This non-toxic pan is the only one you need in your kitchen - and it looks strangely familiar

We all have our favourite pans. The trusty ones we reach for without thinking, because they just seem to do everything right. Whether it’s the perfect sear, the even simmer, or simply the familiarity of how it handles, a go-to pan becomes part of your cooking rhythm. Mine used to be a humble stainless steel milk pan (a surprisingly versatile companion that’s handled everything from sauces to pancakes) but lately, I’ve found myself reaching for something new. The Lakeland Only Pan might just have changed up my signature style.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably wondered what makes a pan truly versatile and why some earn permanent countertop status. With so many multifunctional options promising to replace half your cookware cupboard, it can be hard to know which actually deliver. That’s where the best induction pans come into play: designed for speed, efficiency, and even heat distribution, they’re the gold standard for modern home cooks. The Lakeland Only Pan, though, takes things one step further, claiming to be the single pan you’ll ever need. And after a few weeks of testing, I can see why.

The astute chefs among you might have noticed that the Only Pan’s name sounds cheekily familiar. It’s no coincidence. Lakeland’s design clearly takes inspiration from the cult-favourite Our Place Always Pan, a kitchen icon that won over home cooks with its sleek design and clever functionality. The Only Pan aims to capture that same magic at a more tempting price point, promising all-in-one performance without the premium tag. But can it really live up to such high expectations? I put it to the test to find out.

Lakeland Only Pan review

Who would the Lakeland Only Pan suit?

The Lakeland Only Pan is perfect for efficient cooks, because it covers a great range functions in one, space-efficient, non-toxic pan. That’s my sugar coated way of saying: I’m a lazy cook and I loved only using one pan for a week. Whether it was stir fry, curry, or pasta for dinner, the Only Pan was, well, the only pan that I needed.

The 3.1L capacity is plenty for feeding a family of four. Single servings might look a little dwarfed on the ceramic surface of the pan, but they’ll still cook well, benefitting from an incredibly even heat transfer across the base and a seemingly relentless non-stick surface.

Speaking of non-stick, one of the elements of the Only Pan that I really love is that it’s totally non-toxic as well as non-tick. I actively tried to burn my pancakes and onions to the base of the Lakeland Only Pan and it was impossible. They would char, but not stick themselves to the base of the pan. Pair that with the fact that this is free from lots of the nasty chemicals that have caused concerns amongst some more cautious chefs and it's a dream come true. That's also without mentioning that it’s crafted from durable, yet lightweight cast aluminium. Might I also add that it’s 100% recycled cast aluminium too? There’s nothing this can’t boast.

Unboxing the Lakeland Only Pan

Everything about this packaging reflects what the Lakeland Only Pan is like to use. The relatively compact cardboard box is easily recyclable, although it’s worth having a scan of the box first. It’s a very straightforward design, which means you don’t need a manual or QR code to talk you through it. However, the box does detail some useful details, including that this is only oven safe up to 150°C, needs to avoid metal utensils, and that it should ideally be hand washed.

Inside the pan, you’ll find some soft plastics, which are the only aspect of the pan that deviates from the sustainable element of the Only Pan’s design. The saving grace is that you can recycle these at larger supermarkets if you have one near you. I'd also recommend turning the pan over to peel the label from the base, otherwise you'll have a nasty, melted clue situation on the base.

You'll spot that Lakeland's Only Pan also comes with a steamer and a silicone and wood spatula, which can sit neatly inside of the pan. It’s a very well thought-out design.

What is the Lakeland Only Pan like to use?

A pan that promises to be the ‘only’ pan you’ll need has a lot to live up to. Of course, it’s not really the only pan that you need, but it covers a good chunk of functions, which would make it perfect if you’re looking to save on space, or you’re a student.

I wanted to put this through a few weeks of cooking in my home to see how it would fare on a range of cooking tasks and I’ll talk you through them below.

As a more general note, the design was really nice to use. I felt the benefit of lighter cast aluminium in comparison to my cast iron. There’s also a nice handle on the other side that helps when lifting the pan, although this isn’t coated, so it does get a little warm during cooking. It's not as hot as the rest of the pan, but touch it with caution.

Test 1: pancakes

A very easy way of showing whether a pan has good, even heat transfer is by using it to make a pancake. You can actually see whether you’ve got even browning and crisping across your pancake, as well as whether it’s cooking too fast on the outside.

In the image above, you can see the colouring across the pancake is nothing short of perfect. I tested both crepe and American-style pancakes in here and they both cooked really well. I was impressed at how quickly and thoroughly they cooked.

The non-stick does a great job of keeping the pancakes smoothly, but I'd recommend a spray of oil or butter to get the golden colour and brown speckles across the pancake anyway.

Test 2: frying onions

I drizzled olive oil over the base of the pan and had the hob on a medium heat. Within one minute, I could hear the sizzling and the beads of oil were dancing around my pan. With that in mind, I added one chopped onion and some minced garlic, watching for the onion to turn golden brown at the edges and clear in the middle.

