Always Pan vs Perfect Pot: Which Versatile Cookware Piece Should You Buy First?

If you're building a streamlined kitchen, you've likely come across Our Place's cult-favorite Always Pan and the versatile Perfect Pot. Both promise to replace multiple pieces of cookware, but they serve different primary functions. Choosing between them depends on your cooking habits, kitchen space, and whether you prefer stovetop searing or slow braising.

In this comparison, we'll look at how each piece handles everyday tasks—from frying eggs to simmering soups—and help you decide which one deserves a spot on your stovetop first. We'll also touch on how they can work together as a mini cookware set.

Design and Capacity

The Always Pan is a 10.5-inch skillet with a unique curved shape and a nesting spatula. It's designed to replace a frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, and even a saucepan for small batches. Its nonstick surface is ceramic and free of PFAS, making it easy to clean. The Perfect Pot, on the other hand, is a 5.5-quart deep pot with a built-in strainer lid and a tempered glass lid. It's meant to replace a stockpot, Dutch oven, pasta pot, and more.

Capacity is a major differentiator. The Always Pan is ideal for 1-2 servings or side dishes, while the Perfect Pot can handle family-sized soups, stews, pasta, and even whole chickens. If you cook for more than two people regularly, the Perfect Pot's extra volume is a clear advantage. For quick weekday meals or solo cooking, the Always Pan's smaller footprint wins.

• Always Pan: 10.5 in diameter, 2.5 qt capacity, includes nesting spatula and steamer basket.
• Perfect Pot: 5.5 qt capacity, includes colander lid and glass lid, fits a whole chicken.

Cooking Versatility: What Can You Make?

The Always Pan excels at stovetop tasks that require even heat and a nonstick surface: frying eggs, searing fish, sautéing vegetables, and making crepes. Its steamer basket lets you steam broccoli or dumplings while you cook something else in the pan. However, it's not ideal for deep frying or large batches due to its shallow sides.

The Perfect Pot is built for wet cooking methods: braising, boiling pasta, making stock, and simmering chili. Its wide base and tall sides make it great for searing meat before adding liquid, and the built-in strainer lid simplifies draining pasta or rinsing beans. It can also go in the oven up to 450°F, so you can start a stew on the stovetop and finish it in the oven. The tradeoff is that it's less nimble for quick sautés or delicate eggs.

• Always Pan: Best for frying, sautéing, steaming, and small-batch sauces.
• Perfect Pot: Best for soups, stews, pasta, braises, and oven-to-table dishes.

Which One Should You Buy First?

If you cook mostly for yourself or a partner and value a do-it-all skillet, start with the Always Pan. It's a true multitasker that reduces clutter and works well for breakfast, lunch, and quick dinners. Pair it with a set of Beechwood Spoons for gentle stirring that won't scratch the surface.

If you regularly cook for a family or love making one-pot meals like soups and braises, the Perfect Pot is the better first purchase. Its large capacity and oven-safe design make it a workhorse for batch cooking. For many home cooks, the ideal solution is to own both: the Always Pan for everyday frying and the Perfect Pot for bigger projects. Together, they form a versatile cookware set alternative that covers most stovetop needs.

• Always Pan first if: you cook 1-2 servings, want to replace multiple pans, or do a lot of frying.
• Perfect Pot first if: you cook for 3+, make soups/stews, or want oven-to-table versatility.

Both the Always Pan and Perfect Pot are thoughtfully designed to simplify your kitchen. Your choice comes down to capacity and cooking style. If you can, consider adding both to your arsenal—they complement each other beautifully and cover nearly every stovetop task without needing a full cookware set.