Ask:
My mom got us an electric frying pan for Christmas, and frankly, I don't know what to do with it. I grew up with them, but I hardly ever fry anything. I hate grease, including the odor and it's so bad for the air and kitchen, along with our bodies. I know I can do pancakes, but I can do that on my stovetop, too. I do have a crockpot, and I'm thinking the frying pan/griddle will just be an item of clutter.
Do you have one? What do you use it for?
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I love my electric skillet and my griddle. I never made good pancakes on the stove! When I make tacos and things like that I do fry it up on the skillet its more roomy I try to use the leanest meat possible so the grease smell isn't so bad. I also make stir fry chicken,eggs. frozen hashbrowns I use it a lot!
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I use mine for pancakes, french toast, bacon, fried chicken, chicken cacciatore, arroz con pollo...hmmm, what else?
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I don't have one, but my mom does. It has a lid and there's quite a bit of room there. Mom used to make roasts and paella in hers. I used it to make popcorn. Yup, good old fashioned stove top popped popcorn. It made the best popcorn ever!
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So here's my add on question: why use the electric frying pan and not one just on the stovetop, respecting that pancakes do come out differently? I'm just concerned I'll be keeping clutter, of which I have enough. I don't like to use my oven a lot, since I live in Arizona, which is why I like the crockpot.
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An electric skillet gives you a little finer temperature control than an electric stovetop. And, for larger meal preparation, you get better heat distribution.
I don't have an electric skillet BUT my sister did give me an electric griddle which I do appreciate for making pancakes, etc. However, I agree with you. These appliances aren't something that I use everyday.
An electric skillet is handy for special occasions when you need the extra size or the extra cooking area (ie: all the burners on your stove are in use). It is also nice for holding foods hot on a buffet or for when you're travelling and a regular stove isn't available.
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I got an electric griddle for Christmas from dh niece, and I was excited because before when I made pancakes it would take so long to make several batches and now I could plop a bunch on the griddle at the same time. The problem is the thing is HUGE and I'm not sure where to store it.
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We also have a HUGE electric griddle that's great for pancakes or grilled cheese sandwiches but it's very difficult to wash and store because of the size.
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I've never made pancakes on the stove in a frypan, so I really can't say what the difference is although I imagine you have more control with the temp gauge on the electric frypan. I use mine quite a bit...but my Mom used hers all the time too...so it's something I grew up with.
I like the size of mine, it's not THAT big and I have a lot of storage space, so that's not really an issue for me. I guess it's all what you're used to in your kitchen. I had a crock pot that I tried a ton of crock pot recipes in when I first got it. We decided that we weren't into the crock pot. L.OL. We didn't like any of the recipes. So it was taking up space and I never used it, so I gave it away.
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I agree that storage can be an issue. up until this past weekend I had my small appliances in a larger cupboard in the kitchen. I got tired of the wrestleing and had to move things around anyway. So they are stowed on shelves in my basement. No big deal to run down and grab it when I need it.
Aliadam, I had the "giant" griddle but this past christmas my step mom updated me with a folding one that can cook 2 different temps on either side.
I would never give up the skillet, griddle or crockpot I love and use them all.