Buying guide for best electric skillets
The holidays roll around, and you're planning on hosting a slew of guests. Sometimes the stovetop doesn't cut it; you can only cook so much on the stove at once. An electric skillet can give you that extra bit of cooking space you need to prepare a meal for a large group of people.
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Electric skillets are portable, provide even heating at a steady temperature, and can cook a lot at one time. They’re not just suitable for holiday meal prep; they’re also an excellent option for campers and those who simply don’t feet like getting their stovetop dirty.
At BestReviews, we studied the electric skillet market in order to bring you this shopping guide. Below, you'll find a list of considerations to keep in mind when evaluating individual skillets, attractive features you may want to look for when shopping, and information on how to use your electric skillet safely. Above, you will find our top five favorite electric skillets on the market today.
Electric skillet considerations
When shopping for an electric skillet, ask yourself the following questions before settling on a specific model.
How many people will you be cooking for?
If you’re planning to use your electric skillet for entertaining large groups of people, you’ll need a bigger cooking vessel. You can usually find skillets that are sized between 12 and 16 inches, but some are even larger.
If you’re cooking for yourself or a small group, you may wish to buy a smaller electric skillet with a width or diameter of just 10 inches or so.
Which electric skillet shape would best suit your needs?
Just like a stovetop pan, the shape of an electric skillet matters. Electric skillets come in a variety of shapes to suit different user needs. If you are cooking, searing, and browning large quantities of meat, a rectangular pan will allow you to get more done at once than a round skillet.
Do you plan to fry or deep-fry foods using your electric skillet?
If so, make sure you buy an electric skillet that can reach a high enough temperature for frying. An electric skillet that can reach a temperature of 450°F is usually sufficient.
Did you know?If you want to deep-fry foods in your electric skillet, you'll need a deep skillet that can reach higher temperatures.STAFFBestReviews
Are the sides and lid of the electric skillet high enough for your needs?
If you plan on cooking soups and stews or want to deep-fry foods in your electric skillet, opt for a model with higher sides to contain your food and avoid oil splattering. If you plan to cook foods that might peek out of the top of your skillet, such as large pieces of meat, look for a convex lid shape.
Where will you store your electric skillet when it’s not in use?
Regardless of the size you buy, make sure you have enough space to store your electric skillet. Also make sure you can handle the weight of the skillet when transporting it from cabinet to countertop.
What type of temperature control do you prefer on your electric skillet?
Electric skillets with bare-bones controls for high and low temperatures are less versatile and not appropriate for precision cooking. However, if you plan to cook mostly stews and soups in your electric skillet, these simple controls should work just fine.
On the other end of the spectrum are electric skillets with highly precise temperature controls.
In fact, some electric skillets even come with a warming setting for buffet-style serving.
Other considerations when choosing an electric skillet
Durability
Like most kitchen appliances, your electric skillet will last longer if you care for and use it correctly. But some things will dictate overall durability regardless of how you care for your skillet.
For example, materials like stainless steel will no doubt resist wear and tear better than hard plastics, and glass lids are sturdier than plastic ones.
Skillet coating
As with frying pans, you’ll find that electric skillets come coated in a variety of different materials. Electric skillets are usually covered with nonstick materials to make cooking easier.
Teflon is a durable coating that does a great job at keeping food from sticking, but there are some concerns about chemicals in the Teflon leaching into food. If you have pet birds in your home, heating dry Teflon at too high of a temperature can let off fumes undetectable to humans that could potentially fatally injure your bird.
Ceramic coatings are just as effective but do not have associated health risks.
"Look for an electric skillet with a heavy base. The extra weight will help ensure that the skillet doesn’t easily get knocked off the counter."STAFFBestReviews
Safety features
Electric skillets are perfectly safe to use as long as you use them correctly.
As with any kitchen appliance, being cautious makes all the difference.
Skillets with a vent allow steam to escape to avoid dangerous pressure buildup inside.
Some electric skillets come equipped with a locking mechanism to help make transporting finished dishes easier. With a locking mechanism, you won’t need to be afraid of accidentally spilling hot foods.
Many electric skillets also come equipped with cool-touch components. These components help protect you from accidental burns.
Electric skillet safety tips
Whenever you're dealing with an item that requires a power source and produces heat, you should be mindful of safety. Here are a few tips to ensure you use your skillet safely.
Don't forget to turn your electric skillet off and unplug it from the wall when you're done using it. Leaving it on and plugged in can constitute a fire hazard.
Don't try to cook on a wobbly surface, as you could spill hot food on yourself, causing painful burns.