The non-stick did a wonderful job of keeping things moving around and I made sure to use the spatula to give things a stir around. Within three minutes, I had a good base of onion and garlic that I’d be happy to use for a pasta sauce (Monday’s dinner) and a risotto (Tuesday’s dinner).

I'll talk about the risotto in the next test, but the pasta sauce was more straightforward: I added my oregano, toasted that, then poured in chopped tomatoes, red wine, and tomato puree. It simmer d for a few minutes and then I added in my spaghetti and kept it moving around. Actually, even when I tried to keep it still and burn the spaghetti, I couldn’t because the non-stick was doing such a fantastic job.

My risotto test, again, relies on a good non-stick and this delivered. I came back to my pan multiple times to give it a stir, but it didn’t clump or stick to the bottom and I found that the rice was nicely tender after 45 minutes.

Test 3: risotto

I put my simmering, sautéing, and risotto making under one test, because it’s really about low, even cooking. Cast aluminium is generally credited as a great way to get even transfer across the base of your pan and I found that the Only Pan really lived up to that reputation.

My risotto test, again, relies on a good non-stick and this delivered. I came back to my pan multiple times to give it a stir, but it didn’t clump or stick to the bottom. The sides of the pan held up really well against my mammoth portion of risotto rice too. I managed to feed seven, hungry people with the risotto that I made in here and, whilst I might have been pushing the limits, it's good to know that the Lakeland Only Pan is up to the job.

I found that the rice was nicely tender after 45 minutes, which is perfect for a risotto. I think it could have been a quicker process, but I didn't want the risotto bubbling up over the edges of the pan.

Test 4: stir fry

The stir fry test still makes excellent use of the Lakeland Only Pan’s non-stick surface: it it’s my test for fast frying as well as pan frying. I start by browning the tofu cubes so that they are crisp and golden all over, a task which the Lakeland Only Pan made light work of. My only note from this was that the browning from my tofu was a little harder to scrub off, but with some water and soaking, it wasn't an issue.

Then, adding in my stir fry veg, I almost didn’t need the sesame oil, except for flavour. My had beans a wonderful crunch at the edge, with just a little tenderness in a few minutes. And the sauce coated everything wonderfully well. Serving up was easy too, because all the stir fry seemed to slide out of the pan. I made great use of the pouring spouts on each side, which I think would come in even more handy with liquid meals.

Test 5: stir fry

Lakeland sends a steam basket with the Only Pan, so I made sure to get this tested. For me, this is a really simple task: boiling vegetables. I had a whole bag of caultiflower, broccoli, carrots, and peas chopped into pieces. These steamed in five minutes and I could use the steaming basket as a clever colander, thanks to the large, loopy handles.

It was also easy to pour out water from the sides, as there are pouring spots on both sides. The downside of these spouts are that they mean the lid doesn’t fully seal, making the Only Pan a little less efficient at steaming, but I was still pleased with the timings.

The beauty of it was that I could coat my vegetables in ginger, chilli, and soy sauce directly in the pan after I had drained it, saving me from another load of washing up.

Cleaning the Lakeland Only Pan

From the get-go, Lakeland recommends that the Only Pan should be hand washed, so that it protects the ceramic coating. There are plenty of brands that also don’t allow their pans in the dishwasher, but they hide it in the fine print, so Lakeland being more transparent doesn’t mean that their pans is any more flimsy.

Honestly, this was a really easy part of the whole process. The non-stick is so good that my pan looked clean after the tap had run over it, no washing up liquid needed. Of course, I still used a sponge and some washing up liquid to remove flavours and any remnants, but it's really effortless.

How does the Lakeland Only Pan compare?

The elephant in my kitchen is that Lakeland’s Only Pan looks almost identical to the famous Our Place Always Pan. The design is almost a mirror, except that the Always pan has a domed lid and a little platform for their spoon to sit. You also have more size options for different Always Pans (21.6, 26.7 and 31.8 cm), whilst the Lakeland Only Pan is offered in just 26cm. You also get many more colour options than the more basic palette on offer at Lakeland.

On a practical level then, the Our Place Always Pan gives you more customisability with colours and size, but you pay the price for it. In fact, you pay twice the price. Lakeland’s Only Pan is just £59.99 compared to £125 for the Always Pan. However, there are some practical benefits that you get from the Our Place Always Pan.

The Our Place Always Pan can be used in the oven up to 230 degrees, unlike Lakeland’s somewhat redundant 150 degree limit. It’s a distinct advantage. The more sharply domed lid is also much better for steaming and you don't lose a space to rest your spatula, because it's on the handle. So, the choice is yours. Lakeland's Only Pan is brilliant for shopping on a budget, but will I be trading in my Titanium Always Pan Pro?

Should you buy the Lakeland Only Pan?

Lakeland’s Only Pan is a lazy cook’s dream, balancing versatility, style, and ethics in one, elegant design. The value for money factor is one that could sway you away from an Our Place Always Pan for definite, especially when you account for Lakeland's 10 year guarentee.