Electric Skillet
You can use an electric fry pan for many different styles of cooking.
An electric fry pan, or electric skillet, is a square, rectangular, oval, or round pan generally formed out of cast iron or stainless steel. There is a heating element underneath the pan that makes contact with a large portion of the pan bottom to provide the heat source. The element is almost always encased in an aluminum heat shield to prevent unecessary heat loss or accidents.
An electric skillet or electric fry pan can be used to prepare a myriad of different foods, encompassing all different styles and origins. Electric skillets sell in huge volumes each year because of their versatility and simplicity. One, centralized cooking surface that is large enough to contain and entire meal for 4 adults (typically) and easy to clean.
An electric skillet can be used to prepare full breakfast meals at once, in its entirety. Pancakes can be prepared in just minutes, and on a standard 12-inch model, you can cook four at any given time. Eggs, scrambled or fried, are a breeze to cook on just about any electric skillet, and the high sides found on most are sufficient to cook large portions of scrambled eggs in one sitting. For smaller portions, bacon, sausage or ham can be cooked right alongside eggs or pancakes. As long as you do not mind a little bit of flavor cross-over, an entire meal for one could be prepared on a single skillet.
Stir fry and Asian cuisine are also very popular meals to prepare on an electric skillet. Meats can be cooked completely, either marinated and fried or slow-cooked under cover, in some type of basting sauce. After meats are browned, vegetables can be added directly, along with some water, and steamed to perfection while absorbing lots of the natural meat juices. Once the dish is ready, serving can be done right from the skillet.
Furthermore, what sort of southern kitchen would be complete without an electric skillet? Old-fashioned classics like smothered pork chops, yellow squash, and country fried steak are a breeze to cook and even easier to clean up in an electric skillet. Such meals, with substantial, thick sauces, are much more manageable in a large skillet than in a stove-top frying pan. Anyone from the south with agree that there are some meals that just have to be cooked in an electric skillet.
Another great feature that most electric skillets have is the ability to keep foods warm for late-comers or buffet serving. The thermostat can be lowered to the mildest setting, and food left inside will be kept warm without burning.