My WIRED reviewers are some of the smartest people I know. Ask a member of the Gear team any question, whether it’s about the quality of the zipper, the feel of the button, the durability of the material, or whether the shade of blue is actually more green, and they will have an informed opinion (and resources to back it up). So a few years ago, when my late grandmother gave me The Place We Always Pan, I was a little nervous. WIRED contributor Joe Ray has given it 3 out of 10. But I love my grandmother, who is very excited about gifting me something trendy and useful, and the pan looks cool. So I cook. And I’ve cooked 99 percent of my meals since then. Our place to hear customer and reviewer feedback. Ray wasn’t the only person on the internet who had issues with the first iteration of Always Pan. The one I got, and the one I’m selling now, is the modified Place We Always Pan 2.0. Available in three sizes. I always use the standard size, which is 10.5 inches. And I really like it. Photo: Louryn Strampe Second Chance The negative feedback about the first iteration of the pan is correct. There are quality control issues, such as uneven surfaces on the bottom, inconsistent cooking surfaces from pan to pan, and inconsistent paint. It is also not oven safe. But I’m happy to report that in my experience with two separate Pan 2.0 models (the gift I received and the other I called to compare), this pan is now almost perfect. And that before you account for any of the many accessories available to complement. It comes in several colors, and each pan includes a lid, a steamer basket (which doubles as a colander), and a nesting spatula. 2.0. Newer pans have improved nonstick performance, better stain resistance, and induction-friendly, oven-safe designs. The shape also gets some changes, such as a bigger helper handle and improved arch. The company doesn’t officially address convex cooking surfaces or paint chipping that Joe Ray does, but my cooking surfaces (on two pans) are fine, and the paint on both pans looks good (even close). Louryn Strampe
