Vintage Electric Skillet. To many choices.. Opinions needed..

[tinkr]

In the market for an electric skillet. Stainless only.

I have read the threads available and still don't have a winner.

I am drawn to the Faberware 12 inch. Styling is much like the Revereware I learned to cook in.

BUT, the versitility of the Nesco skillet has peeked my interest.

To hot outside to grill steak so the broiler is a bonus.

Attached is an auction for the Nesco.

They are pricey but.. I think it's worth it.

Opinions??? please.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[artcurus]

I'm kinda "meh" on these. I got a Hoover stainless steel one with the broiler about 8 years ago. I found that things stuck to it and it was a pain to clean. The broiler works okay, no comparison to an oven.

However, as the saying goes, YMMV or Your Mileage May Vary, so for $20, I'd say go for it.

 

[tinkr]

Thanks

Artcurus.. I know well the problems that can be had with stainless cooking. But I detest cleaning the oven.
So this is the lesser of the 2 evils.

 

[kevin313]

I'm not sure, but that Nesco does not look like a stainless steel model to me. The cooking surface looks aluminum - but maybe I'm not seeing it correctly.

In stainless, many swear by Saladmaster but those can be very pricy. I have a couple of Farberware stainless skillets that have performed well and are easy to clean.

 

[xraytech]

I have a Hoover stainless steel skillet I like, also have a stainless steel RenaWare electric skillet I'm wanting to get rid of, as I prefer a square skillet

 

[tinkr]

thanks Kev and xRay

Kev I'm not sure, but that Nesco does not look like a stainless steel model to me. The cooking surface looks aluminum - but maybe I'm not seeing it correctly.

It does look strange..Like aluminum anodization.?? But may not have been cleaned properly.
I linked another nesco the pan looks stainless,I think.

I do love the faberware.. But I like the broiler in the nesco.
Darn nesco messed up my search....

Xray I've check salad master and rena kinda want to stay in the cheap seats. Or middle range in price.

Just incase this idea falls flat.

Hubs was taught to cook in nonstick... And he likes to cook so I will have to teach him the science
of cooking in stainless.
I explained to him years ago that teflon was dangerous cancer causing thing..but he wouldn't budge.
now as he gets close to 60 he's waking up.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[tinkr]

Thank you to those who gave advice

i decided to search antique shops for a skillet. After 3 hrs of walking around between 2 stores with no luck. Passed by our faithful Goodwill store. 50% off day..
We were checking out a Honeywell air filter, when out of the corner of my eye, on a shelf behind some misc electric stuff, I spotted one.

So I came home with a Vollrath 10 inch with the egg poacher insert.
Appears unused. Haven't had any luck finding info on it
Any Info would be great

 

[xraytech]

That looks like it should be one of the oil core "waterless" skillets like Saladmaster and RenaWare

 

[tinkr]

The pic I grabbed from the internet

The knob on the lid is different but the pan looks the same. It is a model 24 and I think its a regular skillet.
However it appears unused not a speck of grease on the bottom..
Works super..

Just made a fast bake pizza.
Crisped up a whole heat tortilla,, spread sauce add cheese and pepperonis.
cover cook at 350 until cheese is melted and pizza in 10 minutes.

It does look like a saladmaster .
For 9.98 I'm happy..
Well see how it handles pancakes tomorrow.
Thanks for your response.

 

[tinkr]

Found a pic of liquid core

This has the normal looking bottom with the circular heat ring. So not liquid core. But I'm happy
with it.

 

[gansky1]

That's a great Vollrath for ten bucks and you didn't have to pay shipping charges.   That stainless is probably 7 ply, just like the higher-end "state fair" brands like Saladmaster, Vita-Craft, Seal-O-Matic, Wonder Ware, Health Craft, etc.  Vollrath even has their name on a set and have for many years.  Most all were made in Wisconsin by Regal-West Bend and have been for many decades.  My mother has a set of Wonder Ware bought in '66 and other than a few handles and a lid replaced under warranty 45 years later, and most of her set still looks like new.  

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[abcomatic]

SaladMaster

Kevin is right, very expensive but easy to use. I cooked dinner in ours tonight, pork chops with gravy. I used no oil and it came out just fine. I let mine preheat for 10 min.after the light goes out and the temp is reached. Have fun with your new skillet. Gary

 

[tinkr]

Boy I guess I lucked out

It came with the poacher (missing one cup) regular lid and a dome lid, but the dome is marked Regal Prestige.
The handles are exactly the same on the dome as the skillet and low lid so I don't know whats up with that.
It seams to me that the lid doesn't fit quite right on the skillet.
The dome lid would make a killer regular pot and my glass lid on my tefal fry pan fits perfectly.

 

[tinkr]

Wonderful

No sticking no fuss no muss...

Thanks for all the info.

I got a winner. Much cooler than running the electric cook top.

 

[lordkenmore]

>Much cooler than running the electric cook top.

I can imagine. One of my grandmothers lived where summers were hotter than here--though far short of AZ--and I can remember how miserably hot the kitchen could seem after cooking.

I'm guessing that electric skillet is also probably "cooler" than the electric cook top in the sense of "that's neat", too!

 

[tinkr]

Much cooler than running the electric cook top

Hope to off set some electric costs with it. no cook top or oven,
Does anyone actually bake in theirs?
We have been waiting to go from evaporative cooler to AC..
It will happen and the electric bill goes form 180/mo to 400.00+ 1200.00 in 3 months for cooling.. Keeping house at 83 daytime and 81 at night... 5 year old unit..
Can't wait for him to retire so we can go where it rains and snows.

 

[lordkenmore]

>Can't wait for him to retire so we can go where it rains and snows.

And I have two people in my family who did the reverse: move to AZ to escape snow!

Although one did spend summers in her old home state for a while, and may possibly do that again for all I know. The other has talked about making the worst of summer the time he'll travel.

 

[tinkr]

If we could afford it

Az in the winter and Oregon in the summer, May have to become part of the tiny house nation. I'm ok as long as we can strap my Maytag wringer on the back of the trailer. Or in the back of the F350. lol

 

[polkanut]

Here's a great recipe to try in your electric skillet.  It comes from the Sunbeam cookbook.  I got the recipe from Michaelman2 nearly 5 years ago.  Super good, and super easy.

  Upside Down Cake For Electric Skillet 

1/4 cup butter 
1 cup packed brown sugar 
1 can (20 ounces) fruit(Pineapple,Cherry or Blueberry), drained 
1 package (18.5 ounces) yellow cake mix 
Whipped cream or ice cream (optional) 

Set dial on electric skillet to 220 degrees. Add butter. When melted, add brown sugar, spreading evenly over the surface. Arrange fruit over. 

Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour over fruit. Set dial to 260 degrees. Cover and cook about 30 minutes or until dry on top. 

Loosen edges of cake with a spatula. Invert cake onto plate. Let stand a few minutes then remove frypan. Serve cake warm or cold, garnished with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.   

Hint: 

Use JUICE packed pineapple, and use the reserved juice instead of water! Adds a big flavor boost, and it works in the cake mixes I have used from Betty Crocker, Food Club, Duncan Hines etc.