Electric Skillets

Electric skillets are remarkable tools for anyone to have in their kitchen. They can be used to cook more foods at a time than ordinary skillets, and they can be placed anywhere in the kitchen where there’s an outlet. With one of these tools, you can cook everything from bacon and eggs to onion soup and just about everything in between. That’s why everyone should buy the best electric skillet they can find and put it to good use in their kitchen. This article is going to help our readers achieve that goal.

List of the Best Electric Skillets

Best Overall: Presto 16-Inch Foldaway Black Skillet

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Presto is a company that’s been making small electric appliances and housewares since 1905. And after reviewing this quality electric skillet, we feel that they’ve gotten good at it. This model is approximately 19x12x8-inches in size, with a pan surface area of 15.75×11.87×2.87-inches. That’s big enough to cook a large amount of food or use it as a buffet server.

Another thing that we like about this product is that it appears to be quite durable. It has an aluminum base and a sturdy tempered glass cover. Although we’ve found that the non-stick Teflon surface easily scratches, which is an unfortunate flaw, we found this electric skillet to be otherwise well-constructed. We easily see this model lasting several years, if not more, before you have to buy a new one. And it’s all available for a price that’s quite reasonable and won’t cause an undue burden to your pocketbook.

This is a 1,500-watt skillet with an 8-quart capacity. It has stay-cool handles, making it easy to transport. Another great feature of this model is that it has a built-in pour spout that allows it to pour soups or other liquids cooked in it. And once cooking is done, this skillet is extremely easy to clean. It’s a model that’s fully immersible and is even safe to use in a dishwasher.

What we liked about it

• Base and handles store in base for easy storage.
• Has stay-cool handles.

 

Best Compact Electric Skillet: Nesco Black 8-Inch 800-Watt Skillet

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Nesco is a company that can trace its history back to the 1930s when it was making quality roasters. And now it appears that they’re making quality electric skillets. Of all the models they’ve produced, it’s this particular model that we love. We love it not because it’s the most powerful or even because it has the most features. No, we love it because it’s small and compact, durable, and very inexpensive. No one is going to worry about busting up their budget when they purchase this electric skillet, and they are also not going to have to worry about this model failing before its time. It’s a quality model, small but powerful.

This 8-inch skillet features a die-cast aluminum pan, an interior that’s deep enough for roasting, and a glass lid that holds up to frequent use. It also has stay-cool handles that don’t get hot. Another thing worth mentioning about this skillet is that it has a thermostat temperature control with a light, so you always knows when it’s on and you can easily set it to the temperature you prefer. The thermostat goes from 275-degrees up to 425-degrees in 50-degree increments.

If there is one thing that we didn’t like about this model, it’s that it can be difficult to clean. That’s because you can’t submerge it in water, and you can’t wash it in the dishwasher. That makes it a little less convenient to use, but its other features tend to make up for it. One convenient feature we like is that you can easily store it in a cupboard when you’re done with it. Of all of the skillet models that we’ve reviewed, we feel that this one is the best one for smaller households or for people who don’t have a lot of space for storing small appliances.

What we liked about it

• It’s a compact skillet that’s easy to store.
• It cooks extremely well.

 

Best Deep Dish Skillet: Elite Gourmet Non-Stick Deep Dish Skillet

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With 1,200-watts of power, a large 8-quart size, and a ton of features, this is probably one of the best deep dish electric skillets available. You can cook just about any dish imaginable in this skillet, and it’s large enough to serve multiple people at a time. It’s a model that has a 12x12x3.15-inch size. And it comes with a tempered glass lid that’s durable and very easy to clean. In other words, anyone looking to feed 6 to 8 people might want to try out this skillet.

This skillet has large sides that make it splatter-resistant, and it has a honeycomb non-stick surface that’s a little fragile but is PFOA-free. This model also comes with a trigger-release control probe, so temperatures can be pinpointed to prevent scorched foods or hot spots. Another thing we like about this quality skillet is that it’s dishwasher safe, so it can be fully immersed to be cleaned. That makes cleanup a breeze and a lot easier than what is possible with other models of electric skillets. We also like the fact that this model has a cast aluminum body that’s resilient and rust-resistant.

It has adjustable temperatures from 200 to 400-degrees Fahrenheit, but it has handles and knobs that remain cool to the touch. And because this model has a built-in pour spout, pouring out soup, stew or oil from it is quite easy. That makes this model perfect for anyone to have in their kitchen or to give as gifts for Christmas, housewarming parties, or weddings.

What we liked about it

• Has a large capacity.
• Is reasonably priced.

The Home Cook’s Guide To Electric Skillets

Now that we’ve seen some of the ingenious and useful electric skillets that exist, it’s now time to talk about how to procure one for our own kitchens. In this guide, we’re going to talk about how consumers can buy the best electric skillets available, as well as any tips and trips that come to our mind. If that sounds like a fun ride, then we ask all of our readers to come along for this ride.

Step One: Decide On A Budget

The first thing you’re going to want to do before you buy an electric skillet is to determine a budget. Some models are as inexpensive as $18 and some cost well over $125, so there’s a skillet for just about every budget. If you’re looking for a good mid-range price for a new electric skillet, you can generally find one in the $25 to $50 range. Don’t buy too cheaply, however, because some features are worth a few extra dollars. Look for features such as non-stick Teflon coatings, locking lids and drain spouts.

Step Two: Decide On an Appropriately Shaped Skillet

The next thing that home cooks are going to want to consider is the shape of the skillet. When it comes to most home electric skillets, consumers generally have three choices available to them: round skillets, rectangular skillets, and oblong skillets. In our opinion, rectangular and oblong skillets provide the user with the most surface area on which to cook, but we do understand that some consumers prefer round skillets and feel that they’re easier to work with.

Step Three: Consider Available Counter Space

The consumer should also give serious consideration to the counter space available. If the consumer has a counter that they can dedicate to an electric skillet, then that’s great because they don’t have to think about whether the skillet is going to fit. For the rest of us, however, we’re going to have to make sure that we get a size that’s appropriate to the size we have available. Fortunately, that’s easy considering that skillets come in sizes from very small to party-size models.

Step Four: Consider Cooking Capacity

Of course, you also need to consider how many people you need to cook for. For 1-2 people, an 8-inch skillet is more than big enough. If you’re looking to make food for 2-3 people, then you’re probably going to want a skillet in the 9-10 inch range. If cooking for 4-6 people, then you’re probably going to want a skillet in the 14-15 inch range. And finally, for those who need to feed 6-8 people, they’re probably going to need a 16-inch skillet.

Step Five: Think About Temperature Options

The next step in choosing the best electric skillet is to choose a model that provides the proper temperature levels. For most people, that means a skillet that can heat up to a temperature of 400-degrees, but for someone who needs to use the skillet as an impromptu deep fryer, then they’re going to need it to go up to 450-degrees. It’s also a good idea to choose a model that has a good temperature range. This allows you to use the skillet for a wider variety of dishes.

Step Six: Consider Any Functional Needs

If the consumer intends on using their electric skillet to cook large meals or as a deep fryer for cooking fried chicken, okra or fries, then the consumer is going to want to make sure that they get a splash-proof model with high sides. These types of skillets also make braising or cooking certain types of foods a lot easier. It’s also a good idea for the consumer to choose a lid that has a high dome, this will increase the amount of food they can cook in the skillet.

Some Final Features to Think About

The above features aren’t the only features to be considered, however. Anyone who wants to buy a quality electric skillet is probably going to want to look for the following features as well. Whether or not a person needs any of the following features can only be determined by them, so consumers should feel free to disregard any features they don’t feel they need.