Best Electric Skillet
Electric skillets are a smart and convenient way to cook all of your favorite recipes without having to turn on a stove, oven or microwave. Sure, your kitchen is equipped with these basic appliances, but sometimes you require more cooking space to whip up food for a large crowd. Other times, it’s all about finding a convenient way to plug something into the wall to give you instant heat and a skillet-to-table option.
An electric skillet can give you both and is really an indispensable kitchen tool for a modern foodie. Whether you cook for a large family or you’re on your own, nothing beats being able to fry chicken, scramble eggs or stir fry chicken and veggies right on the countertop.
Like most kitchen products, there are many different models and price points to choose from.
We feature the best electric skillets you can buy online. Read on to find the one that suits your needs.
Top Pick Best High End: All-Clad SK492 Electric Skillet with Adjustable Temperature Dial
You are a kitchen ninja, proudly preparing all the meals for your large family. You believe that good food involves using premium ingredients, and cooking your favorite recipes to perfection means using only top-quality appliances. And that includes an electric skillet, a super handy small appliance you could use in addition to your stove and oven.
You also like the added benefit of being able to bring an electric skillet to the table, an easy way to serve piping-hot food. If you are looking for a top-of-the-line large capacity electric skillet to fry, sauté, steam, stir-fry and bake your favorite dishes, then this may be the model for you.
This beautiful looking electric skillet is the perfect utensil to bring delicious food from the countertop to the table.
The round 14-inch skillet features single-ply stainless steel construction, so food heats evenly and efficiently for perfectly cooked food from the center to the edges. Deep sides prevent splatters and provide for a larger amount of food to be cooked, and the adjustable and removable temperature dial gives you perfect control over how you cook your food, from warm to frying and searing.
The see-through glass lid has venting holes to let steam escape and the stainless steel handles make carrying the skillet to the table safe and easy. Other cool features include a nonstick eternal coating for effortless food release and since the skillet and the lid are dishwasher safe, clean ups are a breeze.
Measuring 16.73 inches x 16.73 inches x 6.49 inches, and weighing 13.44 pounds with a generous seven-quart capacity, this mighty electric skillet will sit proudly on your countertop to be used over and over again to cook all of your favorite recipes for your family and friends.
Pros:
- Durable non-stick interior
- Large 7-quart capacity
- Lid and skillet are dishwasher safe
- See-through glass lid
- Adjustable and removable temperature dial
- Temperature range from 250 F to high 450 F
- Keep warm options
Cons:
- More expensive than other models
- Large capacity may not be suitable for everyone
Top Pick Best Individual Use: Maxi-Matic Elite Cuisine Electric Skillet
You don’t have to live alone to benefit from a compact electric skillet. This handy kitchen tool that plugs into an electrical outlet is great to use in an RV, at a campsite, at the dorm and of course, in your kitchen for yourself or your partner. If you are looking for a mini electric skillet that has all the features of a larger skillet including being able to work wonders with scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes, then this is the product for you.
This electric skillet is a small but mighty appliance to meet all of your countertop cooking needs. Its compact size of 7 inches by 7 inches has a 32-ounce capacity, just the ticket for individual use. But small doesn’t mean it lacks important features.
It boasts adjustable temperature control for versatile cooking needs; removable locking handle and a non-stick cooking surface for easy cleaning; and a tempered glass lid with cool-touch knob. Weighing only 2.5 pounds, it’s not only lightweight, but its low price will also be light on your wallet. Sort of a win-win situation, right?
Pros:
- Compact size, 32-ounce cooking capacity
- Lower priced than larger models
- Non-stick surface
- Adjustable temperature control
- Removable locking handle
Cons:
- May be too small for more than two people
Top Pick Best Budget: Caynel 12 x 12 Inch Nonstick Electric Skillet
There’s nothing like a beautiful-looking small appliance that does the job it’s supposed to. When it comes to adding an electric skillet to your kitchen arsenal, you need something large enough to feed your family, with enough power to fuel your complex recipes, but affordable to suit your budget.
We recommend this skillet to suit all the requirements you’re looking for in an electric skillet. This 6-quart capacity electric skillet has a cooking surface measuring 12 inches by 12 inches with 3-inch side walls for extra cooking and serving capacity.
The copper titanium non-stick coated surface does not contain harmful chemicals and is PTFE and PFOA free. This electric skillet will not only be an attractive addition to your kitchen, but it will give you effortless food release without having to use excess butter or oil. And when it’s all done, it’s easy to hand wash.
Other features include a high-quality aluminum body and superior round heating element for faster and even heat distribution; durable heat-tempered glass cover with integrated vents to handle high temperature and steam without breaking; and cool touch plastic legs with non-slip feet and cool-touch handles for safe and easy serving. With this skillet, you won’t have to play a guessing game on finding the proper heat for your food. The adjustable temperature control can be set from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 460 degrees Fahrenheit, plus there is a convenient warming function to keep everything warm while you set the table or prepare other foods.
