Have you ever stood over your sink, sponge in hand, fighting a recalcitrant electric skillet and wishing you hadn’t made that meal? It’s a common complaint that I’ve heard before. But when I purchased an electric skillets with removable pan, I felt like I had found the best-kept secret in the kitchen.
The first thing you see is the cleanup. You have to twist and bend old-school skillets to clean around cables and other parts. You may just unclip the fresh ones, put them in the dishwasher, and go about your day. Someone must have hit the “easy” button on the cooking tools. I recall how long Sunday brunches felt. They still do, but now I eat instead of scrub all the time.
The way you cook also gets a lot better. Today it’s French toast, and tomorrow it’s a hot batch of fajitas. There are no smells left over from last night’s bacon or garlic. Some skillets even let you change pans for grilling, frying, or even baking with just a quick flick of your wrist. You’d never believe that the pancakes and battered fish I made an hour apart were in the same pan.
No more problems with storage. Do you remember battling with that heavy old skillet while kitchen tools fell on you? Pans that can be removed break down into neat, easy-to-store parts. My cupboards felt twice as big all of a sudden. Plus, I didn’t hurt my hands while playing a dangerous game of Tetris.
Fun? These skillets can also be used to serve food. Take the pan off the stove, plug it in, and let everyone eat. The food stays hotter and there’s one less plate to wash. My buddies make fun of me for hosting a buffet from my counter. I’ll take it.
Don’t forget about safety. Cleaning an item that is plugged in is not a good idea at all. Take the pan apart and throw away your anxieties. You won’t have to worry about tripping over the cable or burning yourself because the unit is still hot.
You don’t have to worry about too much technology either. These skillets make things easy. Easy-to-read temperature dials, steady heat, and surfaces that let food slide off with a whisper. Your quick stir-fry won’t develop into a sticky mess, which makes it more likely that you’ll cook again tomorrow.
If you hate fighting after dinner or just want weeknights to be less busy, this small modification in the kitchen can make a big difference. You might not have known you needed a detachable pan until now. Less mess and more meals you like. In my book, that’s a win.