When it comes to cooking, you are only as good as your kitchen appliances and utensils. One of these must-haves and handy kitchen tools includes an electric skillet. This tool is known for its impressive versatility. Users can cook just about any type of dish from fried chicken to pancakes as well as lasagna.
So if you are anything like me – enjoy getting busy in the kitchen – then you should consider investing in one of the best electric skillets on the market. However, it is easier said than done.
There are hundreds of models on the market coming with different features, size options, and durability, which makes choosing the right option slightly tricky. Fortunately, we’ve expertly handpicked the best electric skillet America’s test kitchen to ensure you make delicious meals without the hassle.
Without further ado, let’s find out the right model for you…
Reviews of Best electric skillet America’s test kitchen of 2020
Here are top-rated electric skillets on the market today
Top 1 – Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet: Best electric frying pan
When it comes to cooking using an electric skillet, one of the prime concerns is food sticking to the bottom. This tends to result in using extra oil. But here is a solution, Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet comes with a quality nonstick lining to prevent food from sticking to the bottom.
This model comes in a stylish design to ensure that it is easy to use and offers even heat distribution. Also, it features drainage spouts to make removing excess juice and oil much easier.
Another impressive feature is its easy-to-store construction, which enables this unit to squeeze perfectly into any space. Users can easily remove the skillet from the base and fold the handles in, which makes it an ideal choice for people with limited kitchen space.
More so, Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet has a very spacious interior to ensure you can cook full meals with ease. Plus, it features 3-inch deep straight sides to let you shallow fry your food without any hassle.
This model offers a wide temperature range from 200 – 400 degrees, which should be enough to cook just about anything. While the skillet might be very durable, the glass lid seems to be fragile and might shatter or break easily.
Cleaning Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is a breeze; thanks to its nonstick coating. Nonetheless, this unit requires proper care to ensure it goes the distance.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Uniform heat distribution
- Includes a drainage spout
- Easy to store with its foldable design
- Nonstick lining
Cons:
- Lacks a timer features
- The glass lid is prone to shattering or breaking.
Top 2 – Presto 06852 16-Inch Electric Skillet with Glass Cover: best nonstick electric skillet
If you intend to cook for your large family with an electric skillet, then you should opt for a big and versatile model like Presto 06852 16-Inch Electric Skillet with Glass Cover. This rectangular-shaped model features deeper sides to allow you to fit larger portions of food easily.
This unit is an ideal choice for a family of up to six. The manufacturer boast of a nonstick lining at the bottom, which is touted to add exceptional durability. It’s dishwasher-friendly without causing the coating to wear or tear.
That’s not all: this unit requires some sort of assembly before using the electric skillet. For newbies, this can be a bit tricky, and the instruction manual won’t be of help since it’s not quite clear.
In addition, its heat distribution could be better. Nonetheless, this model from Presto is hassle-free to use and comes with sturdy and durable construction to instill confidence in users.
Pros:
- Sturdy and durable construction
- Features a nonstick coating
- Dishwasher friendly
- Includes a durable glass lid
Cons:
- Requires assembling the unit before use
- Heat distribution could be better.
Top 3 – Largest Electric Skillet: Elite Gourmet EG-6203
For people looking to own a large electric skillet, Elite Gourmet EG-6203 Non-stick Deep Dish Heavy Duty Electric Skillet can be a smarter decision. Also, this electric skillet offers enough versatility to allow users to cook a wide array of meals without much hassle.
Elite Gourmet EG-6203 Non-stick Deep Dish Heavy Duty Electric Skillet promises to do more thanks to its M-shaped heating coil. This unit offers unparalleled heat distribution. Moreover, it comes with a nonstick honeycomb surface at the bottom to make cleaning this unit a snap. This model is designed to allow food residue to slide off without much pressure.
What’s more? This unit is built to allow users to select the desired amount of heat with the aid of the heating knob. Elite Gourmet EG-6203 Non-stick Deep Dish Heavy Duty Electric Skillet brings a wide range of different temperature settings including a “Warm” option.
With its ample cooking space, this skillet is capable of feeding up to eight people at once. Besides, it allows you to cook a wide array of meals with ease and makes deep-frying a lot easier. With proper maintenance, this unit should serve you for many years to come.
Pros:
- Variable temperature dial
- Provides excellent heat distribution
- Very easy to clean
- Includes tempered glass lid
Cons:
- Not an ideal choice for solo chefs
- Works best for people with enough kitchen space
- The temperature control knob tends to get hot quickly.
Top 4 – De’Longhi Electric Skillet with Tempered Glass Lid
The De’Longhi Electric Skillet with Tempered Glass Lid is designed to be a better alternative to those traditional models that work best for single chefs due to their small size.
This model is not only a large-sized option but a stylish one to complement your kitchen decor. Asides from its attractive looks, this unit is easy to use and packs several handy features to ensure you can handle dinner parties without hassle.
Even better, it features a temperature control knob to allow users to pick the preferred heat amount. Also, this unit includes a warm mood and is ideal for slow simmers. It comes complete with adjustable steam vents to make removing the extra moisture when steaming your food a breeze.
De’Longhi Electric Skillet with Tempered Glass Lid will help make healthy and crisp meals without turning your dishes soggy. Another thing to note is that this model has an embedded heating element to enhance heat distribution. More so, it’s equipped with a nonstick lining on the skillet’s bottom to prevent scorched or burnt food.
Pros:
- Large cooking capacity
- Provides even heat distribution
- Plastic handles for cool touch
- Features adjustable steam
- Comes with a durable nonstick lining
Cons:
- Solo chefs may find it a bit large.
