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    In the Kitch » Electric Skillets

    Updated: Jun 2, 2024 · Published: Nov 19, 2018 by Joss Dyckson · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    How to Use an Electric Skillet

    I have been using an electric skillet frequently for the last several years, because it cooks more evenly than my stove top frying pan, and cleaning it is a breeze. As such, I am here to teach you how to use an electric skillet.

    Black electric skillet.

    An electric skillet is also known as an electric frying pan. Believe it or not, there is almost nothing that you cannot cook with one of these things! There are multiple electric skillet uses such as frying, slow-cooking, boiling, baking, etc.

    Whether you're an occasional user of electric skillets or a hardcore user like myself, this little tutorial should help you to increase your skills and thus become a true electric skillet master!

    Jump to:
    • What You Will Need To Follow This Tutorial
    • Temperature Dials
    • Non-Stick Properties
    • Sauté With Your Electric Frying Pan
    • Frying
    • Slow Cooking With Your Electric Skillet
    • Using Your Electric Frying Pan As An Oven
    • Cool & Clean
    • Conclusion
    • More Tasty Electric Skillet Recipes to Try

    What You Will Need To Follow This Tutorial

    bella ceramic electric skillet

    A standard-size electric skillet: Some manufacturers make models that are exceptionally large or small, but these are special tools for special purposes. This tutorial will focus on the standard-size device, which will be roughly 1 foot by 1 foot. Don't worry if yours is off by an inch or two, as this will make very little difference.

    Bella Electric Skillet with Lid

    A lid that fits your skillet: This is not necessary for all dishes but is absolutely required for some. Most electric skillets on the market come with a lid.

    black extension cord

    A thick extension cord (optional): Like any appliance that contains a heating element, these devices can be a fire hazard if used improperly. Unless you situate them right next to an electrical outlet, you will probably need an extension cord. The cord needs to be good and thick to handle the power load without heating up.

    heat resistant slab

    A heat-resistant slab (optional): This can be used underneath the skillet as extra protection for the surfaces of your kitchen from possible heat damage. A wide ceramic tile is a good choice, as is a block of stone such as a granite cutting board. Ideally, your heat slab should be at least one square foot.

    Kitchen Tongs

    A strong set of tongs(optional): These are handy because it is harder to use a standard potholder when removing an item from your e-skillet. A large pair of tongs will make it much easier.

    Meat Thermometer Gdealer

    A small meat thermometer: This is essential for proper food safety. Remember, beef and pork must be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F, ground beef to 160°F, while poultry requires a temperature of 165°F. Unless you just like food poisoning, you will definitely need this tool.


    Temperature Dials

    The standard temperature controls on electric skillets range from simmer or warm to 450°F on a dial, depending on the model. Because of this, you will have more control over the temperature than you would using a frying pan on a stovetop. To learn all about electric skillet temperatures, read this article.

    bella 12 x 12 removable plug

    Non-Stick Properties

    Electric Skillet

    Most electric skillet models available today have a non-stick coating, whether it be teflon or ceramic. As such, it is important to stay clear of metal utensils, unless you are using a stainless steel electric skillet model. Instead, opt for wooden, plastic or silicone cooking utensils.

    Sauté With Your Electric Frying Pan

    Pretty much anything you can do with a frying pan, you can do with an electric one and then some. Sautéing is a very common cooking method that utilizes a skillet.

    It will require a little cooking oil and turning the heat up on the dial until it reaches the desired temperature. While the skillet is heating, an indicator light will remain on. Once the skillet reaches the correct temperature, that light will go off.

    Here are some examples of of what you can sauté in your electric skillet:

    Crunchy chow mein noodles with chopsticks.

    Crunchy Chow Mein

    Electric Skillet Beef Stew in a white bowl, cherry tomatoes and two forks on the side, white background.

    Classic Beef Stew

    Electric Skillet Butter Chicken in a bowl with parsley, light wooden background.

    Butter Chicken

    Frying

    Electric frying pans are great for frying foods! It is important to note that although you can fry in your electric skillet, you normally cannot deep dry in it.

    There are some models that are deeper than others, but in most manuals I've seen, they warn you against deep frying and note how much oil you can add to the skillet.

    Here are some recipes you can fry up:

    Electric skillet fried chicken in porcelain dish with garlic mayo on the side.

    Electric Skillet Fried Chicken

    Electric skillet fried fish on a plate with basil pesto in the background and basil leaves on the dish.

    Fried Fish with Basil

    Fried coconut shrimp on a black serving tray, curry dip on the side.

