Rank #5 · Ceramic nonstick
Our Place Always Pan
Same ceramic-nonstick materials band as Caraway. Independent XRF exists (good transparency) but shows food-contact lead detections, so evidence is scored as findings.
Materials
Aluminum substrate with ceramic nonstick coating; multitask pan form factor. PTFE-free claim on coating chemistry — still a coated aluminum pan, not bare stainless/iron.
Plastic-free build
Score 7.0/10. Cook surface is coated metal; accessories/steamer baskets in kits may include other materials.
Lab findings
Published figures: Lead Safe Mama (2020 post): lid lavender coating Pb 70 ± 7 ppm; gray inner food surface Pb 34 ± 6 ppm; As and Hg reported negative on the piece discussed. LSM notes levels may be “safe according to all standards — but not negative.”
Lead Safe Mama XRF on a lavender Always Pan detected lead on the lid coating and on the gray inner food surface (low tens of ppm), despite “lead-free / toxic metals-free” marketing language discussed in that post.
Caveats
- Later Always Pan generations may differ — we only cite the published LSM piece linked here.
- Marketing “lead-free” language is not the same as XRF non-detect.
Sources cited
- Lead Safe Mama — Our Place Always Pan XRF — Pb detections on lid and food surface of the tested lavender pan. · checked 2026-10-26
- Ecology Center — What’s Cooking? — Category FTIR context on nonstick coatings (PTFE prevalence). · checked 2026-10-26
Also ranked
- #1 Made In Stainless Clad Pan (10.0/10)
- #2 Staub Staub Cocotte (8.7/10)
- #3 Le Creuset Le Creuset Dutch Oven (7.2/10)
- #4 Caraway Caraway Set (5.7/10)
- #6 HexClad HexClad Hybrid Pan (3.2/10)
- #7 Swiss Diamond Swiss Diamond Pan (2.4/10)
Price band: $100–$175 (single pan). Data last reviewed 2026-10-26. Affiliate status never changes rank.