What is an Electric Skillet?
An electric skillet is a handy cooking appliance that helps you cook any dish effortlessly and without wasting energy. It is shaped like a dish and features a cast iron base, which also consists of the port in which the power cord is plugged in. Normally, electric skillets also feature a glass or metal lid that helps you cover the food and maintain an even cooking temperature.
Electric skillets are quite useful, mainly because they don’t require the use of gas or any other propellant to cook food, which also makes them safer than other cooking appliances. There are different variants and models of electric skillets that you can choose from, each having specific features that enhance your cooking experience and help you prepare food with convenience.
Why is it Important to Have an Electric Skillet?
When it comes to cooking all types of dishes, a skillet provides the most versatility and convenience. Add an electric function to it, and you get an electric skillet that helps you prepare food faster and without having to encounter too much heat in the kitchen. If you live in a house with an open kitchen, turning the stove on often causes the entire house to heat up, thus putting a lot of pressure on your air conditioning.
Therefore, the biggest advantage of electric skillets is that they don’t cause your home to heat up in the same way as cooking on a gas stove or induction cooker does. Moreover, it also helps you cook larger meals that can easily feed a crowd. Since the electric skillet makes use of a resistor that converts the electrical energy into heat, it does a fine job of spreading the heat evenly, thus ensuring that your food is cooked properly from all sides.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Electric Skillet
When it comes to buying an electric skillet to cook your everyday meals perfectly, there are certain factors that you should keep in mind. These factors play a major role in helping you find the perfect electric skillet for your cooking needs. Let’s have a look at these factors one by one.
Size
Whenever you buy cookware, size always plays an important role in the choice, and the same goes for an electric skillet. If you have a large family that you want to prepare meals for, then you may need one with a size of 14 inches and above. The smaller your household is, the smaller the electric skillet you can buy for your home.
The size of the electric skillet is also important in the sense that it is larger than a normal skillet, since it also contains a metal base with a plug socket. Therefore, you will also need to have sufficient storage space for it.
Material
Another important thing to consider is the material from which the electric skillet is made. Usually, manufacturers make electric skillets from metals that are coated with a non-stick solution, and heavy-gauge aluminum and stainless steel are the two most common materials for it. Not only do non-stick skillets last longer, but they are also durable and easy to clean. However, if you are worried about the food safety of the non-stick coating, you may also find ceramic coated electric skillets.
Most of the electric skillets you will come across also have lids that help you cover the food and let it simmer properly. They are mostly made from metal or tempered glass and out of these two, tempered glass lids are most suitable, since they allow you to check on the food at all times. Moreover, they are much more durable than other types of lids and can also withstand heat easily.
Shape
You can find electric skillets in rectangular or circular shapes, and the shape influences your choice of an electric skillet when you consider how much food you have to make on a regular basis. Generally, people like to buy rectangular skillets more, since it provides them with a larger surface area. Since you don’t have to worry about even heat distribution with electric skillets, both shapes would suit you in this regard.
Ease of Cleanliness
Along with cooking, cleaning the cookware is another thing that most people worry about, which is why you should look for dishwasher-safe options that can be easily washed. All you need to do is to scoop or brush off any leftover food or ingredients on the skillet and place it into the dishwasher. If you want to preserve the non-stick coating for longer, you may also choose to wash the electric skillet with warm water and soap.
Ease of Care
Nearly every electric skillet that you come across will have its own care instructions, which are meant to guide you on how the skillet should be maintained and preserved. Generally, skillets have a surface that can be scratched or damaged with sharp utensils that are made from metal. The best way to go about this is to replace your utensils with wooden or silicone alternatives, as this would prolong the life of the electric skillet.
Thermostat Control
Thermostat control is a highly useful feature of any electric skillet, and it also has two different types: fixed probes or detachable probes. Although both of them are equally useful, fixed probes make it difficult for you to wash the skillet properly, because water would cause the probe to malfunction quickly.
How to Use an Electric Skillet?
Using an electric skillet isn’t difficult at all, and you can actually get the hang of it by a little bit of practice. The first thing to do is to plug the skillet into a power outlet, making sure to keep the cord safe from open flames or any other cookware. Then, you can adjust the temperature from the temperature control probe and set it according to the dish that you are making.
The corresponding steps are similar to what you do with a traditional skillet or any other cooking appliance. You can add a little bit of oil and cook the food properly. When you are done, simply turn off the skillet and remove its plug. While it is cooling down, you can enjoy your meal, and then clean up the skillet once you are done.
FAQs
Can you use an electric skillet for baking?
You can bake inside an electric skillet, but you will have to be extra careful about the temperature setting. Make sure to cover the base of the electric skillet with foil before using it for baking.
Can you use an electric skillet for deep frying?
It isn’t advisable to deep fry food on your electric skillet, because you would need a lot of oil for it, and the hot oil will start to splatter out. This can be hazardous for you, as the oil can burn your skin and also damage the electrical cord.
How to find the right temperature settings for different dishes?
Some electric skillets come with guides to help you cook numerous dishes at the right temperatures. For other dishes, you can easily search the web for electric skillet recipes.