PanSpanPresto Frying Pan
Which Presto frying pan should I choose for family meals, and what should I know about using and cleaning an electric skillet?
For a roomy plug-in pan that can also serve food at the table, I’d choose the Presto 06857 16-Inch Electric Foldaway Skillet. Its high sides suit big breakfasts and one-pan meals, and the foldaway design helps with storage. If being able to wash the cooking pan in the dishwasher or immerse it after removing the control is your priority, the Elite Gourmet is the clearest fit here. The picks below trade off capacity, cleanup and storage in different ways.
#1 · Presto
Presto 06857 16-Inch Electric Foldaway Skillet
Choose this Presto for family-sized cooking, buffet-style serving and more flexible storage. It has a 16-inch pan with high sidewalls, and its base and handles detach so the base can fit inside the pan.
#2 · Elite Gourmet
Elite Gourmet 6 Qt Electric Skillet, CERALAST™ Ceramic Nonstick Pan, 1200W | 12"x12"x2.15" Deep Pan, Adjustable Temp Control, Even Heat, Tempered Glass Lid, Dishwasher Safe, Cool-Touch Handles, EG2212
Choose the Elite Gourmet if easy washing is your deciding factor: after removing its temperature control probe, the skillet is dishwasher safe and fully immersible. Its 6-quart capacity makes it a practical family-meal pan too.
#3 · DASH
Dash Family Size Electric Skillet with Lid, 6-Quart Nonstick, Black | Large Frying Pan, Removable Temperature Control Probe, Tempered Glass Lid, 14-Inch Cooking Surface
Choose the Dash for large breakfasts or one-pan dinners when a simple heat dial matters more than fine temperature adjustments. Its 14-inch cooking surface holds 6 quarts and is sized to serve up to eight.
#4 · Blue Diamond
Blue Diamond 7QT Diamond Ceramic Nonstick 5-in-1 Electric Skillet, Graphite | PFAS-Free Nonstick, Extra Large Electric Skillet, Adjustable Temperature Dial, Stay-Cool Grips, Easy-Clean Interior
Choose the Blue Diamond if you want a 7-quart skillet for frying, sautéing, baking, grilling and steaming. It is the largest stated capacity among these picks.
#5 · Amazon Basics
Amazon Basics Electric Skillet and Frying Pan with Glass Lid, Nonstick Ceramic Coating, Adjustable Temperature Control, 15.6 x 12.1 x 6.9 inch, Black
Choose the Amazon Basics skillet if you want a straightforward 12-by-12-inch cooking area and dishwasher-safe cleanup. It is also the lightest pick in this group.
Do you want the most room, or the easiest cleanup?
For cooking a big batch of pancakes or keeping a generous meal together in one pan, I’d take the Presto. For washing in the dishwasher or immersing the cooking pan after removing the control, take the Elite Gourmet instead. The Amazon Basics is another dishwasher-safe option, but its listed cooking area is 12 by 12 inches.
Will the skillet be hard to store?
The Presto is the one I’d pick when cabinet space is tight: its base fits inside the pan once the handles are folded in. That helps with storage, though it is still a bulky pan, so measure the shelf or cabinet opening where you plan to keep it. If you do not need the foldaway arrangement, choose based on the cooking capacity and cleanup features that matter more in your kitchen.
How should an electric skillet handle pancakes, stews and temperature changes?
A heat-control skillet regulates temperature by cycling heat, so a small change in temperature over time is normal rather than a fault by itself. For pancakes, let the pan preheat, cook a test pancake and adjust before making a full batch; the Elite Gourmet is the pick here whose features specifically emphasize rapid, even heat. For chili or stew, use a low setting, keep the lid on when practical and stir now and then; the Presto’s automatic heat control is a good match for that kind of low-heat cooking.
How much should you trust a nonstick coating to last?
Any nonstick surface benefits from silicone or other non-scratch utensils, gentle cleaning and avoiding abrasive scouring. Ceramic nonstick can lose its easy-release performance with wear, so treat it as a coating to preserve rather than a surface to scrub hard. The Presto, Elite Gourmet and Blue Diamond specify PFAS-free surfaces; that does not tell you how long any coating will stay like new. I wouldn’t choose among them based on expected coating life; choose by capacity and cleanup, then protect whichever surface you buy with those habits.
