The Presto 16 inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is the best large electric skillet for most families because it offers one of the biggest cooking surfaces in the category, holds its set temperature steadily for frying and braising, and folds down for storage in a way no other big skillet does. A large electric skillet is a second stove burner, a griddle, and a buffet warmer in one appliance. We compared four established models on surface area, heat accuracy, lid design, and cleanup.

Quick Answer

The Presto 16 inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is the best large electric skillet, combining a huge nonstick surface with reliable temperature control and clever fold-flat storage. The Zojirushi Gourmet d’Expert is the premium pick for tabletop cooking like hot pot.

  • Best overall: Presto 16 inch Electric Foldaway Skillet
  • Best value: Hamilton Beach Ceramic Electric Skillet
  • Best budget: BLACK+DECKER Family Sized Electric Skillet
  • Avoid: Skillets with lids that lack a steam vent, condensation rains back and turns crispy food soggy

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Quick Picks

  • Best overall: Presto 16 inch Electric Foldaway Skillet, Huge surface, steady heat, and it folds flat for storage.. Check price on Amazon
  • Best value: Hamilton Beach Ceramic Electric Skillet, Durable ceramic surface and solid heat control for the money..
  • Best budget: BLACK+DECKER Family Sized Electric Skillet, Covers family basics like breakfast and stir fry cheaply..

Comparison Table

Electric skillet Cooking surface Best for Notable feature Buy
Presto 16 inch Foldaway 16 inches, deep walls Family meals, frying, braising Folds flat, fully immersible base Check Price
Hamilton Beach Ceramic Skillet Roughly 12 by 15 inches Everyday value cooking Durable ceramic nonstick Check Price
BLACK+DECKER Family Sized Family-size rectangular pan Budget households Simple dial control Check Price
Zojirushi Gourmet d’Expert Deep round pan Tabletop hot pot and sukiyaki Premium build, precise low heat Check Price

How We Chose These Grills Picks

We compared cooking surface dimensions, wattage, temperature range, and lid design from manufacturer specs, then aggregated owner feedback on heat evenness, nonstick lifespan, and cleanup. Models with chronic hot-spot or coating complaints were cut.

Key Takeaway: With electric skillets, buy for surface area and a vented lid. A 16 inch pan with steady thermostat control replaces a second burner and feeds a family in one batch.

Best Overall: Presto 16 inch Electric Foldaway Skillet

Presto 16 inch Electric Foldaway Skillet

Best for: Families who need serious cooking capacity for one-pan dinners, weekend breakfasts, and frying, plus anyone short on stove burners during holidays. Why it made the list: The Presto Foldaway earns the top spot on sheer usefulness. The 16 inch surface with high sidewalls handles a full pound of pasta dish, a dozen pancakes in shifts, or shallow frying for a family, and the thermostat holds oil temperature more steadily than a stove burner dial. The party trick is storage, the heat control detaches, the base folds flat, and the whole pan is dishwasher safe once the control is removed.

  • Key specs: 16 inch nonstick pan with high walls; adjustable thermostat control with warm setting; tempered glass lid; detachable heat control; base folds flat and is fully immersible for cleaning.
  • What we like: Huge usable capacity, steady frying temperatures, easy cleanup with a fully washable pan, and storage smaller than any comparable big skillet.
  • What we do not like: The nonstick coating wears with heavy utensil use like any coated pan, and the aluminum body is lighter duty than premium models. The glass lid is bulky to store.
  • Who should buy it: Households of three or more, anyone who regularly runs out of burners, and cooks who fry or braise and want set-and-forget temperature stability.
  • Who should avoid it: Singles and couples with small kitchens, a 12 inch model wastes less counter and cupboard space. Also skip it if you want a lifetime pan, coated aluminum is replaceable rather than heirloom.
  • Common complaints: Owners report the nonstick surface declining after a few years of heavy use, occasional cooler spots at the far edges, and the lid knob getting hot.
  • Size note: Sixteen inches across plus handles takes real counter space, check your storage spot. The fold-flat base helps, but the lid still needs a cupboard slot.
  • Cleaning note: Remove the heat control, then the pan can be fully immersed or run through the dishwasher. Hand washing preserves the nonstick coating longer, and soft utensils extend its life.
  • Alternative: The Zojirushi Gourmet d’Expert Electric Skillet is the premium tabletop option, with precise low-heat control that makes it the pick for hot pot and sukiyaki at the table.

Check price on Amazon

Grill Buying Guide

Size and shape for how you cook

Large electric skillets run roughly 12 to 16 inches, square or rectangular shapes use their footprint more efficiently than round. High sidewalls matter for braises, sauces, and frying, while a shallow pan behaves more like a griddle. Buy the size that matches your household, oversizing wastes counter space and preheat time.

Temperature control is the whole point

A quality thermostat cycles to hold your set temperature, which is what makes electric skillets better than a stove for frying and delicate simmering. Look for a control range from a low warm setting up to about 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and a removable probe control so the pan can be washed.

Lids, venting, and cleanup

A tempered glass lid with a steam vent lets you monitor food and keeps fried food from going soggy under dripping condensation. Fully immersible pans with detachable controls clean up dramatically easier. Ceramic and traditional nonstick coatings both work, but both reward soft utensils and hand washing.

Safety Notes

  • Keep the cord away from counter edges and water, and never let it drape where someone can snag it.
  • The pan body, lid, and handles get hot, treat it like a stovetop pan, not an appliance shell.
  • Never immerse the detachable heat control or plug it in wet.
  • Heat empty nonstick pans briefly if at all, and keep frying oil within the marked fill lines.

What to Avoid

  • Lids without a steam vent, trapped condensation ruins crisp food.
  • Skillets with fixed, non-removable controls, they make thorough washing impossible.
  • Very lightweight pans that develop hot spots at high heat.
  • Cooking with metal utensils on any coated surface, the nonstick will fail early.

FAQ

What can you cook in a large electric skillet?

Almost anything you would make in a big saute pan, pancakes and bacon, stir fries, fried chicken, braised chicken thighs, pasta dishes, taco fillings, even one-pan casseroles. The steady thermostat also makes it a good buffet warmer for parties.

Are electric skillets good for frying?

Yes, they are arguably better than a stovetop pan for shallow frying because the thermostat holds oil temperature as food goes in. Keep oil within the pan’s fill guidance, use a thermometer to verify on cheaper units, and never walk away from hot oil.

Can an electric skillet replace a stove burner?

For most everyday cooking, yes. It excels at anything needing steady medium heat and gives you a spare burner at holidays. What it cannot do is the extreme high heat of a gas flame for hard searing or wok cooking.

Final Verdict

The Presto 16 inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is the best large electric skillet, with the Hamilton Beach Ceramic Electric Skillet as the durable value pick and the BLACK+DECKER Family Sized Electric Skillet covering budget buyers.

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