I’m pretty sure every human cooks on a skillet. Skillets are very useful cookware. You can cook almost everything in a skillet – mac and cheese, desserts, bread, pasta, pizza, casserole, and almost every food imaginable.
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The skillets we usually see are the old school type so let me introduce you to the newer breed of all-around pans – the best electric skillet!
Electric skillets are the best choice you’ve got if you need more cooktop space in your kitchen and you don’t plan on adding another cooking stove or induction cookware.
They’re very handy because all you need is a power source where you can plug the appliance in, thus no need for a stovetop. In short, electric skillets definitely make cooking a lot easier.
What’s great about this wonderful thing is it heats up and distributes heat evenly compared to the regular stovetop skillet. Electric skillets come in various shapes and sizes so there are factors you need to consider first before purchasing one.
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**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Contents
Things To Consider When Buying An Electric Skillet
1. Size
The size of the skillet is the first thing you should consider when canvassing. The size you need to choose depends on your needs, the usual number of people you serve, and your available countertop space.
Most skillets range from 9 to 10 inches in diameter. If you’re a family of 2 to 3 people, a 10” skillet would be just fine. In contrast, a medium-sized skillet of 12”-14” can serve 4 to 6 people while jumbo skillets (16”) will serve you well during parties and celebrations. If you’re planning to use the skillet for your restaurant, better choose the largest size.
2. Shape
Electric skillets come in three shapes – round, oblong, and rectangular. Although different skillet shapes all have the same properties, they differ in only one thing which is the cooking space.
Round skillets have the smallest area while oblong and rectangular ones provide a larger area to cook more items.
3. Ease Of Cleaning
We all make a mess in our kitchens. It’s inevitable to spill, burn, and toast food items on the electric skillet. That’s why it’s important to have an electric skillet which is a breeze to clean. If you dislike washing dishes by hand, check if a particular skillet is dishwasher-safe.
It’s also worth noting if the parts of the appliance are detachable (especially the power cord) for an overall convenient cleaning.
4. Temperature Control
Electric skillets feature a temperature dial that can go from low to high. Also, most commercial skillets can reach 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
400 degrees isn’t hot enough for deep-frying so it’s wiser to look for a skillet that has a maximum temperature of 450 degrees.
A “keep warm” option that is found in rice cookers is also present in some advanced electric skillets which add to the overall functionality of the cookware. You’d want to look for this specific feature.
5. Specific Features
- Choose an electric skillet with a durable glass lid. Glass lids allow one to monitor the food without lifting the lid. The glass lid should also have a small vent to release pressure from the inside thereby preventing the contents from spilling all over the skillet.
- Choose a skillet with a dome-shaped lid. A slightly elevated lid generally gives more space inside the skillet. If you’re always cooking roasted meat and other chunky foods, choose a lid with a higher dome.
- Skillets with high sides are ideal because it also allows more space inside and it’s also convenient for braising and deep-frying.
- Look for durable and heat-resistant handles for a safe and burn-free cooking
- Electric skillets with locking lids are better than those without it. Locking lids provide safety and convenience when transporting the skillet, say for example, from your kitchen to your dinner party at your backyard.
- Most electric skillets feature a non-stick coating. If somehow you found one that doesn’t have this feature, don’t buy it. Non-stick skillets prevent food from sticking to the pan which will likely result in burning. Burned food is already a big no-no but how about aggravating the situation further by cleaning the stubborn food off the skillet? Perhaps that’s the reason why non-stick coatings were invented.
The 5 Best Electric Skillets Of 2017!
Now that you know what features to consider when buying an electric skillet, here are the best ones on the market you should give a try:
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Product Name |
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1 |
99
/100
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2 |
99
/100
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3 |
97
/100
|
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4 |
96
/100
|
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5 |
95
/100
|
**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
1. Presto Electric Foldaway Skillet
The sleek-looking rectangular Presto Skillet is made from the standard heavy cast aluminum base that is very durable.
It also features a deluxe nonstick surface, a glass cover with a riveted handle, a built-in spout for pouring liquids from skillet, extra-high side walls, and fold down handles to detach skillet pan from the base.
With regards to temperature control, the skillet has a “keep warm” option and can reach up to 400 degrees which is just enough for roasting, frying, and stewing.
The folding handles also serve as the locking lids to secure the transportation of the skillet.
