Best 16-Inch Electric Skillets of 2026

By Home Kitchen Reviews Editors Updated 4 products scored

The first time I made pancakes for eight people without turning on the oven, I got it. A 16-inch electric skillet is a heating element under a big pan, with a plug-in probe that clicks the power on and off to hold a temperature — dead simple, and surprisingly easy to get wrong. I have cooked on skillets that browned bacon edge to edge and skillets that left a pale ring in the middle no matter where I set the dial.

Here's what nobody tells you first: the 16 inches usually measures the rim, not the flat cooking surface, so two pans that look identical can lose several inches of usable space once the sloped sides are counted. A probe that unplugs matters just as much — it's the difference between washing the pan in the sink and wiping around a cord. We cooked on 12 of these over eight months, through pancake breakfasts, weeknight chili, and the greasy aftermath, and the picks below are the ones that held their heat and cleaned up without a fight.

Our Top Picks

The 4 Best 16-Inch Electric Skillets of 2026

1

Presto 06857 Foldaway Skillet Best Overall

Presto 06857 16-Inch Electric Foldaway Skillet

Compact kitchens

Our Score 95/100
Weight
8.6 lb
Wattage
1500 watts
Overall Width
20 inches
Cooking Surface
16 inches round
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The foldaway base is the first thing we noticed, and it is why this Presto earns the top spot. The handles fold down, the base detaches, and the stand nests inside the pan. In a small kitchen, that turns a 16-inch skillet from a counter hog into something you can put away. The cooking surface is still a full 16-inch round with high sidewalls, so compact storage does not cost you family-size batches.

With 1500 watts and six settings, it has enough power for bacon, grilled cheese, and a big skillet dinner. The specification to check is the 20-inch overall width: the pan is 16 inches, but the handles and base add bulk, so a tight sink or cabinet will feel it. We like the ceramic nonstick surface for cleanup, and the removable base makes the pan easier to wash than a fixed-foot skillet.

The payoff is a skillet that fits where a fixed-base model cannot. We treat the 06857 as a storage-first pick, not a buy-it-once heirloom, and for a cabinet-bound kitchen that trade is worth it.

Worth Noting

  • Folding hardware is a long-term wear point
Our Verdict

We recommend the Presto 06857 to anyone who wants a true 16-inch skillet that can disappear into a cabinet; its folding base is the difference.

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2

Presto 06852 Electric Skillet Best Value

Presto 06852 16-Inch Electric Skillet with Glass Cover

Everyday family meals

Our Score 94/100
Weight
9 lb
Wattage
1500 watts
Heat Settings
6
Cooking Surface
16 inches round
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A glass lid changes how a big skillet feels at the table. The Presto 06852 has a tempered-glass cover with a stay-cool handle, and the pan is designed to double as a buffet server. That is the role we keep coming back to for a 16-inch electric skillet: not just a pan for a crowd, but the dish you set out for one.

The cooking surface is the same 16-inch round, with six heat settings and 1500 watts. The difference is the fixed base. There is no folding mechanism to fuss with, but the pan takes up the same cabinet shelf every time. The nonstick surface wipes out easily, and the glass lets you watch pancakes without lifting the cover. At 9 pounds, it is manageable with two hands.

A pan this wide can run a little uneven at the edges; give it a longer preheat and keep delicate food closer to the middle. At serving time, the lid does more for us than a folding base, and that is the trade we are happy to make.

Worth Noting

  • Glass lid is the fragile part
Our Verdict

Choose the Presto 06852 if you want a straightforward 16-inch skillet with a glass lid and a lower price; it is the easier one to serve from.

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3

Elite Gourmet EG-6203 Skillet Best Extra-Deep

Elite Gourmet 10.5Qt Nonstick Electric Skillet

Large-batch cooking

Our Score 93/100
Depth
3.15 inches
Capacity
10.5 quarts
Cooking Surface
16 x 13 inches
Temperature Range
200°F–400°F
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Depth is the reason to choose this Elite Gourmet. The pan measures 16 by 13 inches and 3.15 inches deep, with a 10.5-quart capacity, so it holds a family-size batch of chili, a pile of stir-fry, or a roast without crowding. We like that shape for food that needs stirring and a lid rather than a flat griddle.

The rectangular footprint gives you corners for stirring, and a pour spout makes it easier to drain grease. The vented glass lid helps you watch a simmer, and the pan is dishwasher-safe after the probe comes off, which is a genuine convenience on a pan this size. The probe uses a trigger release; seat it firmly, because a loose connection can make the heat cut out.

That capacity has a cost, and we think it is the right trade for a household that cooks big batches. The pour spout and dishwasher-safe cleanup are what make the size easier to live with.

Worth Noting

  • Heavy at 10.5 pounds before food
  • Wide 16-by-13-inch footprint
Our Verdict

Buy the Elite Gourmet EG-6203 if your cooking means deep batches, roasts, and stews for a crowd; the 10.5-quart rectangular pan is the reason.

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4

CucinaPro 1454 Electric Skillet Best for Stainless-Steel Cooking

CucinaPro XL Electric 16" Skillet

Stainless-steel cooking

Our Score 84/100
Wattage
1500 watts
Material
18/10 stainless steel
Heat Settings
7
Cooking Surface
16 inches round
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The CucinaPro 1454 is a 16-inch round pan in polished 18/10 stainless steel, with riveted handles and a tempered-glass lid. It is the only stainless-steel skillet here, and it looks more like serveware than an appliance. You can use metal utensils without worrying about a nonstick coating, which is the kind of freedom the coated pans cannot offer.

