Our Place Mini Always Pan
Named ceramic non-stick coating, with a brand PFAS statement we have not verified.
Our Place says its ceramic non-stick coating is made without PFAS, including Teflon-type coating and PFOA. We record that as an unverified brand claim. Its record describes a non-stick coating of unstated type, which is still counted.
Brand says: “Our Place says its ceramic non-stick coating is made without PFAS, including PTFE and PFOA.”
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Ceramic nonstick coating over stainless steel
Brand disclosure
Brand claims PFAS-free
Lab data
No public lab test
Is Our Place Mini Always Pan non-toxic? What it is made of
The Our Place Mini Always Pan uses a ceramic nonstick coating applied over a stainless steel base. Ceramic coatings are inorganic and do not release toxic fumes at normal cooking temperatures, unlike older Teflon-type coating-based nonsticks. Stainless steel does not leach aluminum or significant heavy metals under normal use. The ceramic surface is the critical wear layer; once damaged, the underlying steel is exposed but does not pose acute toxicity risks.
What’s concerning
Disclosed non-fluorinated coating
Coating is named and the brand states it is made without PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Ceramic coating degradation
Ceramic nonstick coatings are prone to chipping and flaking with age and use. Once bare stainless steel is exposed, the pan loses nonstick function and may require replacement.
Stainless steel leaching
Stainless steel can leach nickel and trace amounts of chromium under acidic conditions or prolonged contact. The risk is low for healthy adults but may be a concern for nickel-sensitive individuals; ceramic coating minimizes contact when intact.
What’s reassuring
Brand-stated PFAS-free
The brand states this product is PFAS-free. We have not verified the claim.
Lead
No lead or cadmium contamination has been reported in Our Place cookware or its ceramic coating. The brand does not publish independent metal testing, so absence of evidence cannot be treated as conclusive safety proof.
Source, ATSDR ↗Aluminum leaching
This pan is stainless steel, not aluminum; aluminum leaching is not a hazard for this product.
Teflon-type coating fume inhalation risk
Ceramic coatings do not contain Teflon-type coating or perfluorinated compounds, eliminating the risk of polymer fume fever at normal cooking temperatures.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Our Place publicly states PFAS-free manufacturing for this product line and names ceramic as the nonstick material, which aligns with that claim. The brand has not published third-party toxicology testing or certifications (e.g., NSF, GOTS) on the product, so independence of that claim cannot be verified. No major recalls or contamination incidents have been publicly reported for this product. Our Place maintains active disclosure on materials but does not detail enamel pigment sourcing or lead/cadmium testing.
How it compares in its category
Ceramic nonsticks present lower concern than traditional Teflon-type coating cookware in terms of fume risk but generally require more careful handling and replacement more frequently as the coating degrades. Compared to bare stainless steel, the nonstick surface reduces the need for added oils and improves ease of cleaning. The Mini Always Pan is priced at the premium end of ceramic cookware, reflecting the brand positioning and small-batch manufacturing claim. Durability and edge chipping are common user-reported concerns for ceramic cookware across all brands.
If you buy it
Keep heat below medium-high to preserve ceramic integrity; ceramic coatings can degrade faster under extreme temperature swings. Hand wash rather than dishwasher to minimize edge wear and chipping. Inspect the coating quarterly for cracks, flaking, or bare spots; discontinue use if the steel base is exposed. Replace within 2 to 5 years depending on use frequency, as ceramic nonstick performance naturally declines and worn coatings cannot be reliably restored.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Our Place has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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Made In
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More cookware grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.