Buyer's Guide To Finding The Highest-Rated Electric Skillet

From fried eggs and French toast to meatballs and stir-fry, an electric skillet is versatile, easy to use, safe, and compact. No need for pots, pans, and a stovetop, this gadget has it all in one, making it perfect for tight kitchen spaces and convenient when you don’t feel like a big mess. You’ll want to choose your device carefully to ensure it has all the features you need. It’s often worth paying that little bit extra for non-stick, high-quality materials than getting something that won’t last even a year. Here’s what you need to consider when buying the best electric skillet for your home.

Skillet Size and Shape

Electric skillets come in various shapes and sizes including round, square, rectangular, and oval designs. The size you choose will depend on how many people you plan to cook for. Opt for a deep. Higher edges also allow you to stir and cook liquid items without spilling and make it easier to cook larger roasts or whole chickens.

Some skillets plug directly into a power socket while others are composed of two separate elements being the thermo-control base panel and the actual cooking skillet. The unit with a separate base and pan allows you to place the skillet in the dishwasher since the electrical components are not attached to the pan itself.

Square or rectangular units generally offer more cooking space than round ones. A small unit will be ideal for frying one or 2 eggs but might not be the best choice if you’re preparing a number of steaks or whole chicken for the family.

Regardless of the shape and size you choose, electric skillets offer a faster and convenient way to whip up a meal.

Material

Ensure that the device you choose has a non-stick coating. These are generally Teflon-coated aluminum or stainless steel.

The device should also have thermoregulators that distribute heat evenly to ensure your food cooks equally no matter where it is positioned in the pan. This also allows the pan to hold a consistent temperature.

Handles

Check whether the skillet has handles and if it does, that they are heat resistant. Some skillets can be removed from the cooker base, which means you’ll need to use a heating pad or hot pot pad when placing the dish on the table. Other designs set the skillet on legs. These should also be heat resistant so no damage is caused to the area where the unit is placed.

Temperature Control

Some skillets allow you to change the heat setting on a dial from 1 to 10, getting hotter as the numbers increase, while others may show you the temperature. Check the maximum temperature that the skillet heats to. This should be at least 400°F. Although units with lower max temperatures will still do the trick for small items, it’s more efficient to get something that will heat quickly and effectively.

You also want to check that you can change the temperature to more than just 2 or 3 settings. You will want a wide range of temperature options depending on what you are cooking and how far into the cooking process you are. Adjustability and temperature control are key.

Lid

A glass lid is ideal since it allows you to see your food cooking. The lid should have a heat-resistant handle as well as ventilation holes to prevent pressure from building up inside which can cause liquids to spill out the sides.

Drainage Spout

If you’re only planning on making grilled sandwiches and scrambled eggs a spout may not be necessary, however, it is a useful feature for making gravy, pouring soup, broth, or grease out of the pan. Designs with a spout generally incorporate one lipped edge on the skillet wall for mess-free pouring.

Warranty

The electric skillet should have at least a one-year warranty.

Cleaning

Always disconnect the electrical components before cleaning the skillet. Be careful not to get any water on the adaptor. Skillets that are separate from the thermo-control base are sometimes dishwasher friendly. The base should be wiped with a damp cloth but never submerged in water. It is similar to a blender where you can wash the jug but need to keep the electrical base component free from contact with water.

Never scrub the non-stick surface with hard sponges and don’t try to scrape off any stuck pieces of food with a knife. This will scratch the surface and remove the non-stick coating. If there is stubborn dirt, soak it in soapy water to soften it before washing it with a scratch-free sponge or cloth.

Storage

If the unit is fairly big, you may want to check if any of the components fold up for storage. Some units allow the base or legs to fold for a compact storage solution when not in use.