The 10 Best Electric Skillets
Updated by · How we research
Ten electric skillets compared on heat spread, depth, coating and storage, from dorm-size pans to deep family fryers. The Presto 06857 Foldaway leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Most electric skillets run hotter in the middle than at the edges, and the dial is only a rough guide, so a pan that spreads heat evenly is worth paying for. A good one frees up a burner, travels to a dorm or RV, and holds a steady frying heat. These picks suit big families, tiny kitchens and coating-wary cooks.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Presto 06857 Foldaway stays on top, and now there's harder evidence behind it. A 2026 cooking test that mapped each pan's heat with an infrared thermometer found it among the most even, and its base still tucks inside the pan for storage. One surprise: Presto now lists a PFAS-free ceramic finish on both of its 16-inch skillets.
Five old picks are gone. The De'Longhi BG45, Dash DRG214RD and Cuisinart Oval are no longer available, the Black & Decker Family Sized was down to its last unit at a steep price, and the Elite Gourmet EG6201 gave way to the deeper Elite Gourmet EG-6203 and the ceramic Elite Gourmet EG2212. The Presto 06852, Zojirushi EP-PBC10 and Nesco ES-12 stay. New picks answer what readers search for: the Nesco ES-08 for one or two people, stainless steel from All-Clad and CucinaPro, and a compact Bella.
Our evidence was that heat-map test, a second cooking test, Presto's and Zojirushi's own spec pages, each pan's cleaning rules, and a federal recall search, which turned up no skillet recalls for these brands.
Earlier notes
July 30, 2021, by Christopher Thomas:
The only change made during today's update was the removal of a Hamilton Beach model that was both redundant and lacking in availability. We do want to mention the Cuisinart Oval, which is one of the few stainless-steel models on the market, making it a good choice for commercial catering outfits. The Presto Foldaway is still our all-around favorite to its good size and compact storage ability, but we also really like the De'Longhi BG45, just like we often like equipment from De'Longhi, for its premium construction and consistent operation.
July 28, 2020, by Karen Bennett:
Like electric woks and electric fryers, these electric skillets are countertop appliances with their own built-in heating elements that are great when you’re short on burner space or want to conserve electricity. They’re available in a range of sizes and shapes, so you’re sure to find the right one for feeding either a large crowd or just one or two people. Today we added in the sturdy and reliable De'Longhi BG45, which provides a good value for the price, thanks to a fully embedded base that heats up consistently throughout, as well as a detachable thermostat that can be set to anywhere between 200 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjustable vents can help you release the right amount of steam, while a removable drip try allows for easy cleanup when dinner is done. A handy keep-warm setting lets your food remain heated if you need too finish preparing other dishes for your meal. It replaces the Precise Heat Rectangular in this update, which tends to suffer from uneven heating and some other quality control issues. Today we also replaced old models with newer versions of the Hamilton Beach 38529 and Zojirushi Gourmet d'Expert.
The Presto Foldaway remains in the top spot on our list, as you can’t go wrong with its large cooking surface, general ease of use, and features that allow for compact storage. Once it’s cooled, just pack the cooking surface inside the base, fold down the handles, and invert the lid to tuck it away into a cabinet. The pan is safe for the dishwasher as well as the oven, and a built-in spout makes it easy to pour out liquids, as needed. Another model from the same manufacturer, the Presto 06852, ranks highly on our list, thanks to its ability to heat up quickly and evenly, so you’ll get consistent results whether you’re preparing stew, a roast, or a casserole.
For another model that provides a lot of bang for your buck, look to the best-selling Elite Platinum Heavy Duty, which is made of thick cast aluminum that’s resistant to warping, and a nonstick coating with a honeycomb pattern. For a large selection from one of the biggest names in roaster ovens, consider the Nesco Extra Deep, which provides enough room for cooking a whole chicken. Heat is evenly distributed across the base, and its generous depth allows it to double as a deep fryer. As with many countertop appliances, the outside of electric skillets can become hot during use, so be sure to keep them away from the reach of children and pets, for safety's sake.
May 1, 2019, by Gabrielle Taylor:
Like many rectangular models, the Presto Foldaway has a 16-inch cooking surface, but it offers the added benefit of folding up for storage, making it ideal for those who are short on space, and the pan can be separated from the base and used in the oven. Made from stainless steel, the Precise Heat Rectangular is great for those who try to stay away from nonstick coatings. The Nesco Extra Deep has a smaller cooking surface, but its 4-inch depth can accommodate a whole chicken or other small roast, and it can also be used as a deep fryer. In addition to having a large capacity, the Dash Rapid is designed to heat up quickly, but it is prone to hot spots and sometimes has difficulty maintaining lower temperatures. The most versatile on the list, the Zojirushi Gourmet d'Expert comes with a deep pan as well as a flat plate, and it can even be used to steam vegetables, shellfish, and dumplings.
Special Honors
Presto Parts Lookup Presto sells replacement parts for its skillets through its own site, searchable by model number. The number is usually stamped on the plug guard under the pan. It's the place to find a lost or worn part for a Presto skillet instead of replacing the whole thing. gopresto.com
Pick The Size For Your Table
Walls about three inches high or more hold enough oil to fry chicken and keep the splatter in, while shallow pans are easier for flipping pancakes.
