Electric Skillet Vs Frying Pan | Similarities and Differences

Are you confused about differentiating between an electric skillet and a frying pan? Well, most kitchen lovers use these terms interchangeably, whereas others believe that both are way different from each other. We can get the best possible answer from the following electric skillet vs frying pan comparison. Knowing which one works best for frying, braising, or sautéing is essential to prepare a perfect-tasting food. However, when cooking, especially new users, are confused to choose when it comes to skillets vs frying pans. Let’s find the similarities and differences between the uses of the electric skillet and frying pan.

Electric Skillet vs. Frying Pan – Similarities and Differences

Electric Skillet

In simple words, an electric skillet is an ordinary skillet, but you have to plug it into the wall instead of using it on a stovetop just like any other ceramic electric griddle, and it will heat up with the electricity. Heating your cookware with electricity has been one of the most successful parts of modern kitchens, that is the reason even the best indoor grill for Korean bbq features many electric grills. The best electric skillet is one of the must-have accessories. They are incredibly famous for their excellent cooking performance.

There are different reasons to use electric skillets, and fortunately, it allows preparing a variety of food. They have the ability to maintain a steady temperature throughout the cooking process, and as far as  stovetop skillet vs electric skillet is concerned, they are ideal for cooking any food to perfection. You can easily prepare pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, French toast, eggs, and even foods like doughnuts and fritter with an electric skillet.

Different Types of Electric Skillets

• Ceramic Electric Skillet

The best ceramic electric skillet is famous as they are environmentally friendly. These skillets are safe to use and feature a non-stick surface to prevent your food from sticking to the surface.

Not only are ceramic electric skillets best for cooking food, but they are also effortless to clean as the food doesn’t stick to their surface. Though you can wash skillets with your hands, they are also dishwasher safe, just like any other dishwasher safe knife set.

• Stainless Steel Electric Skillets

As stainless steel is at the top when it comes to the best cookware for gas stoves, similarly stainless steel electric skillets are the most durable and popular skillets on the market. They allow convenient food preparation and can last for a long time due to their reliable stainless steel construction. A stainless steel electric skillet helps to cook food more evenly as the heat is transferred throughout the surface, thanks again to the stainless steel material.

These skillets are safe to use and can be cleaned in no time. The best thing is that you don’t need to worry about the hard scrubbing. If any burned or stuck food is bothering you, just soak the skillet in hot soapy water, wipe it clean and enjoy the best skillet performance.

Useful Tips for Using Electric Skillet

There are many useful tips that can help to get the most out of an electric skillet. However, all skillets are not the same, and therefore, it is recommended to read the available instructions manual. It will help to understand the skillet in a better way.

Safety is the top priority of any cooking appliance, and when it comes to kitchen products, one can’t ignore it. Take a look at the useful tips for electric skillets.

• Never touch the hot surface with bare hands.
• Make sure that the handles and legs are properly secured onto your electric skillet.
• Don’t use an electric skillet for outdoor food preparation.
• Never submerge the temperature gauge or cord into the water.
• Let the skillet cool before washing it.
• Don’t forget to unplug the skillet when you are done with cooking.
• Don’t operate the skillet with a damaged cord.
• First, unplug the temperature control and then plug it into the outlet.
• If there is any hot oil or hot grease inside the skillet, don’t move it before removing the oil.

Frying Pan

One of the oldest cooking companions featuring a shorter handle and straight sides, a frying pan is used worldwide to prepare a variety of food. This kitchen tool comes with a deep surface and flat bottom to provide enough surfaces for preparing food. There is no lid with a frying pan as the food preparation in it doesn’t need any moisture. A frying pan is usually used to add color to the foods. You can use it for frying, browning, and searing. For instance, if you are a steak lover, here you can look into the best pans for cooking steak. When it comes to cooking, a frying pan allows preparing different types of food. The best part is you can try different cooking techniques to prepare your favorite food in a frying pan. You can easily prepare chicken cutlets, hamburgers, eggs, steaks, and mushrooms using a frying pan.

Different Types of Frying Pans

Just like an electric skillet, there are different types of frying pans available on the market. They are manufactured with different materials and also for different purposes.

• Non-Stick Frying Pan

One of the most popular types of the frying pan on the market, a nonstick frying pan, is easy to clean and helps to prevent food from burning. It is ideal for healthy cooking as you don’t need to add oil before preparing food. However, choosing the frying pan with the best nonsticking coating to enjoy the best food is essential.

• Aluminum Frying Pans

These frying pans are lightweight and inexpensive, thus known as the best cookware for glass stove. Manufacturers also add materials like copper and magnesium to aluminum to improve the pan quality. An aluminum frying pan comes with a non-stick coating and stainless steel interior. These are ideal for those who have a tight budget.

• Cast Iron Frying Pans

One of the heaviest frying pans; they are commonly used by professional chefs. These pans take a long time to heat up and also to cool down properly. But the benefit of this feature is that there is less chance to overcook food. Another benefit of a cast iron frying pan is that it is extremely durable. The bad side is that it may rust easily. It also takes some time and effort to clean the cast iron frying pan.

• Stainless Steel Frying Pan

Another popular type of frying pan with highly durable construction, the stainless steel frying pan, comes with an affordable price tag. These pans are not only durable but also scratch-resistant, with an effortless cleaning feature. The best part about stainless steel frying pans is that they are dishwasher safe and clean be cleaned effortlessly.

Useful Tips for Frying Pan

Using the following tips will surely help you to cook a perfect steak, maintain your frying pan and help to clean the frying pan easily.

• In order to extend the life of your frying pan, don’t heat them too quickly. Always heat a frying pan slowly. If you heat your steel pan quickly, it can warp. Once the pan is heated, continue cooking at your desired temperature.
• Depending on your frying pan, you can fry with or without fat. A non-stick frying pan is ideal for fat-free frying. The coating prevents the food from sticking to its surface. However, if you want to add oil, add rapeseed or olive oil for best cooking results.
• If you like to fry food with butter or margarine, and then place it on a cold pan, and when the fat starts bubbling, you can add food to the pan.
• If you want your pan to last for a long time, it is better to take care of it. Clean the frying pan while it is still warm (not burning hot). Use normal wash detergent and hot water to wash your pan with your hands.
• Never put a pan in the dishwasher for cleaning as most of them are not dishwasher safe

Differences Between a Skillet and Frying Pan

Take a look at the prime differences between a frying pan and a skillet.

• Weight

An electric skillet is lightweight than a frying pan. You can toss the food better as compared to a frying pan but don’t try this with an electric one. 

• Technique

The food technique for skillet is different than a frying pan. A skillet is best for fast cooking, whereas a frying pan takes some time to cook food.

• Design

One of the prime differences between the skillet and frying pan is that a skillet comes with a slightly deep surface as compared to the frying pan. Skillets are commonly used for braising thick curries and sauces, and they also have a lid to keep the moisture inside the skillet for food.

• Lid

A frying pan doesn’t have any lid. It has a flat bottom and is commonly used for browning, frying, and searing food. Also, a frying pan is used for high heating grilling.

Conclusion

There are many similarities and differences between an electric skillet and a frying pan. Both cookwares can be used for grilling, stewing, braising, frying, and roasting. Electric skillets help to prepare food quickly but are expensive. On the other hand, frying pans are affordable, but it takes some time to prepare food. It depends on your preferences to choose the best one between an electric skillet and a frying pan.