Cooking dinner is my favorite part of the day, but I value simplicity above all else. Most nights, I aim to have dinner ready in 20-30 minutes with minimal cleanup. That’s where the right tools make all the difference. From the sharpest knife to the best frying pan and the easiest air fryer, every cook needs a team of high-quality kitchen essentials to make the process smooth and enjoyable.
As a product tester, I’ve had the pleasure of trying out all sorts of cookware, but few brands are as coveted as Our Place. When the Always Pan® Pro arrived on my doorstep, it felt like Christmas had come early. Unwrapping the luxurious packaging, I was immediately struck by the pan’s polished, professional look – a striking departure from Our Place’s usual pastel hues. But let’s be honest: with aesthetic-forward brands like Our Place, there’s always a lingering question. Does it perform as well as it looks?
After a month of cooking with the Always Pan® Pro, I’m happy to say it delivers on all fronts. There's a lot of praise to sing, so here’s a quick breakdown of what I discovered in my tests.
Specifications
Design
The Always Pan® Pro is a joy to look at and even more satisfying to use. It has a fully-clad, tri-ply construction – a stainless steel exterior, aluminum core, and a titanium interior – with microscopic grooves inside the pan designed to resist sticking.
It feels as robust as it looks. At 1.5kg, it’s on the hefty side, but that weight adds to its sense of quality. The polished steel is a refreshing departure from Our Place’s usual pastels, offering a professional vibe that would work beautifully with any kitchen scheme.
They've clearly thought about the design. The pan is shallow enough for searing a steak or frying an egg but deep enough for simmering curries or tossing pasta. For someone like me, with limited kitchen space, it’s a lifesaver – replacing the need for a skillet, frying pan and saucier. It comes with a modular lid and a built-in spoon rest – which is adorable to use.
Cooking performance
Before you start cooking, you need to season the pan with a neutral oil. This is really important, as it activates the non-stick effect. Then, you can preheat the pan for 90 seconds and add your high smoke point oil, making sure it covers the pan and gets hot, before adding your ingredients.
I was really keen to test the titanium interior to see if the 'natural' nonstick effect worked – and it did. In the pictures below, you can see how food slides easily on the surface, with no residue left behind.
What I cooked in the Our Place Titanium Always Pro Pan:
- Onions are always the first test of a pan for me. I found that the even heat distribution allowed for steady browning, which is essential for building flavor in everything from sauces to soups. No patches of burned or undercooked bits to be seen.
- Chilli con carne mince browned beautifully without releasing too much liquid, which is a common issue in pans that don’t reach or hold high heat well. The pan deglazed like a dream, effortlessly lifting the fond (those browned bits that add so much flavor) into the sauce. Even after a 40-minute simmer, cleanup was surprisingly easy, with no stubborn residue left behind.
- Pancakes, that ultimate test of nonstick prowess, didn’t cling to the surface at all. The batter cooked to a golden finish, and released without the need for excessive oil or butter. That said, the weight of the pan made flipping a bit of a challenge – definitely one to flip with a spatula rather than a wrist flick.
- Fried eggs were also great to cook for a quick dinner. They slid off the pan effortlessly, with no burnt edges.
- Venison steak took a few minutes to develop a caramelized crust, which speaks to the pan’s ability to retain and distribute heat effectively. However, I did notice that the crust turned slightly darker than I wanted. It also left a dark fond in the pan, which required a more thorough clean-up. Perhaps I had the temperature too high.
- Tofu, which is notoriously sticky and prone to falling apart, cooked surprisingly well. A few pieces stuck slightly, but the pan held up admirably, allowing me to turn the cubes without breaking them – a feat many pans fail to achieve.
- Stir-fried vegetables came out vibrant and crisp, with no sogginess or uneven cooking. The pan’s high heat tolerance and even surface temperature are ideal for quick-cooking techniques like stir-frying.
- Curries simmered beautifully, with plenty of space to stir and toss without worrying about spills. Despite the turmeric spice and tomato-based sauce (both notorious for staining cookware), the pan didn’t discolor or retain any residue.
