Electric Skillets and Woks
Electric Skillets
Electric skillets  are great for cooking in "kitchenless" situations like dorm rooms, RVs, and cabins, but electric skillets are so great I find myself using mine even when the stove is right next to me. One of the main benefits is that it has true temperature control -- no guessing how high to put the flame or what number is medium heat. Electric skillets are also easy-to-use and clean, but it is the little things that distinguish a skillet fit for everything and one that's been pushed to the back of the cabinet.
Features
| The Lids |
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- Keep in mind, plastic lids can stain when cooking tomatoes.
- Lids with large viewing windows, allow you to see that your skillet is taking care of business.
- The Rival skillet is hailed as one of the best, partially because the lid has a fold down stand so it can stand on its own, saving you the effort of trying to clear counter space.
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| The Body |
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- Dishwasher safe is a good thing to keep an eye on if you hate to hand wash.
- Non-stick Teflon coating makes cleaning simple.
- The warming function is not a standard feature on all machines.
- The Hamilton Beach 38500 StepSavor is a favorite for the storage unit on the side that packs up everything nicely. Especially useful when the electric skillet is needed for a trip.
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| The Cooking |
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- Temperature controls are a must.
- Fast warm up.
- Even heat distribution (especially important in larger skillets).
- The Cuisinart Non-Stick Electric Skillet is celebrated for even cooking, and extremely durable parts, cords that don't wear or short out and heating elements that don't brown.
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Electric Woks
A wok is a tricky item to buy, and you should never buy one on impulse alone. If you are a wok purist, you wouldn't dream of buying an electric wok, but for those of us in between, an electric wok can be a great thing to own and great way to practice whole new style of cooking.
Features to Look For - Woks might include a tempura rack and a steam rack for facilitating a variety of cooking uses. They may also come with utensils, which may be nice for someone who is just starting up their kitchen collection and doesn't own any yet. Otherwise, spend the money on the wok itself and not the extras.
- For cooking large quantities at once, make sure your wok can handle at least 6 quarts. Larger capacities also allow for cooking other items besides stir fry, such as curries and soups or stews. These larger models may take up more counter space, but that is not really an issue unless you keep the wok out all the time.
- Dishwasher safe models facilitate cleaning and make wok cooking more convenient. Likewise, you may want to pick one with a non-stick coating, for easier cleaning.
- Glass tops are nice because they allow you to see what you are cooking and keep down splattering.
- A sturdy base minimizes the chances of slipping, spilling, or tipping.
| Electric Wok Suggestions |
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If you plan on making Japanese cuisine: - My recommendation is the Circulon wok, which has very durable "hi-lo" patent non-stick coating, includes chopsticks, a tempura rack, a steam rack, and a cookbook. A complete wok cooking set is perfect for the beginner looking to get into Japanese cuisine.
- Costs between $50-$100.
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If you plan on making a lot of food: - The Cuisinart 7.3 quart wok is an excellent choice. It is deep enough to simmer soup and it comes with wooden spatulas. And everybody loves spatulas.
- Costs up to $110.
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Butterfly Heated Woks - An alternative to the quick-release heating element is the butterfly heat elements at the base of the wok. The base of the wok is evenly heated and the butterfly design allows for a lot of different temperature settings.
- I would suggest looking at the Breville EW30XL, which has the butterfly element and can be stuck in the dishwasher, without the chord and temperature probe.
- Costs around $70.
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