Top 5 – Best Ceramic Electric Skillet: Hamilton Beach 38528R
When it comes to durable nonstick ceramic surfaces, the Hamilton Beach 38528R Deep Dish Durathon Ceramic Skillet is a smart buy. This model is touted to have a nonstick surface that would not crack and peel, or have you scrape food off the pan. Besides, this unit is safe and free of PFOA and PTFE.
Hamilton Beach 38528R Deep Dish Durathon Ceramic Skillet has a 3-inch depth to allow users to fill a variety of recipes with ease. From a stir-fry full of vegetables to a hearty casserole, this model supports cooking more types of meals in one skillet.
More importantly, this unit offers a wide temperature range from warm to 400 degrees F to allow users to simmer on low and fry on high temperature. It also includes a warm setting to keep your food hot until it’s dinner time. Besides, its Cool-touch handles prevent you from burning your hands.
Pros:
- Impressive versatility
- Cool-touch handles
- Adjustable temperature: warm to 400ºF
- Stylish design
Cons:
- Poor quality control
Top 6 – Aroma Housewares ASP-266R Indoor Grill
This model offers a large 6Qt cooking capacity which should be enough to cook a meal for a family dinner.
Aroma Housewares ASP-266R Indoor Grill will help you achieve great grill flavour regardless of the weather condition.
Its raised grill surface is designed to let fat and oil drip away while you cook, which makes cleaning this best ceramic electric skillet a snap.
On top of that, Aroma Housewares ASP-266R Indoor Grill comes with non-electric parts to ensure they are dishwasher friendly and easy to clean.
Pros:
- Available in different size options
- Three colour options
- Dishwasher safe parts
- Cool-touch housing
Cons:
- Colours might come off after a while
Top 7 – Best mini electric skillet: Nesco, Black, ES-08
The Nesco ES-08 Electric Skillet, 8-inch allows you to sear steaks, cook small roasts, and lots more. It is equipped with an adjustable and easy to read temperature control for brilliant results.
More so, this unit comes with stay cool and heat-resistant handles for a safe cooking experience. That’s not all: Nesco, Black, ES-08, Electric Skillet: Best mini electric skillet includes a sturdy tempered glass lid and die-cast aluminium pan.
Its deep interior makes it ideal for frying and roasting. Thanks to its high-quality nonstick interior cleaning, this model is a snap.
Pros:
- 800 Watts Power
- Dishwasher safe
- Heat resistant stay cool handles
- Sturdy glass lid
Cons:
- Small size
Things to Consider When Purchasing an Electric Skillet
Obviously, Choosing the best electric skillet boils down to your personal preference. Nevertheless, it is vital to consider your needs before trying to pin down the white model for you.
without further ado, let’s take into consideration the key features of an electric skillet
Size of the skillet
The size of a skillet to opt for depends on if you are looking to cook for a large family or just a solo chef. Ultimately, it is smart to purchase a skillet that is large enough to cater for your cooking needs.
This handy kitchen appliance should have enough space to allow your food to move around and cook evenly. For people looking to prepare for a family up to 4, a skillet about 8 to 12 inches should do just fine. On the other hand, if you are looking to host dinner parties regularly, then you should lean towards models measuring about 12 to 16 inches.
The lid
Electric skillets will either come with glass or stainless steel lids. The stainless steel lid is known for keeping the food warm for an extended period. However, the glass offers more convenience as users can view their food without having to open the lid. But keep in mind that the glass lid must be thick and shatterproof.
Handles
Most electric skillets on the market will come with either one or two handles on the sides. But in our opinion, we prefer the two handles as it offers more support and allows users to lift this appliance easily. The best electric skillet America’s test kitchen should come with heat resistant handles for ease of use and extra safety.
Vent system
The lid should feature a steam vent system to prevent moisture, heat and pressure from building up inside the kitchen appliance. A steam vent system would prevent your food from becoming soggy and also ensure that the lid stays on. Also, You should opt for an adjustable steam vent for personalized control.
Nonstick coating
Investing in an electric skillet that has a nonstick coating at the pan’s bottom will make the cleanup process a snap. More importantly, it will prevent your food from burning or scorching. However, it is crucial that the nonstick coating should be thick and doable else it will flake off easily.
FAQS about Electric Skillet
What is the electric skillet?
An electric skillet is similar to the traditional pans placed on a stove to fry or cook your meals. The significant difference is the electric skillet that needs to be plugged into an electrical socket for heat to cook and fry your food.
Some models might come with a heating surface to provide users with an even and faster cooking experience.
Can I use baking paper in an electric frypan?
Yes, you can if you have got an electric frypan that lacks a nonstick coating. Technically, you add a small oil splash to the pan to help the square of cooking parchment stay in the pan while it delivers uniform heat distribution through the parchment.
what can be cooked in an electric skillet
This versatile countertop appliance allows you to do more than just fry foods. It can be used to bake foods like potatoes, cornbread, biscuits, and cakes without using the oven.
Can you bake in an electric skillet?
Yes, it let you bake just about anything without having to turn on your oven.
What is the largest size electric skillet
The Elite Gourmet EG-6203 Non-stick Deep Dish Heavy Duty Electric Skillet is one of the largest size electric skillets on the market. It’s capable of handling your dinner parties or other large social events.
CONCLUSION (What’s The Best Electric Skillet?)
We’ve reviewed the top 7 best electric skillets on the market. Now, it’s up to make a decision based on your cooking needs. But if we must recommend a single product, then Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is a decent decision.
Nonetheless, any product you decide to opt for will give you a good value for the money.
