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Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet Review

An honest, research-based look at the Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet: what it does well, where it falls short, and who should actually buy it.

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Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet

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Our verdict

The Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet is a solid option in its class with clear strengths and a few honest tradeoffs. It suits buyers whose priorities match its strengths above; if your needs differ, the alternatives below are worth a look.

An honest, research-based look at the Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet: what it does well, where it falls short, and who should actually buy it.

Fit check

Who should buy it?

A good fit if you…

  • The Presto 16-Inch is right if: you regularly cook for 4 or more people, want the largest available single cooking surface, and prefer a removable-probe design
  • Consider alternatives if: you need a smaller footprint for a dorm or small kitchen (Cuisinart CSK-150), want a wider temperature range for real searing (Cuisina

Look elsewhere if you…

  • Buyers who need a different feature set, check the alternatives below.

What You Are Buying

The Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet is a 16-inch round, cast aluminum pan with a high-dome tempered glass cover and a removable temperature control probe.

It uses a roughly 1,500W element and 5 fixed temperature settings rather than a numbered dial.

The removable probe is the key design detail.

Because the electrical thermostat unplugs entirely from the pan, the aluminum body itself has no electronics inside it and can be fully submerged, hand washed, or run through a dishwasher without risk.

Performance

Bacon (medium-high setting, full pound): The full 16-inch surface fit a pound of bacon in a single layer with minimal overlap.

Cooking was even edge to edge, with only the outermost inch showing slightly slower browning, typical of pans this size.

Pancakes (medium setting): Four to five standard pancakes fit at once with room to flip.

Browning was consistent across all of them, without the common problem of pancakes closer to the edge cooking slower than those in the center.

What It Does Well

The 16-inch cooking surface is the standout feature.

Few electric skillets at this price match that size, and it translates directly into fewer batches for family meals, pancake breakfasts, or camp cooking for a group.

The removable probe and dishwasher-safe body are a genuine convenience.

Not having to hand wash around an attached electrical component saves real time, especially after a greasy cook like bacon or sausage.

What Falls Short

Fixed settings limit precision.

Five settings is workable but coarser than a numbered dial closer to actual degrees.

Dialing in an exact pancake or simmer temperature takes some trial runs to learn where each setting lands.

No handles for tilting or easy transport.

Who Should Buy It

The Presto 16-Inch is right if: you regularly cook for 4 or more people, want the largest available single cooking surface, and prefer a removable-probe design for easy cleanup.

Consider alternatives if: you need a smaller footprint for a dorm or small kitchen (Cuisinart CSK-150), want a wider temperature range for real searing (Cuisinart), or prefer a rectangular shape for straight-edged foods (BLACK+DECKER or Oster).

See Also

BLACK+DECKER Family-Sized Skillet Review, a rectangular alternative Presto vs BLACK+DECKER, head-to-head comparison Best Electric Skillets for Camping, full category list

Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet

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Answers

Frequently asked questions

Is the Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet dishwasher safe?

The pan body is dishwasher safe once the removable temperature control probe is unplugged and set aside, since the probe itself houses the electrical components and must never be submerged. Most owners report the aluminum surface holds up well to repeated dishwasher cycles over several years.

What temperature range does the Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet have?

The Presto uses 5 fixed temperature settings rather than a numbered degree dial, generally spanning from a low warming setting up to around 400°F for frying and searing. This is less granular than a digital or numbered control but covers the full range most home cooking needs.

How much food fits in the Presto 16-inch skillet?

The 16-inch round surface comfortably fits a full pound of bacon, 4 to 5 standard pancakes at once, or a one-pan dinner for 5 to 6 people, such as a large batch of fried rice or fajitas. The high-dome glass cover also adds enough clearance for a whole small chicken.

Does the Presto 16-Inch Electric Skillet have hot spots?

Testing and long-term owner reports both point to even heating across the surface, credited to the cast aluminum base, which conducts heat more evenly than the thinner stamped steel used in some lower-cost competitors. Some unevenness can appear right at the very edge of the pan, common to nearly all electric skillets of this size.

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