Is M&S’s £30 pan as good as Our Place’s viral £125 pan? I found out

It may not come with its own spatula or the ability to bake or roast in the oven, but M&S’s All-in-One Saucepan Still a powerhouse of pan. Its large size and impressive depth also make it perfect for cooking for large families or groups of friends, or preparing meals for the week ahead.

The £30 price tag is also highly attractive, making it one of the more affordable options I’ve seen for this style of pan, even compared to Dunelm, Lakeland and Ikea. However, if space is at a premium in a small kitchen, the Our Place Always Pan is a better option (if you’re happy to spend the money).

One problem I found with this all-in-one pan is that, despite it appearing to have thinner walls than a regular pan, it does not heat up as quickly. However, once it comes up to temperature, the heat is well distributed and everything cooks evenly, thanks to the pan’s wide, flat base.

Frying eggs in this pan is quite easy, as its non-stick coating helps in getting the job done. The egg slides around easily without any resistance, but I found that despite always cooking at the same temperature and for the same amount of time in the pan, it never got crisp around the edges.

However, due to the even distribution of heat, frying fish and sautéing vegetables were successful. Unlike Our Place’s usual pan, I wasn’t limited to low to medium heat when using this pan, so there was a possibility of quicker frying, and less time spent boiling water for the pasta.

The non-heat-conducting handle meant the pan was easy to pick up and move around the kitchen when needed. The handle has a soft, ergonomic grip, and the short handle on the opposite side of the pan helps with easy lifting, even if the pan is heavy with pasta or stew. The flat aluminum lid sits a little loosely for my liking, as it allows steam to escape more easily. For example, steamed pakodas require close monitoring to ensure that the water level does not drop too low. The loose fit also means that the lid shakes when the contents of the pan are at a simmer, which can be annoying for some people.

This pan is also suitable for deep frying due to its impressive depth. I deep fried the croquettes with ease and found that there was not much oil or spillage out of the pan. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing this in large batches, especially with larger items like chicken drumsticks, as the risk of oil spills increases.

Unlike the usual pans, M&S’s option is dishwasher-safe, which is a boon for those of us who hate washing. But even if you don’t have a dishwasher, the pan is easy to clean with a sponge and dish soap. However if you have a small sink, the size of this pan may make it awkward to wash by hand.