Presto Electric Skillet

Almost Free is a Great Price!

My Presto 11" electric skillet was priced just right! This was a display model, and it was missing one of the legs, so I was able to pick it up for a measley $5! Yes, $5!!  When I got home, I looked Presto up on the internet, and ordered an extra leg for $1.00!  I have a brand new skillet for hardly any money out of pocket.  (Don't ya just love it when the internet can help out in situations like this?) These types of deals don't happen that often - and after using it for a few months I'm glad it didn't cost me much, because I'm not totally happy with this skillet.

Appearance 

The Presto Electric Skillet has a nonstick finish, inside and out, so cleanup is a breeze.  The body is made of sturdy heavy cast aluminum, and when the heat control is removed, it is completely immersible and dishwasher safe.

The lid is guaranteed not to dent, warp, peel or bend.  It has a control master temperature control, and a handy Temperature-Time Table.  The power cord is short to reduce the risk of accidents by tripping on the cord, but I have found it long enough to sit on my counter and still reach the electrical unit without any problem.  It is 120 volts, and 1000 watts.

The skillet itself is 11" square, but only 1 3/4" deep. This is the part that I don't care for, it simply is not deep enough.  Almost everything that I cook in it boils over!  This skillet also comes in a 12" and 15" size, and I think the larger size would work better for cooking stews and roasts.

Comes With Recipe Book

Mine came with a little recipe booklet, and it says you can fry, grill, roast, stew, bake and that it will even accomodate a big roast. I must confess I have been a bit lazy with finding ways to use it, and mainly use it for roasts or swiss steak.

I like to add lots of potatoes, carrots, onions and tomatoes to my swiss steak, and it always boils over - even on the lower setting.  If I turn it up too high, my meat burns. I really need to do some more experimenting with this one!

I imagine it would be great for making home fried potatoes, or just about any other food that you would cook in a regular skillet.

Non Fat Cooking

I have heard that because of the non-stick finish, and the tight fitting lid, that this skillet is a perfect way to cook meals without adding fat. That is usually the case, but the last time we tried to cook my soy based Boca Burgers in it, they stuck.  I even added a little bit of olive oil to the pan first, but they still stuck pretty good.

The Presto Name

The name Presto has been around for some time!  In fact, the company has been around since 1905.  In 1939 they were the first company to produce the pressure cooker, and named it the "Presto Cooker".  The name was trademarked and has remained, but eventually they became known as the "National Presto Company".

Warranty

This unit comes with a 3 year warranty.  If your appliance needs to have warranty service, and you can't find any stores in your are who provide service to Presto products, you can mail your appliance to:

Presto Factory Service Department
Canton Sales & Storage Co.
555 Matthews Dr.
Canton, MS. 39046-0529

Here's my favorite Swiss Steak recipe:

1 1/2 pounds Round Steak, 1/2-3/4 inch thick
flour and 1 tsp. salt
oil for browning
1 16 ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 tsp. worcestershire
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic
potatoes, carrots, onions

Mix flour and salt and dredge steak in this mixture. Heat oil in skillet and brown steak in the oil. Add remaining ingredients, and cook on low heat for several hours.

Serve with homemade rolls and a salad.

Conclusion

This skillet just isn't big enough for all the ingredients I want to throw into it.  It's great for cooking burgers, or pancakes - foods that are cooked without any sauces, and it is also handy during the hot summer months, because it will not heat up the house!