    Fried Coconut Shrimp

    Cube steak can be used as a quick fry in the electric skillet as well.

    Slow Cooking With Your Electric Skillet

    Slow cooking/braising is probably the easiest way to use your electric skillet, as it involves a lot of down time. For this, it is recommended that you have a relatively deep skillet, as some of the more shallow ones are not well-suited for this recipe.

    PRO TIP: If your roast is a thick slab that prevents you from covering the skillet with a lid, you may need to slice it in half first.

    Sliced pot roast on a serving dish with carrots and potatoes.

    Electric Skillet Pot Roast Full Recipe

    All you have to do to slow cook is preheat the skillet and place the meat in the empty skillet and sear the outside.

    PRO TIP: Using tongs can help you to easily maneuver the roast around in the skillet.

    Next, add in your vegetables, broth and spices and simmer with the lid on. Now for the simmering. All you need to do is set your skillet to 200°F or ‘SIMMER’ and let it cook nice and slow. You may want to check the meat with a thermometer every now and then, and you may also want to check the vegetables for softness.

    Other recipes you can slow cook in your skillet:

    Meatloaf covered in a mushroom sauce on a serving dish.

    Meatloaf

    Sliced pork tenderloin in a white rectangular dish.

    Pork Tenderloin

    Electric Skillet Pork Chops on a wooden serving platter with a bowl of broccoli on the side.

    Pork Chops in Beer Gravy

    Using Your Electric Frying Pan As An Oven

    Most of you don't really need to do this, because you should have a standard oven in your house. However, you may still want to consider this method as a way to save electricity and avoid heating up the kitchen, as a full-size oven is a major power hog.

    I personally love baking in my electric skillet, as it's very easy and I seem to be less likely to over-bake bread and cakes, like this skillet yogurt cake, etc.

    If you think about it, the only real difference between a range top and an oven is confinement. By confining the heat, the entire surface of the food is cooked evenly and efficiently. Therefore, we just have to confine the heat. There is no special trick to this, as you just use the lid.

    Piece of lasagna on a plate.

    You can bake a lasagna in your electric skillet!

    However, we still have one little difference between our electric frying pan with a lid and our oven. The other difference is the rack. An oven cooks its payload by elevating it above the heat source.

    This keeps the bottom from burning as easily. To duplicate this effect in an electric skillet, you just need a small metal rack that will fit the floor of your frying pan. Only an inch or two of elevation is needed.

    Small baking racks isolated on white background.

    Pro Tip: If you don't have anything like this, you can line the bottom of the skillet with metal skewers or crumpled foil balls (careful not to scratch) for a similar effect. Doing this will give you an electric frying pan that can be used as an oven, though you will need to cook at slightly lower temperatures to get similar results.

    Try these baking recipes in your skillet:

    Mini Electric Skillet Lime Pie on a white plate, limes and spoons on the side, on grey background.

    Electric Skillet Pie

    Electric Skillet Oatmeal Cookies in a clear jar.

    Skillet Oatmeal Cookies

    Electric Skillet Corn Bread in a wooden woven basket, a succulent on the table.

    Skillet Cornbread

    Or even a quick & tasty electric skillet pizza!

    Cool & Clean

    scrubbing an electric skillet

    Once you have finished cooking a delicious electric skillet meal, it is important to unplug the unit and let it cool before carrying on to the next step: cleaning. Here is a detailed tutorial on how to clean your electric skillet.

    Conclusion

    Was this tutorial helpful? I hope so, because I have tried very hard to impart my electric frying pan wisdom to you in a way that is informative and easy to follow. As you can see, it is fully possible to cook nearly anything in your electric skillet.

    The electric skillet cooking possibilities do not end here. There are many electric frying pan recipes available to help familiarize yourself with how to use this handy tool.

    More Tasty Electric Skillet Recipes to Try

    • Electric skillet grilled cheese sandwiches on a cutting board over a pink doiley.
      Electric Skillet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
    • Uncut brownies in a pan in the electric skillet.
      Electric Skillet Brownies
    • 2 steaks in an electric skillet with butter and a rosemary sprig on top.
      Electric Skillet Steak
    • Electric skillet spaghetti alfredo on plate.
      Electric Skillet Spaghetti

    If you enjoyed this tutorial for How to Use an Electric Skillet/Frying Pan, let me know what you thought in the 📝 comments below. And please share the post!