How they compare
Which one is yours
Presto: Choose it for a roomy family skillet that can double as a buffet server and packs away with its base stored inside the pan.
Elite Gourmet: Choose it when being able to immerse or dishwasher-clean the skillet after removing its temperature probe is the priority.
DASH: Choose it for a 6-quart family pan with a simple three-level heat dial and a built-in lid rest.
Blue Diamond: Choose it when you want the largest stated capacity here and several cooking modes in one appliance.
Amazon Basics: Choose it for a lighter, dishwasher-safe skillet with a 12-by-12-inch cooking area.
You will also want
A few simple extras make a large electric skillet easier to use and clean without being rough on its nonstick surface.
oannao Silicone Cooking Utensils Kitchen Utensil Set - 446°F Heat Resistant Silicone Kitchen Utensils Set, Spatula,Turner Tongs, Spoon, Whisk,Kitchen Gadgets for Nonstick Cookware, BPA Free (Gray)
Silicone utensils are a sensible match for nonstick cookware and help avoid scratching the cooking surface.
Silicone Trivets for Hot Pots and Pans - 2 Heat Resistant Pot Holders Silicone Trivet Mat Multipurpose Counter Pads (Black)
A heat-resistant trivet gives you a place to set the hot skillet or lid when you take it off the counter or table.
KITCHENAID Ribbed Soft Silicone Pot Holder 2-Pack Set, Matte Black, 7"x9"
Keep pot holders close for handling hot cookware and lids, especially when the skillet is being used for serving.
Microfiber Dish Towels - Soft, Super Absorbent and Lint Free Kitchen Towels - 8 Pack (Lattice Designed Gray Colors) - 26 x 18 Inch
Absorbent kitchen towels are useful for wiping up cooking splashes and drying the pan after hand-washing.
10 Sets 36 oz & 12 oz Glass Food Storage Containers with lids, Gray | 20-Piece Airtight Leak-proof Glass Meal Prep Containers with Lids, Microwave Oven Freezer Dishwasher Safe
Glass food-storage containers make it easy to portion and refrigerate leftovers from a family-sized skillet meal.
Questions buyers ask
Can you immerse a Presto electric skillet to wash it?
Unplug it and let it cool, then separate the pan from its base for cleaning. Keep the base and electrical parts out of water; wash the pan without immersing the assembled skillet.
Is the Presto Foldaway skillet dishwasher safe, and can you remove its heat control?
The pan separates from its base for cleaning, but keep the base and electrical components out of water. Hand-wash the separated pan unless the care instructions for your exact unit say it is dishwasher-safe.
How do you clean a modern plug-in skillet?
Unplug it and let it cool first. Remove the control or base only as the design allows, then wash the cooking surface with a soft sponge and mild dish soap; avoid soaking electrical parts and abrasive scouring. Some models, such as the Elite Gourmet here, are designed for immersion after the control probe is removed.
Does the Presto Foldaway skillet store compactly, and can you carry it when full?
For storage, its handles fold down and the base fits inside the pan. I would not use those folding parts as a reason to carry a hot, full skillet: keep it on a stable surface while cooking and serving, and move food separately if you need to relocate it.
Is the Presto 16-inch skillet large enough for pancakes for a family?
Its 16-inch pan and high sidewalls give you room for a substantial breakfast batch. The number of pancakes that fit at once depends on their size and how much space you leave for flipping, so make a test batch before filling the surface.
Do electric skillets have cold spots, and is thermostat cycling normal?
Heat can vary across a large cooking surface, and thermostats commonly switch heat on and off to maintain a cooking temperature. For more even results, preheat the pan, avoid crowding it and rotate food if one area cooks faster.
Is the Presto 06857 ceramic and PFAS-free?
Yes. Its cooking surface is ceramic nonstick, and the stated surface is PFAS-free inside and out. To help preserve nonstick performance, use non-scratch utensils and gentle cleaning rather than metal tools or abrasive scrubbing. The Elite Gourmet and Blue Diamond picks also state that their surfaces are PFAS-free.