How to Prepare Food With an Electric Skillet

By: Emily Weller

Electric skillets heat evenly, hold their temperature and can be used in settings outside the kitchen. Keep main dishes warm at the dinner table, make breakfast at the campground or keep sauce warm at a barbecue. Precise temperature settings take the guesswork out of heating, and nonstick surfaces ensure easy cleanup.

Pancakes and Baked Goods

Step 1

Prepare the pancake batter or French toast custard. If your electric skillet came with a baking rack, separate refrigerator biscuits or croissants and set them on a cookie sheet until you're ready to bake them. Make savory biscuits by dusting them with dried salad dressing or dip mix. Prepare cake mix or muffin batter and pour into a pan or baking cups.

Step 2

Plug in the skillet and heat it to between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on what you are preparing. Use a lower temperature for foods such as pancakes and French toast and a higher temperature if you are preparing muffins or biscuits. Consult your user's manual's instructions on how to know when the pan is the right temperature.

Step 3

Pour the pancake batter into the skillet by the half-cupful. If you're making French toast, place each slice of toast into the skillet. After a minute or two, flip the French toast and cook until done. Flip the pancakes when bubbles start to form around the edges. If you are baking in the electric skillet, place the muffins, biscuits or cake on the rack in the skillet. Put the lid on the skillet and cook for the time directed in the recipe.

Frying and Sauteing

Step 1

Plug the skillet in and set the temperature. Follow the manufacturer's instructions until you're comfortable with choosing the right temperature yourself. Cook eggs and thinner cuts of meat, such as bacon, fish fillets or cubed steaks quickly at a higher temperature. Use lower temperatures for thicker cuts that take longer to cook. A temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal if you are cooking delicate foods such as fish.

Step 2

Place the food in the skillet, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Putting too much food in the pan at once cools the pan down and causes uneven cooking. Cook in small batches if necessary. If you're cooking vegetables, start with the ones that take longest to cook and cut them in similar shapes and sizes.

Step 3

Cook the food as you would on the stove top, tossing or flipping as necessary. Use a probe thermometer to check the doneness of larger pieces of meat. Add flavor to your dishes by seasoning them with salt, pepper and herbs, or use a time saving premixed product.