Lakeland's new stainless steel Only Pan is a dead ringer for my favourite-ever indestructible Always Pan Pro – but it's half the price
How do these two scratch-resistant pans measure up?
Lakeland has released a brand new all-in-one pan, the Tri-Pan Only Pan Pro (£84.99), which is a dead ringer for my favourite ever pan – the Titanium Always Pan Pro (£170) by Our Place.
As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor I've had the happy task of trialling dozens of pans over the years but none has topped Our Place's Titanium offering after a five-star review. Lakeland's version, which is a 'hybrid stainless steel pan with ceramic non-stick coating', claims to have the same versatility but with a price-tag that's exactly half of the chef-approved Always Pan.
Here's a closer look at the two to see how they measure up.
Oven-safe up to 200°C and safe to be used with metal utensils, you don't have to worry about PFA transfer with this shiny pan. It's made up of three layers of stainless steel.
By contrast, Our Place's version is forged from stainless steel, aluminium and a titanium layer. Rather than a coating, its inner surface is made up of tiny microscopic grooves. It worked wonders during my testing process and was still as impressive six months later.
Last year Lakeland's take on the Our Place Always Pan, the 8-in-1 Only Pan, prompted a sell out on the brand's website. Naturally, we had to get our hands on it to see how it measured up to its more expensive lookalike.
Our expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue awarded it 4.5 stars out of 5 after testing it, saying that it was a 'great choice for fuss-free cooking'. Now Lakeland has taken that bestselling formula and worked its magic on a stainless steel version, a material that's favoured by professional chefs.
It's clear that Lakeland has taken inspiration from the marketing of the Our Place Always Pan Pro, which is touted as 'virtually indestructible'. After having this pricey pan in my kitchen now for over a year, I agree with those bold claims. it still looks as good as the day it arrived after more than a few cooking mishaps and a turn through the dishwasher every day.
Testing the Our Place Titanium Pan Pro duo at home.
That's the kind of durability that Lakeland is seeking to emulate with their new do-it-all pan which is 'built with three layers of stainless steel and aluminium to offer superior strength', according to the brand. 'Outstanding scratch resistance' is another feature worth shouting about – I've learned the ability to use metal utensils with peace of mind with the Always Pan Pro is a real game changer.
The deep shape of the Lakeland pan is a versatile design feature which is supposed to unlock those aforementioned 'ten ways to cook'. With it, Lakeland says you can bake, grill, roast, pan-fry, boil, sauté, steam, stir-fry, simmer and braise. As its oven-safe up to 200°C, it should be great for finishing dishes off in high heat.
Lakeland's pan also comes with two accessories to make it more multi-faceted: a stainless steel steamer basket and a silicone turner. The included lid is also very similar to Our Place's, with a domed lid that helps to trap in moisture for steaming.
Our review of this multi-functional pan from Lakeland is currently underway so that we can let you know how it performs but the Our Place Pro has certainly set a very high benchmark. Can you see a place for this type of multi-functional pan in your home?
