Presto 07117 Electric Wok: Full Review

The Presto 07117 12-Inch Electric Skillet is a versatile countertop appliance that can be used for frying, sautéing, stewing, baking, and more. This electric skillet features a tempered glass lid and nonstick surface for easy cooking and cleaning. With a heating base that detaches from the skillet, it's designed for convenience and portability. The Presto 07117 electric skillet offers 1200 watts of power with a range of temperatures up to 400°F, allowing you to cook a variety of dishes. The skillet itself is made from heavy cast aluminum for even heating, and the exterior is a brushed stainless steel that resists fingerprints. With its spacious 12-inch cooking surface, this electric skillet is well-suited for cooking family sized portions. Overall, the Presto 07117 electric skillet aims to provide a convenient, user-friendly, and high-performing countertop cooking appliance.

Design & Build Quality

The Presto Electric Wok has a durable and sturdy design made from heavy cast aluminum, coated with a stick-resistant surface for cooking ease. The aluminum helps distribute heat evenly across the cooking pan.

At 12 inches across and weighing just under 5 pounds, this electric skillet is a nice compact size for most countertops but still offers a generous cooking surface for family meals. The handles and base stay cool while cooking to prevent accidental burns.

There’s a tempered glass lid that traps heat and moisture while also allowing you to monitor food. The glass lid fits securely and has a vent hole to let steam escape.

Heating Element & Temperature Control

The Presto 07117 electric skillet features a sturdy cast aluminum base with an embedded 1500W heating element. This high wattage allows the skillet to heat up quickly and recover temperature rapidly when ingredients are added.

The powerful heating element distributes heat consistently across the entire 12-inch cooking surface. Many users mention how evenly their food cooks without any hot or cold spots.

There is a precise thermostat with a range from 200°F to 400°F, making this electric skillet suitable for everything from simmering to searing. The dial allows easy adjustment in 50-degree increments. Once set, the temperature locks in place to prevent fluctuations while cooking.

Cooking Surface

The Presto Electric Skillet has a heavy cast aluminum base with a durable nonstick coating for excellent cooking performance. The nonstick surface allows for easy food release and quick cleanup - foods won't stick or burn on. It's also scratch-resistant and metal utensil safe.

The cooking surface provides even heat distribution, with no hot spots. This allows you to cook a wide variety of foods from fried eggs to stir fry veggies perfectly. The ample 12" diameter cooking surface can accommodate several servings at once. Whether cooking for yourself or a small family, you'll have plenty of room to cook up entrees, sides, and more.

The nonstick surface is also designed for effortless cleaning. Food residue wipes away easily after cooking without needing to scrub. You can maintain the nonstick integrity for longer by hand washing with mild soap and water. Overall, the nonstick cooking surface is a great feature that makes everyday cooking and cleanup a breeze.

Ease of Use

The Presto 07117 electric skillet is designed for convenience and ease of use in the kitchen. The controls are simple and intuitive, located on the base of the unit within easy reach. There is a master on/off switch, along with a temperature control dial allowing you to precisely set the cooking temperature anywhere from warm up to 400°F.

The tempered glass lid fits tightly to seal in heat, moisture, and flavor. It has a built-in vent hole to allow steam to escape. The lid features cool-touch handles for safe removal.

This model includes a pouring spout which is useful for easily draining grease or liquid without having to lift and pour the entire heavy pan. The spout helps prevent spills and messes when transferring liquids.

Overall, the fry pan delivers on being an easy-to-use countertop appliance. The controls and hardware are thoughtfully designed for a quality user experience.

Safety Features

The Presto Electric Skillet has several useful safety features to prevent accidents while cooking.

The automatic shutoff is one of the most important safety features. If the skillet is left on, it will automatically shut off after 2 hours. This prevents the skillet from overheating if accidentally left unattended. The automatic shutoff gives peace of mind, especially if cooking while multitasking.

Another useful safety feature is the cool-touch handle. The handle stays cool to the touch even while cooking at high temperatures. The handle has a specialized design that prevents heat transfer, allowing it to be safely grasped at any point during cooking. This is an improvement over models with metal handles that can get hot. The cool-touch handle makes it easy to lift, stir and maneuver food without the need for pot holders.

Between the automatic shutoff and cool-touch handle, the Presto Electric Skillet has excellent safeguards to promote safe use. These features minimize the risk of burns or fires that could result from forgotten skillets or grabbing hot handles. The extra attention to safety makes this an ideal skillet for any home cook.

Performance for Frying & Sauteing

The Presto 07117 electric skillet performs very well for frying and sautéing a variety of foods. The aluminum base heats evenly across the entire 12-inch cooking surface, preventing hot spots that can lead to burning. This even heating allows you to confidently fry delicate foods like eggs or crepes without scorching.

The nonstick surface is extremely effective at releasing foods for effortless flipping. Fried eggs, pancakes, and other prone-to-sticking items slide right off without tearing or leaving residue behind. The nonstick holds up well over time too, with no flaking or chipping even with heavy usage.

The wide 12-inch diameter gives you ample room to sauté vegetables, sear meat, or cook other ingredients in large batches or for a crowd. The tall 4-inch sides prevent splattering and contain ingredients nicely while tossing and flipping. Overall, the Presto electric skillet truly excels at frying and sautéing all types of ingredients evenly and with great ease.

Performance for Stews & Braising

The Presto electric skillet performs very well for making stews, braises, and chilis. The skillet distributes heat evenly across the entire cooking surface, which is important for slow simmering stews. This allows all ingredients in a stew or braise to cook through at the same rate.

The glass lid fits tightly and helps circulate heat and moisture. Meats and vegetables come out fork-tender after braising thanks to the even, moist heat environment. Liquids don't burn off too quickly even during longer cooking times required for braised dishes. Overall, the wide 12-inch cooking surface has excellent depth and capacity for cooking hearty portions of stew or chili recipes. You can comfortably make 4-6 servings of a stew in this electric skillet.

Cleaning

The Presto 07117 Electric Skillet makes cleaning easy with its dishwasher safe base and cover. The heavy cast aluminum base is durable and holds up well to frequent washing.

The nonstick cooking surface is high quality and designed to be long lasting. It can be easily cleaned by hand with non-abrasive cleaners. The nonstick holds up nicely even with heavy usage over time. You don't have to worry about food sticking or residue building up on the cooking surface. A quick wipe down is all that's needed after cooking.

The Presto skillet is clearly built to be low maintenance when it comes to cleaning. Both the cast aluminum base and nonstick surface make cleaning hassle free. You'll appreciate how easy it is to keep the skillet looking like new after regular use.

Price & Warranty

The Presto 07117 12-inch electric skillet typically sells for around $35-50 USD. This represents a moderately low price point for an electric skillet of this size and build quality.

The skillet comes with a standard 1 year limited warranty. According to the manufacturer, this warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship. It does not cover issues from normal wear and tear, misuse, or accidental damage. Users will need to provide proof of purchase and date for any warranty claims.

Overall, the pricing is quite affordable for an electric skillet. While the warranty is fairly basic, it should cover any premature failures or significant manufacturing flaws discovered shortly after purchase. The low price point makes this a reasonably good value electric skillet option.