An electric skillet isn't a slow cooker. Don't leave food to cook on a hot skillet unattended.
The skillet itself will heat up as it cooks. Use oven mitts to handle the lid and when moving the unit.
Use wood utensils with your electric skillet to avoid scratching or otherwise damaging its cooking surface.
For effortless cleanup, choose an electric skillet that’s dishwasher safe.
Choose a deeper electric skillet if you’re concerned about oil splatter.
FAQ
Q. What's the difference between a skillet and a griddle?
A. A griddle has a flat surface with no lid or sides. It's a good choice for cooking pancakes, crepes, and omelets, as those foods require flipping. It's a bit tough to flip something in a skillet because the sides can get in the way.
Q. How hot can an electric skillet get?
A. Most electric skillets can heat up to 400°F. Some can reach higher temps of up to 450°F, which is necessary for situations in which you want to fry food.
Q. What's the best way to clean an electric skillet after using it?
A. Don't try to wash an electric skillet until it's cooled down. Make sure it's not plugged into a power source. Gently hand-wash the pan without submerging it in water. Some units are dishwasher safe or have, at the very least, dishwasher safe parts. Read the manufacturer's manual to ensure you follow the proper cleaning steps.
Q. How much does a good electric skillet cost?
If you’re in the market for the best electric skillet, I’m going to guess that you’ve realized occasionally stove-top pans just don’t quite make the cut. While even the deepest skillets can be great, sometimes there is a need for frying with consistent temperatures, baking, or keeping food hot while serving, and a typical frying pan just can’t satisfy all of those needs.
That’s exactly where electric skillets come in! Not only can they help with large recipes, but they can also serve as an extra burner for holiday cooking. Let’s discuss more about electric skillets as well as review my top-rated recommendations.
Jump to:
- Compare Electric Skillets
- What is an Electric Skillet?
- Why Use One?
- What to Look for in the Best Electric Frying Pan
- Safety Tips
- Top Five Electric Skillet Reviews
- Final Thoughts
- Excited to Get Cooking? See More Electric Skillet Content
Compare Electric Skillets
What is an Electric Skillet?
An electric skillet is a cooking device with a self-reliant heating element. Typically, electric skillets are a few inches deep with a snug lid for holding a steady temperature.
- The depth of most skillets makes it a great option for frying anything, as well as cooking meals that require a great number of ingredients at once in a pan.
- Electric skillets are plugged into a typical wall outlet and can be set to any desired temperature for specific cooking. At times it is easier to cook sausage or hamburger patties when the temperature can be set to a specific level, rather than guessing on the stove.
- Electric skillets can come in handy for serving during a buffet when the food must be kept warm, or when additional cooking space is needed for large gatherings or holidays.
- Due to the fact that electric skillets work when plugged into any outlet, they free up the stove or oven for any other food you may need to cook. You can take them with you on your next camping trip.
- Thanks to the snug lid, electric skillets maintain their temperatures extremely well, which can give you a piece of mind if you are cooking meat, such as pork chops. Considering the lid keeps the heat mostly contained, cooking in an electric skillet can be ideal during the summer when you’d rather avoid heating up your kitchen with the stove or oven.
- The lid provides a great option for searing meat, such as an electric skillet pot roast, without the hot juices splattering all over your kitchen appliances.
Why Use One?
Let's talk about frying food. Have you ever tried skillet fried chicken, sausages, bacon, or eggs and been frustrated by oil splatters? They go everywhere and can even sting your skin.
If you find that annoying, frying doughnuts or anything needing an inch of oil is worse.
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This is where electric frying pans help. With a deep pan and tight lid, they cook food faster and keep splatters contained, reducing mess and pain.
Have you ever been preparing Christmas dinner only to realize you still need to make the green bean casserole, but the oven and stove are full?
Luckily, electric skillets can bake as well as cook, offering an extra burner. You can even make popcorn in them!
Unlike stove burners, which can cook unevenly, electric skillets maintain a consistent, even heat—perfect for fluffy pancakes and evenly cooked eggs.
What to Look for in the Best Electric Frying Pan
There are a few aspects to look for when purchasing an electric skillet. Before walking into a store and handing over your credit card, consider what exactly you’ll be using the skillet for, and where you’ll be storing it. The answers to these questions will determine which is the best electric skillet for your specific needs.
For example, if you just need it at home for cooking family breakfasts, a smaller electric frying pan may be ideal (though of course, this would depend on the size of your family). However, if you are planning to use it primarily for holidays or for other large gatherings/commercial purposes, a large skillet would be necessary.