Electric skillets come in a few rough sizes, and the right one depends on how many people you feed. Shouldit, which cooked pancakes and steaks in a range of skillets, sorts its picks into an 8-inch pan for a single cook, a 5-quart midsize pan, a 16-inch family pan and an extra-deep pan of about 10 quarts. An 8-inch pan such as the Nesco ES-08 handles two eggs or a sandwich. A 12-inch square pan feeds three to five. A 16-inch pan like the Presto 06857 cooks a family breakfast in one batch.
Depth matters as much as width. Walls about three inches high or more hold enough oil to fry chicken and keep the splatter in, while shallow pans are easier for flipping pancakes. Round pans such as the Zojirushi EP-PBC10, whose pan is 10.5 inches across and 2.25 inches deep, suit hot pot and stews but leave less flat room than a square pan of similar width.
Plan for storage, too. Legs, handles and a plug-in heat control make most skillets bulky. Presto's foldaway design lets the base come off and nest inside the pan, which is the main reason to pay extra for it.
Nonstick, Ceramic Or Bare Steel
Most electric skillets are cast aluminum with a nonstick coating. The older kind is PTFE, the material sold as Teflon. Many makers now use ceramic coatings sold as free of PFAS, the family of long-lasting chemicals that some states have begun to restrict in cookware. Presto says both its 16-inch skillets now carry a PFAS-free ceramic finish inside and out, and Elite Gourmet and Bella sell ceramic pans too. Ceramic releases food well when new, but it tends to lose that slickness sooner than PTFE. Plan on replacing any coated pan after a few years of regular use.
Bare stainless steel can't peel, and metal tools won't harm it, but food sticks unless the pan is preheated and oiled. CucinaPro sells an all-stainless skillet. All-Clad's electric skillet pairs a stainless outside with a nonstick inside, and its pan can go in the oven.
There is no mainstream cast-iron electric skillet, so if you want a true cast-iron sear, a pan on the stove still wins. On any coating, use wooden or silicone tools, and never leave an empty nonstick pan on high heat.
Heat Control, Cleaning And Safety
The dial on an electric skillet is a guide, not a promise. Shouldit heated each pan until the center read 400 degrees, then measured toward the edges and found gaps of about 4 to 13 percent; the Nesco ES-08 was the most even and the Elite Gourmet EG-6203 the least (Shouldit). Cookware Junkies ran its own boil, fry and sear checks and also ranked the Presto Foldaway among its recommendations. Most dials top out between 400 and 450 degrees, cooler than a cast-iron pan on a gas burner, so use a thermometer when frying.
Cleaning is easier than it looks. Pull the heat control first, then wash the pan in the sink. Presto says its skillets are fully immersible once the control is out (Presto). Never put the control or its plug in water. Only some pans go in the dishwasher: Elite Gourmet says its pans are top-rack safe, while the Nesco ES-08 pan must be washed by hand.
Keep the short cord where nobody can catch it and pull a pan of hot oil off the counter. Zojirushi's magnetic cord is designed to pop loose for that reason. A search of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission database found no recalls of the skillets on this list.
How we researched this
We compared 20 electric skillets, including every pick from the old list, and screened 10 in depth. We read two independent cooking tests, one with infrared heat mapping, Presto's and Zojirushi's spec pages and care rules, sellers' spec sheets for the rest, and patterns in owner feedback, and we checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Sources (10)
- Shouldit: The Best Electric Skillets
- Cookware Junkies: Best Electric Skillet
- Presto: 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet
- Presto: 06852 16-inch Electric Skillet
- Presto: parts lookup
- Zojirushi: Gourmet d'Expert EP-PBC10
- Elite Gourmet
- CucinaPro
- Bella
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: recalls
Frequently asked questions
What can you cook in an electric skillet?
Almost anything you'd make in a frying pan or a shallow pot: pancakes, eggs, fried chicken, stir-fry, stews, one-pan casseroles and hot pot. Deep models with a rack can roast a small chicken, and the lid and keep-warm setting let a skillet double as a buffet server.
Can an electric skillet deep fry?
Only the deep ones, with walls about three inches high or more, and only shallow frying with an inch or two of oil. Use a thermometer, since the dial is only approximate, and keep the cord where nobody can catch it.
Can you put an electric skillet in water?
Most pans can go in the sink once the heat control is removed; Presto calls its skillets fully immersible that way. Never put the heat control or its plug in water. Check the manual before using a dishwasher, since some pans are dishwasher-safe and some are not.
Is a ceramic or nonstick electric skillet better?
Ceramic coatings are sold as PFAS-free and release food well when new, but they tend to lose their slickness sooner. PTFE nonstick usually lasts longer. Either way, wooden or silicone tools and moderate heat help a coating last.
Is there a cast-iron or made-in-USA electric skillet?
We found no mainstream cast-iron electric skillet; nearly all are cast aluminum with a coating or a stainless pan. We also found no current major-brand model made in the U.S.; Zojirushi, for one, lists China as the origin of its EP-PBC10.
