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Question about Electric Skillets

post #1 of 9
2/19/11 at 11:42am
Thread Starter 
I've been wanting to start doing more cooking at home and less fast food. But I don't really like to cook, especially after working all day. I've been looking at skillet recipes, and I think I'm going to get an electric skillet. I went on Amazon and there are quite a few options, but I'd kind of like a recommendation from someone who uses one. I don't want to spend a lot of money on one. Any advice?
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post #2 of 9
2/19/11 at 12:15pm
I've cooked on them a little, but not enough to suggest any brands, sorry.
But here's a thought for you. If you dislike cooking, can I safely assume that you dislike extra work in cleaning up after, too? Because that's what my experience with electric skillets have been. If you need very specific temp control (higher end ones, and even then thermostats/rheostats aren't perfect), run out of room on the range top, or want to cook outside then you'd find one useful.

A pan or regular skillet you can soak if you need to without worry of damaging anything and is usually far lighter to pick up.

If you truly dislike cooking look more into baked meals and crock pot recipes. These are far more hands off ways of cooking and a great way to make food that has left overs if you don't feel like cooking the next day.
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post #3 of 9
2/19/11 at 12:22pm
Get one that has a non-stick surface and that is dishwasher safe or fully immersible. It's really a pain to clean something when you have to be careful to keep water out of the electrical connections. I also like the ones with a glass lid so you don't have to keep lifting the lid to see how things are doing.
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post #4 of 9
2/19/11 at 1:44pm
I cook a fair amount, and I would NEVER have an electric skillet! The better appliance is a good crock pot - preferably one with temp control and a timer.

Anything I fry is usually done to brown something - quick, fast, while I am standing over it. I just can't see the benefit of having a skillet that plugs into the wall!!!
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post #5 of 9
2/19/11 at 4:05pm
I'd recommend an electric skillet by Rival. Cost is right around $20.00 and it's a nice skillet.....it's about 11 inches in diameter with a glass lid. And it is fully immersible. You could do a nice meat dish in that and saute veggies along with your meat. It would do a great chicken fricassee or even a meat loaf; in fact, my mother always makes her meat loaf in an electric skillet, not in the oven.

I don't have one, but we gave one to my mother as part of her Christmas gift last year....by her request. I used it last night to fry liver as she has a very small apartment stove/oven that's pretty much worthless for any cooking. It browned nicely and was easy to clean, too.

I don't know if West Bend is still around; that company made some really nice electric skillets, too. We looked for a West Bend electric skillet back at Christmas, however, and couldn't find any.

The thing is, you don't want a really expensive skillet. Why? Because the nonstick surface does not last a long time as a rule. I don't really have a lot of nonstick pans in my kitchen, only one for omelets. That's it. And since you don't have a skillet right now, I suggest that you find the Rival (which is really nice) and try that out.

Good luck!
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post #6 of 9
2/19/11 at 5:08pm
Electric skillets can be a cook's friend. I have one specifically for frying doughnuts as it keeps the temperature even and they brown beautifully. For frying any meat they are excellent. Personally, I wouldn't be without one. I have a crock pot as well but each is used for different purposes. Again, as someone above said, you don't need to buy a very expensive one.
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post #7 of 9
2/19/11 at 7:54pm
I don't have an electric skillet and haven't had one for years now. Years ago, I did have two West Bends, though, and used them hard. They are nice to have.

Like I said, I no longer have an electric skillet. Haven't had one for years and I don't really know why. But I do have four crock pots in various sizes. And I use them all; each is perfect in its own way for things I want to make.

(Actually? I have five crock pots. But one is a little dipper kind of thing, to keep dips and such warm.)
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post #8 of 9
2/19/11 at 8:20pm
I am probably going to get booed because I have a much different opinion about electric skillets. I have a round stainless steel one made by Farberware, which I bought new off Ebay. It might be my best friend.I use it for things like spaghetti sauce, steamed cabbage, stir fried meals. When I want to fry seafood, I put it on the table on my back porch and cook out there. I absolutely love it. It is very easy to clean. When I finish cooking, I run some hot water in it and let it sit until time to do the dishes. It washes up very nicely. You can immerse it in the dishwater, all except for the handle where the plug in is. I highly recommend stainless steel cookware. I would give away my microwave before I would my electric skillet.
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post #9 of 9
2/20/11 at 8:41am
Thread Starter 
Thank you all for the great advice.

Actually, I have a crock pot and rarely use it. I don't like leaving it plugged in and cooking when nobody is in the house, so I mostly use it for roasts when I know I'm going to be home. And its usually a "special occasion" type of thing. I have regular skillets, but it seems like an electric skillet might be a good thing between a regular skillet and crock pot. I had one once, years ago, and never used it much so I gave it away. I think I'm going to go out to Walmart or something and see if they have the Rival mentioned above. $20 is definitely attractive, that way if I end up not using it I won't be out very much.
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