Size & Shape
On that note, this is where shape also plays a part. In general, round skillets provide a fairly smaller cooking space, whereas oblong or rectangular skillets are larger. A standard, round skillet may feature a diameter of around 10 inches, which could be perfect for a small family of two or three people.
Larger skillets with diameters of up to 14 inches would be the better choice for four to six people, while the extra-large skillets at around 16 to 18 inches would be ideal for large families/gatherings and commercial use.
Storage
Along with determining the size and shape comes the need to decide where the skillet will be stored. Unfortunately, skillets tend to be rather bulky and may not fit well within cabinets.
Before purchasing the skillet, you’ll need to determine where you can store it, or whether you’ll just leave it on the counter for frequent use. If you have cramped storage or counter space such as in an apartment, again, a smaller skillet may be a better option, or one that folds up for storage.
Temperature Control Range
Another aspect to consider when looking for an electric skillet is the range of temperature controls. Do you need something specific with the exact temperature, or does “high, medium, and low” work for you? Older and less expensive skillets may have the most basic settings, though they are increasingly harder to find as customers realize the helpfulness of exact temperature settings.
If you plan to use high heat, perhaps look for a skillet that can reach up to 450 degrees, as many standard skillets only reach 400 degrees. Another helpful option is a “keep warm” setting. While this may not be a priority for you, it can come in quite handy for whenever you need your already cooked food to stay warm.
Other Features
Even with best-rated products, I would definitely recommend a non-stick or ceramic skillet, as skillets tend to be used for high-heat foods and may become a pain to clean if they aren’t non-stick.
Safety Tips
- Always read the manual for safety, use and cleaning instructions for your particular make and model.
- If your electric frying pan has hot or warm oil in it, do not move it around or you may burn yourself.
- Do not use an electric skillet if it has a damaged cord since that can cause electrocution.
- Do not place your hands on its hot surface, which is obvious, but can still happen.
- When you are finished, make sure to disconnect the frying pan and let it cool.
- Ensure that the legs and handles are firmly in place on the device.
- Do not immerse either the temperature gauge or the cord in water, since it can ruin the appliance.
- Before you connect the appliance to an outlet, make sure you have plugged the temperature level control into the appliance.
Top Five Electric Skillet Reviews
1. Presto 16" Electric Foldaway Skillet
Presto has a full series of electric skillets, all with different purposes. This one, in particular, would appear extremely practical and may be a great option for those who need to serve several people but also have limited storage space. This skillet is designed from heavy aluminum with a ceramic non-stick coating.
It is especially helpful to have the exterior non-stick, considering food often times spills over when cooking or sloshes over the side when serving. It can be a pain to scrub food spills, and that’s what is taken into consideration with this coating. Additionally, this skillet has a built-in pour spout, which can be helpful for pouring off liquids, as well as doubling as a spoon rest or vent.
The best part of this skillet is its foldaway features. Unlike typical skillets, the handles fold down for the skillet to actually lift away from the base. This would make cleaning a breeze, but it doesn’t stop there. The base and handles can actually be stored within the skillet itself for extremely compact and streamlined storage.
The Presto skillet does come with a few recipes but they also have a cookbook you can purchase.
✅ This skillet would be a perfect match for individuals who need to serve large groups of people or cook large dishes, but also need an effective product for cleaning and storage. Typical skillets can be bulky or difficult to wash with the heating elements, but this skillet dissolves that issue by creating a removable base and handles for their dishwasher-safe product.
2. Elite Deep Dish Electric Skillet
This Elite skillet also places high on our list for electric skillets. This deep-dish pan will likely be up to the challenge for any large dish you may need to cook or bake. With a capacity of eight-quarts, you won’t be likely to run out of space anytime soon. The skillet sports a glass lid to easily keep an eye on your food without releasing all the steam, as well as a pour spout for pouring off excess liquids.
As with the Presto skillet, the pour spout may be able to double as a spoon rest as well. The skillet is non-stick, which is certainly essential for frying chicken or other foods that tend to cook on. It has rapid and even heating.
Finally, the most fantastic part of this skillet is that it can be fully immersed and it’s dishwasher-safe. Far too many electrical cooking appliances cannot be immersed, therefore often making it difficult to fully sanitize them. As long as the cord and thermostat are removed, the entire skillet can be set right in the dishwasher. No more tedious spot cleaning!
✅ This skillet could be a fantastic choice for people who are looking for a large enough skillet with great depth to handle big cooking projects while needing a dishwasher-safe solution to ensure cleanliness. Ideally, those who are looking for this large of a skillet would also have ample storage space.
