What’s for Dinner: The Benefits of an Electric Skillet

While you may cook the majority of your food on a stove, there are other appliances that are highly useful in the kitchen, such as the slow cooker and pressure cooker. Another appliance that’s quickly becoming popular is the electric skillet.

98% of Americans prefer to cook at home, and 50% of them home cook their meals 3 to 6 days a week. Are you one of these Americans? Then you might be interested in expanding your culinary tools.

In this article, we’ll tell you all about the electric skillet and the benefits you can get from using one.

What’s an Electric Skillet?

You probably already know what a regular skillet is; practically every household has one. This is the pan you use on your stovetop to fry, sear, or brown your foods. It’s usually synonymous with a frying pan.

An electric skillet is the same thing, but instead of using it on a stove, it plugs into an outlet. Also, instead of being shaped like a circle with a long, thin handle, electric skillets are usually square or rectangular in shape with two handles to make it more convenient to move.

Electric skillets also come with a lid so you can steam or simmer your food without losing moisture.

Benefits of Using an Electric Skillet

You’re probably thinking: I’ve already got skillets and frying pans, so why would I need an electric skillet? Below, we’ll explore the benefits these appliances have over traditional stovetop ones.

Even Heating

Have you ever put steak in a pan, left it to cook, then flipped it over, only to find that some parts were well-seared while others were still raw? This is because stovetop pans and skillets often have uneven heating throughout the whole pan.

When you use an electric skillet, you won’t have to worry about this. Since it gets the heat from a direct source, you can count on this entire skillet to be heated evenly throughout, even if it’s a massive one. No matter what food you put in, it’ll have the same doneness all over.

Can Fit in More Food

Electric skillets come in a variety of sizes, and the smallest one can fit just as much food as a traditional skillet, if not more. Because of this, electric skillets are great to use if you’re planning on cooking for a large group of people. You can get an entire batch of food cooked at once instead of making batch after batch in your regular skillet.

The only downside to getting a larger electric skillet is you have to allocate enough room for storage. If your kitchen’s already a bit cramped, you may have some trouble finding space to store your large electric skillet.

Better Control Over Temperature

Electric skillets come with a temperature control dial; if you want something cooked at 350 degrees, just set the dial. You won’t have to do any guesswork like you’d have to with a stovetop skillet.

Some even have a maximum heating temperature, which means you can avoid burning your food while cooking.

Can Multitask Better

Since there’s a temperature control feature and there’s less of a chance of food burning, you won’t have to babysit your food while it’s cooking. This leaves you free to do other things, such as chop up tomatoes and toss a salad.

It Serves Many Purposes

An electric skillet doesn’t just fry and saute your foods; it can also bake, deep fry, and even serve as a hot pot at your table. Whatever food you wish to make, chances are, you can do it all in your electric skillet. Instead of owning multiple pots, pans, and gadgets, you can consolidate everything into one appliance.

Keep Food Warm

It’s annoying when you make something delicious but it gets cold in the transition from pan to plate. It can also be a hassle to turn on the oven just to heat up your plates so the food doesn’t get cold as soon as it touches them.

Some electric skillets have warming trays so you can store the fully cooked food while you’re finishing up. Then, you can serve up those pancakes or burgers, with each and everyone still hot.

It Won’t Heat up the Kitchen

The summer’s already hot enough; when you turn on the stove and oven, it can get quite unbearable in your kitchen. By using an electric skillet instead, you’ll avoid raising the room temperature and you can stay relatively cool when it’s hot out.

Non-Stick Surface

Non-stick surfaces are a godsend, especially when you’re cooking a large amount of food. You won’t have to worry about leftover pieces clinging to the surface and burning while you’re getting through your batch of food. It’ll make the end result prettier as well since everything will be intact.

Easier Cleaning

Because electric skillets are non-stick, it makes it easier to clean. You won’t have to scrub hard or soak them overnight to get rid of stubborn and clingy food. Some are even dishwasher safe, so all you have to do is unplug it and load it in.

More Freedom for Where You Cook

You won’t be stuck cooking your meals in the kitchen in a cramped corner anymore. Wherever there’s an outlet, you can plug in your electric skillet and cook there!

For instance, if you have guests over and the weather’s nice, why not have your meal outside in the backyard? Just bring all your ingredients out, plug in the skillet, and you’re good to go.

Try out This Kitchen Appliance

As you can see, there are many benefits that come with using an electric skillet. While it’s not a culinary must-have, it’s certainly a great addition to any kitchen. Cooks of all levels can use it, so it’s a worthy investment, especially if the listed benefits appeal to you.

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