What I like most about this particular skillet is its size (16”) is big enough for parties and big family gatherings. The rectangular shape allows more contents to be cooked inside the cookware which makes it great as a buffet server too. Also, the skillet pan and glass cover are dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Durable pan and glass lid
- Good shape and size
- Easy to clean
- Has a warm setting
- Non-stick overall
- Has a spout for an easy pouring of liquids
- Has high sidewalls
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Doesn’t reach up to 450 degrees
- The metal strip at the skillet’s base rubs against the Teflon coating when kept inside the skillet for stowaway
- No vent in the lid, only a spout; The pressure easily escapes through the big spout
- The electrical cord is too short
2. Proctor Silex Electric Skillet
The square-shaped Proctor Silex is a medium-sized skillet (144 square inch cooking surface) that heats up rapidly and evenly, eliminating hot spots.
Aside from its heating properties, the skillet features a nonstick surface, a removable temperature control that reaches up to 400 degrees, a vented glass lid with a riveted handle, cool-touch side handles, and an indicator light. The lid and pan are both dishwasher-safe too.
What’s great about this product is its indicator light feature which notifies when the optimum temperature has been reached. There are specific foods that need to be cooked at certain temperatures for the best results so the light feature will truly be useful.
Similar to the Presto skillet, this pan also doubles as a serving dish but unlike it, the side handles cannot provide much security when it comes to locking the pan down.
Pros
- Durable pan and glass lid
- Good shape and size
- Easy to clean
- Non-stick overall
- Has an indicator light for temperature control
- Has high sidewalls
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Doesn’t reach up to 450 degrees
- No stable locking mechanism
- Cycles on and off which causes food to not cook properly (turns off at lower temperatures)
- The bottom screws are hard to assemble
3. Hamilton Beach Deep Dish Ceramic Skillet
So the third one on our little list features a ceramic nonstick coating which is four times more durable and crack/peel-free compared to traditional nonstick. Furthermore, the skillet measures 15” in length and 3” deep which perfect for fitting various meat chunks for cooking versatility.
The Hamilton Beach Skillet also features an adjustable temperature control, cool-touch handles, and a dishwasher-safe pan and lid.
The big and deep pan works great as a serving dish on buffets too. One of the major drawbacks this awesome skillet is the lack of a locking mechanism that attaches the glass lid down to the pan for safe transportation.
Pros
- Durable pan and glass lid
- Good shape and size
- Easy to clean
- Superior non-stick coating
- Good temperature control
- Has a warm setting
- Has high sidewalls
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Doesn’t reach up to 450 degrees
- No stable locking mechanism
- Makes a loud humming noise when turned on
- The electrical cord is too short
- Cycles on and off which causes food to not cook properly
4. De’Longhi Electric Skillet
The ebony-looking De’Longhi Skillet has inarguably the best heating element. Its embedded heating system guarantees the most efficient and even cooking in the shortest time possible.
Apart from this, the wonderful skillet features an adjustable steam vent holes for easy steam evaporation, a die cast aluminum body, a detachable and adjustable thermostat, cool-touch handles, and an advanced locking glass lid.
The detachable thermostat’s a cool feature of this beautiful skillet. With it, your skillet won’t go flying over the counter when someone accidentally stepped on the electric cord. It’s safer and it allows for a more convenient cleaning.
Another unique feature of this thing is its locking knob at the top of the lid which securely pins the lid down for a spill-free transport.
Pros
- Durable pan and glass lid
- Superior heating
- Good shape and size
- Easy to clean
- Has a warm setting
- Non-stick overall
- Has adjustable steam vent holes
- Has high sidewalls
- Has a locking lid
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Doesn’t reach up to 450 degrees
- It’s a little bulky
5. Nesco Electrical Skillet
The 8” Nesco Skillet might be small but it’s deep enough for cooking chunky food items. It also has useful features such as a premium non-stick interior, an adjustable and detachable temperature control, a vented glass lid and stay-cool handles.
Though small in size, this skillet supports all kinds of cooking styles to make your favorite dishes. It can sit anywhere in your counter and you can also stow it away easily due to its compact built. Unfortunately, it lacks a locking mechanism for safety measures.
Pros
- Durable pan and glass lid
- Good shape and size
- Easy to clean
- Superior non-stick coating
- Has a warm setting
- Compact built
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Doesn’t reach up to 450 degrees
- No stable locking mechanism
- Low sidewalls
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- Very basic temperature control (low, med, high only)
- Poor heat control
The Verdict
Based from the review, the best electric skillet title goes to none other than the De’Longhi Electric Skillet.
It meets all the necessary requirements a reliable electric skillet should have - durable pan and vented lid, detachable parts, superior heating element, high walls, and a locking mechanism. The only con of the particular skillet is its bulkiness but if you have a spacious counter, this won’t be a problem.
After all, you can do most of your cooking in the wonderful skillet so you’ll probably be using your stove top less and so, you may opt for a single burner or completely replace the stove with the electric skillet.