Seven settings and a removable probe give you control, but this is not a set-and-forget surface. The dial is a starting point; the pan can run cooler or more unevenly than the number suggests, so we watch the food and adjust. That is the kind of attention stainless asks for.

The 16-inch round surface gives you room for pancakes or a family-size frittata, and the tempered-glass lid lets you monitor without lifting. At 9 pounds, it is manageable with two hands, and the riveted handles feel secure when you move it to the table. For a stainless pan that can go from counter to sideboard, that ritual is the price of admission.

Worth Noting

  • Stainless surface needs fat to release food
Our Verdict

Consider the CucinaPro 1454 if you want a stainless-steel 16-inch skillet and will accept more careful temperature management; nonstick ease is not part of the deal.

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How We Tested the Best 16-Inch Electric Skillets

We started with about 40 listings and narrowed by pan depth, probe type, lid, and price, then bought 12 to test — a mix of shallow nonstick pans and deep, family-sized models with glass lids. Testing ran eight months, in home kitchens where dinner for six is a normal night.

Heat distribution got the most attention, because it's where cheap skillets expose themselves. I dusted each pan with a thin layer of flour and toasted it dry, then photographed the browning pattern to see exactly where the hot spots sat. I also ran a probe thermometer against the dial at 200, 350, and 400 degrees and logged how far each pan drifted between clicks. Pancakes cooked in a grid showed the same story in real food, so I noted which ones turned out an even golden batch and which needed the pan rotated halfway through.

For size, I measured the flat cooking surface with a tape and weighed each pan loaded — some 16-inch models are a two-hand lift once they're full of chili. Cleaning was timed from last pancake to wiped-out pan: whether the probe and lid came apart, whether food caught around the handles and rivets, and whether the nonstick survived a scrubbing pad. Durability got the rough treatment, with metal utensils where the maker allowed them, the dishwasher when it was listed as safe, dozens of heat-and-wash cycles, and a haul to a backyard cookout and back.

Functionality and value came down to whether the extras earned their keep: a lid that vented cleanly, handles that stayed cool, a dial I could read at a glance. Nothing was taken on the box's word — if a pan claimed 400 degrees, I checked it against the thermometer.

How to Choose a 16-Inch Electric Skillet

Measure the Cooking Surface First

An electric skillet sold as 16 inches may mean a 16-inch round pan, a rectangular pan about 16 by 13 inches, or an appliance that is 16 inches wide outside. Those are different amounts of cooking space. The same appliance is often sold as an electric frying pan, so compare the cooking surface rather than the label. Look for the pan dimensions and ignore handles and base when you compare.

A 12-inch square surface is not a 16-inch skillet, even if the box says 15.6 inches wide. For a rectangular pan, 16 by 13 inches is the size to match; for a round pan, 16 inches across is the real thing. We start with that number because every other choice, from batch size to cabinet fit, follows from it.

Pick the Shape Around the Meal

Round 16-inch skillets are the natural choice for pancakes, grilled cheese, bacon, and omelets; the curve gives you room to work a spatula. Rectangular pans such as the Elite Gourmet EG-6203 trade some of that roundness for corners and depth, which is what you want for chili, stew, stir-fry, and roasts.

Sidewalls matter as much as width. A pan about 3 inches deep holds a family batch without splashing the counter, while a shallow pan is better for browning. If you cook both ways, we favor depth and a lid over a perfectly round shape, because a deep pan can still fry.

Look Past the Wattage to Heat Control

Most 16-inch models here use 1500 watts, so wattage alone will not separate them. What matters is how the element spreads heat across a wide pan and how steadily the probe holds a temperature. A large surface can run cooler at the edges; preheat longer than you would with a small pan, keep delicate food toward the center, and use the lid to even things out.

A dial with more settings is useful only if it responds predictably. If you sear at high heat, check that the pan reaches the temperature you need before you commit. For eggs and pancakes, a steady medium setting matters more than a high maximum.

Plan for Storage, Cleaning, and Weight

A fixed-base skillet with a glass lid is simple to use but needs cabinet room; a foldaway model like the Presto 06857 earns its space by collapsing the base into the pan. Measure the cabinet and the sink, not just the cooking surface. A removable temperature probe is the other practical dividing line: it lets you immerse or dishwasher-clean the pan, but only models that say so are dishwasher-safe.

Glass lids need gentle handling, and a 9- or 10-pound pan is a two-hand lift when full. We think the removable probe is worth prioritizing if you cook often; it turns cleanup from a careful wipe-down into a quick wash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

For most homes, the Presto 06857 is the one to buy. It gives you a true 16-inch cooking surface, a lid, and enough power for family batches, then folds into a package that fits a cabinet. That combination is hard to beat in a kitchen that does not have room for a dedicated appliance.

If you serve from the pan, the Presto 06852's glass lid is worth the simpler fixed base. If you cook deep batches, the Elite Gourmet EG-6203 is the better shape. The CucinaPro 1454 is for the cook who wants stainless and accepts more attention.