3. NESCO ES-12, Extra Deep Electric Skillet
If you are looking for a deep skillet, specifically for roasting, baking, steaming and frying, then this Nesco deep skillet with 4" walls would probably be your best bet. It still has the space of a 12" skillet, but with higher walls.
Included is a rack for roasting, steaming and baking, which would come in really handy as it fits the skillet perfectly.
The durable glass lid with steam vent will keep the heat locked in, as well as keep your cooked food warm! The glass also helps provide a great view of the food while it’s cooking, similar to a slow cooker.
As for ease of cleaning, the interior is non-stick, which may greatly help in eliminating cooked-on food. The skillet lid is dishwasher safe, but not the unit itself. It is not immersible either; it must be handwashed.
✅ The NESCO skillet is a great choice for anyone who is focused more so on roasting, frying, steaming and/or baking and needs the higher walls.
4. Dash DRG214RD Family Size Rapid Heat Electric Skillet
This Dash skillet may not be as deep as some of the competition but it is 14" wide and holds a 20-cup capacity which is large enough for the family. It would be a great choice for baking a pizza with its large round shape.
It has all the bells and whistles you would expect in an electric frying pan, such as stay cool handles, glass lid and a PFOA-free, non-stick surface. Plus, it comes in 3 stylish colors: red, black and aqua.
Another feature is the Rapid Heat technology: it quickly heats to 450°F, allowing you to start cooking in no time. It may not be dishwasher safe, but the non-stick surface makes clean up easy by simply using some warm, soapy water.
The temperature dial is unique in that it does not use numbers. It has 3 heat settings: low, medium and high.
✅ This skillet would be a great choice for customers who are cooking for the whole family and prefer the round shape but aren't concerned with having numbered heat settings on the dial.
5. Zojirushi Gourmet Electric Skillet
Our last selection is quite unique. This electric skillet is round and on the smaller size at around 10” in diameter. As with the previous skillet, this product is a ceramic option rather than Teflon, and it has a titanium-strengthened non-stick coating. The greatest thing about this nifty skillet, however, is the fact that the pan actually sits within the base, much like a slow cooker.
The skillet can be lifted from the base for easy and efficient cleaning. When removed from the base, the skillet pan may also be used directly on a stove burner for cooking or boiling water, which could come in handy if you ever need an extra pan.
The handles stay cool to the touch, and the glass lid is tempered for safe and convenient monitoring of your food. This skillet sports a full range of temperatures, from “keep warm” to even reaching to 430 degrees, which is unusual for most. The temperature control is set by simply sliding a level along the base just under the controls, which can help with exact cooking.
This durable skillet can be used for cooking or grilling. Additionally, some people enjoy cooking the meal at the table with their family members involved. This skillet would provide a fun option to make that social time happen! There are many safety features included in this design, making it a great option if you would prefer to use it for cooking at the dinner table.
The features include temperature-safe handles, not only on the skillet itself as mentioned but also on the base for safe transportation. Further, the lid’s knob has a plastic shield to protect your fingers from accidentally touching the hot glass, and is flat so it can be placed upside down without rolling.
✅ This Zojirushi skillet would likely be a fantastic choice for customers searching for the best small electric skillet. While this will still serve a few people, it would work well for those who don’t have as much storage space. Additionally, this would be great for anyone trying to avoid Teflon chemicals.
Final Thoughts
There are multiple criteria to consider as you make your selection from these electric frying pan reviews. Electric skillets should essentially be non-stick for preventing cooked on, fried foods. Their designs need to reflect consideration for cleaning ease, their handles need to stay cool, and even if the skillets are large, they need to be practical for storing.
An efficient and effective design trumps all when it comes to electric skillets. For those reasons and more, I am convinced that the Presto Foldaway Electric Skillet is the leading electric skillet on the market here. It is one of the model's that I currently use for my own cooking and it's been great for me.
With its larger size, this could work well for individuals who need to cook greater portions of food. However, even if you don’t need a large size, this skillet neatly folds away to help reduce the bulk of storing it. Further, this skillet is non-stick, dishwasher-safe, has a glass lid, and even features a pour spout for convenience.
The handles stay cool to the touch throughout cooking and we sure appreciate a skillet with a numbered temperature dial. The ability to pack the base within the skillet greatly minimizes storage bulk. This electric skillet checks off all the marks for this criteria and certainly stands out above the others.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of electric skillet supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Excited to Get Cooking? See More Electric Skillet Content
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