ETL-certified, weighing just under seven pounds and powered by 1400 watts of power, this may end up being your favorite kitchen utensil yet. Oh, and did we mention that there is a money back guarantee and the skillet is backed by a two-year warranty for all parts and accessories? What else could you ask for?
Pros:
- Affordable
- High quality aluminum body
- Cool touch handles
- PTFE and PFOA free, copper titanium non-stick coating
- 1400 watts of power
- Two year warranty on parts and accessories
Cons:
- May not be enough for large-quantity cooking
Top Pick Best Large Capacity: Elite Gourmet EG-6203 Electric Skillet
Anyone in charge of cooking meals for a large family knows that sometimes, the stove and oven just don’t cut it when preparing enough food to feed a crowd. Using a microwave to cook or heat food is not an option and neither is renovating the kitchen to accommodate another oven. So what’s the solution?
We recommend this product for a large capacity electric skillet to fulfill all of your cooking needs.
This deep electric skillet doesn’t disappoint, with features such as a variable-temperature dial with a 200-400F degrees range, as well as a power indicator light. The 3.15-inch sides and a glass lid protect against splatters and with its cool-touch handles and knobs and integrated pour spout, you can safely tip the skillet to drain juices for gravy. An extra deep drip well lets you add water before grilling to reduce smoke.
The black lacquered finish on this electric skillet resists rushing or warping, and the fully embedded M-shaped heating element guarantees rapid and even heating. Pinpoint specific temperatures between 200 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit with the trigger release control probe and eliminate hot spots and scorched food.
The PFOA-free marbleized honeycomb non-stick surface easily releases food and since the skillet is dishwasher safe and fully immersible in your sink, once you remove the temperature control unit, clean up is fast and easy.
The family sized 8-quart electric skillet has 1500 watts of power, measures 22.5 inches x 15 inches x 8 inches, weight just under 10 pounds and no matter what you decide to cook, serves from six to eight people. Makes a great housewarming or bridal gift.
Pros:
- Large 8-quart capacity
- 1500 watts
- Affordable
- PFOA-free marbleized honeycomb non-stick surface
- Variable-temperature dial
- Integrated pour spout
Cons:
- May be too large a capacity for some people
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when looking for an electric skillet so you will choose the one that best suits your needs:
Maintenance and ease of cleaning:
It’s not easy to find fully immersible electric skillets, but if it is important to you to be able put clean your electric skillet in the dishwasher, there are some models where you can remove the pan and along with the lid, put them in the dishwasher once the temperature control plug is removed. Many other models require that you to wash them by hand without submerging the skillet totally in water.
You also might look for a good non-stick surface. Not only are these a healthier option (if they are toxin and PTFE and PFOA free) because you don’t have to use a lot of butter or oil, but a non-stick surface makes cleaning up much easier.
A lid versus no lid:
You may choose a model that doesn’t have a lid, but consider the advantages of one with a lid. The lid of an electric griddle can be made of metal or of glass. If you buy an electric skillet with a metal lid, make sure that it is made from a good quality stainless steel so it won’t rust or warp.
Some people prefer a glass lid, so they can see how their food is cooking without lifting the lid and releasing steam and liquid. Tempered glass is stronger than regular glass, but this kind of lid is still more susceptible to breaking if it is dropped compared to a metal one.
If you choose an electric skillet with a lid, make sure it has vent holes for the steam. Not all models have lids with vents. Without a way for the steam to vent, pressure can build up in the skillet and the liquid could boil over. Also try and choose a rounded lid, which will give more height and cooking space to your skillet compared to a flat lid.
Finally, make sure if you purchase an electric skillet with a lid, that it has heat-resistant handles so you won’t need to wear oven mitts, or use a potholder.
Temperature control:
The more control you have over finding the exact temperature to cook your food, the more success you will have. Look for specific temperature markings, like 200 degrees, 300 degrees, etc., rather than indicators such as low, medium and high.
Another feature to look for is the heating element. Is it embedded in the pan and does it reach the whole undersurface of the skillet? This is important for even heating and for avoiding hot spots.
Finally, some electric skillets come with a warming option. This is particularly helpful once your food is cooked and you are still preparing other food or you need to set the table before serving.
Cost:
It’s never a good idea to spend more than you can afford. Always decide what features you need and want before choosing an electric skillet. Obviously, larger capacity models will cost more than small, individual-use ones. Models with lots of advanced features will also be more expensive, but if you plan to use your electric skillet for a long time, sometimes it pays to invest in a premium quality product so it will give you many years of excellent service.