    More Electric Skillets

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      Easy Skillet Greek Lemon Chicken Thighs
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      Electric Skillet Lamb Chops
    • Bananas Foster on black plate with ice cream.
      Easy Bananas Foster (Flambéed Bananas)
    • Veggie nachos on plate.
      Electric Skillet Veggie Nachos
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Glenda says

      January 26, 2024 at 1:18 pm

      I like your ideas.. i have a small electric skillet.. i have cooked salmon, hamburgers, eggs, and its only a 8 inch skillet.. its just me.. also, i use microwave for cooking squash and soups.. i am alone and it dont take much to for me.. its a real big switch for me,, i used ot have all the good appliances in my home, and as a widow, i just cant live alone anymore.. my daughter tries, but still, its not that southern touch that im looking for.. lol..

      Reply
      • Joss Dyckson says

        January 26, 2024 at 3:02 pm

        Thanks, Glenda! I really appreciate the comment. I can see how that would be a big switch. So sorry to hear about your loss.

        Reply
    2. Cheriese says

      November 18, 2023 at 12:36 pm

      Very recently a BIG (there is only my husband and myself to cook for) brand new 2023 Dash 14" round skillet ( which is actually larger than 14") fell into my lap. The one time I have used it , it cooked like an electric skillet version of a dream. My mom used an electric skillet when I was a child....I am now 70 . Things have changed LOL! I have been scouring online for something I can use under this mini swimming pool to protect my counter from excess heat and to help contain any mess. I have been serching online electric cookboos but they mostly had only recipes. What I need is k nowledge on how to cook with this electric skillet., esp making less food than there is room to make! Plus "batches" such as cili or ...can I cook a batch of old fashion oats oatmeal in an electric skillet? (thats my big question today). But overall I want to thank you for writing a tutorial on how to use an electric skillet. It has enabled me to be hopeful instead of just frustrated about what I am going to do with this lovely but BIG applaiance!
      Stay well , be happy
      Cheriese N.

      Reply
      • Joss Dyckson says

        November 18, 2023 at 2:44 pm

        Thanks for the comment, Chariese! I appreciate it. To answer your question about old fashioned oats, yes you can definitely cook oats in an electric skillet. You can just boil water in the skillet and follow the directions on the package from there (the same way you would in a pot). I have a recipe coming out for that soon so stay tuned! You can check out this post for some electric skillet recipes to get you started: https://inthekitch.net/electric-skillet-recipes/ Hope that helps with your frustrations!

        Reply
    3. Karen Lee Klopich says

      April 26, 2022 at 6:32 pm

      I made.the best pork ribs in my.electric.skillet

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        April 26, 2022 at 7:22 pm

        Nice! Great things can happen in the electric skillet. 🙂 Thanks for the comment Karen.

        Reply
    4. meredith says

      January 10, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      I'd like to cook a breakfast casserole (bread, eggs, milk, sausage, veggies) in my electric skillet so I can easily transport it to feed a school team. Any tips on temp, baking time so the eggs cook through before the bottom burns? I can't find anything on this, so maybe it's not feasible?

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        January 10, 2022 at 4:28 pm

        Hi Meredith, I think the best thing to do would be to bake it in the electric skillet, like in this electric skillet frittata recipe. (You can place a small rack or crumpled up foil balls on the bottom of the skillet and place an oven-safe casserole dish on top to bake the casserole. That way the casserole isn't touching the hot surface directly.) That recipe has the details for time and temperature.

        Reply
    5. Carole Youck says

      January 04, 2022 at 2:37 pm

      THE HEATING COILS ON MY ELECTRIC RIVAL SKILET DO NOT WORK ANYMORE, BUT PAN AND LID IN GOOD SHAPE CAN I USETHIS IN AN OVEN FOR LARGE MEALS SUCH AS LASAGNA ETC

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        January 04, 2022 at 3:09 pm

        Hi Carole, I think that is a question for the manufacturer, although I would say it's probably not a good idea as it wasn't designed to go in the oven.

        Reply
    6. Melissa Earl says

      September 07, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      Hello. I’ve had my electric skillet for a few years now and it’s starting to stick. What can I do to avoid this? Thank you

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        September 07, 2021 at 6:02 pm

        Hi Melissa. What kind of electric skillet do you have? Sticking can happen over time if you've scratched the non-stick coating, used aerosol cooking sprays, high heat, or from a build-up of food residue. Cleaning with warm, soapy water after each use and greasing with a high smoke-point oil before cooking should help. You might also want to try a baking soda paste (equal parts water and baking soda) to remove a build up of residue, let it soak for about an hour in the pan, lightly scrub with a non-scratch pad and then wipe it away/dry the pan. Hope that helps!

        Reply

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