April 2023, and we’re big fans of the recently-revamped product. Unlike the first iteration, the Always Pan 2.0 is now safe to put in the oven and has an even more slick nonstick surface. These versatile pans are so multifunctional they even come with a built-in steamer basket that lets you steam vegetables or salmon directly in the pan, without needing to dirty another dish. The only thing that hindered the versatility of the original? It’s only available in one size. That is, it was only available in one size, until Our Place launched the XL Always Pan on August 15th. We decided to put the new, larger version to the test in an effort to determine how functional and convenient it is compared to the original. Read on for our full review.
Expanded Cooking Surface
As you can probably tell by the title of this article, the new Always Pan is two inches larger than the original pan. The roomier XL has a 12.5-inch diameter versus the original pan’s 10-inch diameter, so it can accommodate considerably more food. It’s also slightly deeper, which means the tall sides can hold more liquid when frying, boiling, or braising. While the standard Always Pan can hold 2.6 quarts of food, the large pan can hold 4 quarts of food. While testing, I was able to easily sear the parts of a whole chicken, I then added two cups of farro and two handfuls of kale, topped it off with chicken stock and salsa verde, then let the whole pan continue to cook in the oven. The finished dish was a perfectly-cooked one pot meal that served six people. I had no trouble searing the chicken thighs, drumsticks, breasts or wings, and the farro easily absorbed the stock and salsa verde leaving me with tender, toothsome grains throughout. I didn’t notice any hotspots in the pan, and the outer edges cooked just as thoroughly as the center.
Laura Denby
Same Slick Surface
I was pleased to see that despite the larger size, this pan does not sacrifice any of the conveniences of the 2.0. Most notably, the nonstick surface is super slick and easy to use. Seared chicken skin broke free from the pan with very little effort, and I could easily wipe it clean between each batch. In fact, I even whipped up a 12-egg omelet to assess the functionality of the cooking surface, and was pleased to see how efficiently it worked. The eggs cooked evenly and consistently across the pan, and I had no trouble turning the omelet over at the end of the cooking process. Not even a spot of residue stuck to the surface, and it was a breeze to clean with soap and warm water.
Laura Denby
Increased Convenience
The Always Pan is known for versatility — multifunctionality is one of its biggest selling points — and offering the iconic pan in a larger size adds to the list of things you can use it for. You can serve more people with this pan and you can make more food at once without having to cook in batches. The added convenience of extra space means you can use it to cook one-pot meals for the whole family without crowding it or spilling over the sides.
Our Only Hang-Up: Its Weight
With a larger pan comes more weight, and this pan is certainly heavier than the standard Always Pan. I found it to be difficult to handle and maneuver (especially when filled with food), and the handle didn’t feel balanced or ergonomic. All Always Pans have the same, rectangular-style handle, but it feels particularly uncomfortable when handling the larger pan. I didn’t feel like I could effectively grasp it, and I needed to use the helper handle every time I picked it up. Even worse — the helper handle gets super hot to the touch when using this pan both in the oven or on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Be mindful to always use gloves or oven mitts when handling the pan, and be sure that you’ve got a sturdy grip before moving it from the oven to the counter or tabletop.
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