This pan is clearly resilient and built for durability. Unlike the original Always Pan, the Pro is designed to withstand temperatures of up to 1,000°F, making it perfect for recipes that require an oven finish. One evening, I put this feature to the test by making a quick frittata with fresh peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and feta – finishing it off in the oven to achieve a uniformly set texture with a golden top.
Cleaning & maintainance
Finally, it's time to talk about the fantastic bristle brush that came with this pan. I am truly obsessed. Every night after cooking, I gave the pan a scrub with the brush and cooed about how effective it was. The natural fibers really got in between the grooves, scooping up residual fond.
After searing my steaks, I noticed some darker, tougher residue, which didn't come of so easily with the brush, so I felt needed a deeper clean. Our Place says you can deglaze the pan with boiling water and baking soda – or use a paste of vinegar and baking soda. I tried the latter option and it was pretty effective, although some areas of the pan are still quite darkened. It doesn't seem to have effected the performance, however.
An added bonus is that the Pro pan is dishwasher-safe, so you can load it alongside your plates and cutlery. To maintain its top-notch performance, you should season the pan with a bit of neutral oil after a deep clean and occasionally over time. These easy steps will help preserve its nonstick surface.
What I liked and didn't like
I love the versatility of this pan. From frying to sautéing and simmering, this pan did it all. It’s a great all-in-one solution, particularly for small kitchens.
I was also a fan of the durability. As a busy person, I don't want to spend a lot of time caring for my appliances. This was dishwasher-safe, easy to hand-wash and keep clean. Plus, the titanium surface is scratch-resistant and 300% harder than stainless steel, giving me peace of mind.
Finally, I loved the polished, professional aesthetics: it's as lovely to display as it is to cook with. Details like the built-in spoon rest are thoughtful and neat.
For all its strengths, there were some things I didn't like. At 1.5kg, it’s on the heavy side, which I found tricky for tasks like flipping pancakes or tossing stir-fries. If you’ve got weak wrists like me, this might be something to consider.
It's also pretty expensive, although I do think it's worth the price as an investment piece.
What do customer reviews say?
Customers seem to agree with me in praising this pan's quality, nonstick performance, and stylish design. Many Amazon customers highlighted how effortlessly food releases from the pan and how easy it is to clean, especially with the included bristle brush. While the pan’s premium price and weight were noted, most felt it was worth the investment, describing it as durable, versatile, and a joy to cook with.
A few customers were disappointed that the handle heated up (I didn't notice this on the stovetop, but obviously this will happen in the oven). One customer noted that tofu stuck to the pan, which also happened to me a little bit, but tofu cookery is quite a delicate job. It requires a lot of oil and patience for a good sear and self-release. Overall, these points didn’t overshadow the positive feedback, earning a median 4.5 stars on Amazon.
Should you buy it?
I do think that the Always Pan Pro is a fantastic investment. Its combination of versatility, durability, and non-toxic design makes it ideal for anyone looking to streamline their kitchen tools and stay healthy.
It’s great for small kitchens, busy weeknight cooks, or anyone who appreciates a pan that does it all and looks beautiful doing it.
That said, if you struggle with heavier pans or prioritize lightweight cookware, you might find the Pro’s 1.5kg weight a bit challenging. Even though I have quite weak wrists myself, the Always Pan Pro has earned a permanent place on my stovetop.
How I tested
A great frying pan has to check all the boxes: versatility, manageable weight, brilliant cooking performance, and, crucially, ease of cleaning.
I use every pan I test for over a month to see how it fares over time. I've owned many pans that have been great out of the box, but start to stick, discolor and destroy my ingredients after prolonged use. There's nothing worse than this, especially when you've forked out your hard-earned money and need to buy a replacement.
When I'm testing, I'm looking for a pan that handle everything: from delicately frying an egg to searing a steak with a perfect crust. It should feel balanced in your hand – not so heavy it’s hard to lift, but substantial enough to retain heat evenly for consistent cooking.
I like to test notoriously sticky or delicate recipes, including: tofu, sticky cheese like halloumi or paneer, steak and fried eggs. I assess how these work in the pan and the mess they leave afterwards – because no one wants to scrub endlessly after dinner.
Also, I should mention, I trained at a professional cookery school and have worked as a food writer and recipe editor for some of the world's leading recipe companies, from Mindful Chef to Deliciously Ella, so I do have exacting standards.
