Circulon 45881 12" Electric Sauté Pan

by Circulon

Product Features

• Heavy gauge hard anodized body with hi-low non-stick interior
• High domed stainless steel cover provides extra cooking space and ensures self-basting benefits
• Stay cool handles
• Fully immersible with heat control removed
• Temperatures can be adjusted from simmer to 420 Degrees F/ 215 Degrees C

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds
• ASIN: B00004S8EF
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,450 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Circulon products are endorsed by Chef Martin Yan, of the PBS cooking series Yan Can Cook, who claims he's used the same pieces every day for the past eight years with excellent results. While this recommendation may or may not impress, a close examination of the Circulon cookware line should.

The 12-inch electric fry pan, for example, looks like a large round griddle, only it's deeper than most (nearly 3 inches) and set on a very sturdy footed base. Its two handles are covered with phenolic plastic, which really does keep them cool to the touch. An 8-inch rod helps stabilize the pan for flipping pancakes or turning fryer legs, and a chubby half circle on the opposite side is useful for carrying the complete ensemble, laden with braised pork chops or Spanish rice, directly to the table.

But a cook can do much more than fry in this pan: try roasting, boiling, poaching, slow cooking, braising, stewing, and even baking at low temperatures. Its versatility is derived in part from its depth and high stainless-steel lid, which increase its capacity, and its superb heat control, which heats the pan instantly (no gradual warming) and steadily maintains the selected temperature.

Circulon touts its "Hi-Low" system (a series of concentric grooves etched into the nonstick interior) for good reason--while the raised circles are open to the abuse of frequent use, the spiraled surface between remains protected, which is why the pan is guaranteed to stay stick-resistant for at least 10 years. Out of the box, its nonstick properties are superb. It passed my falafel test: mounds of falafel mixture flipped as a unit without crumbling.

The appliance is fully immersible and should be washed and dried shortly after use. Take extra care of the lid, which is prone to speckling. The pan comes with a comprehensive use and care booklet, along with over 20 recipes for appetizers, side dishes, entrees, and desserts--from lamb curry to pineapple upside-down cake. --Carol Gnojewski

Product Description

A basic for every kitchen the Circulon 12 Round Electric Saute Pan. You get wonderful cooking results because the heavy-gauge hard anodized body conducts heat quickly and evenly. This item is hard anodized and features Circulon's unique Hi-Low grooves with DuPont's top-of-the-line Autograph nonstick coating, to create the most durable nonstick surface possible. The high domed stainless steel cover provides extra cooking space and ensures self-basting benefits. Temperatures can be easily adjusted from simmer to 420 F (215 C.)...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cut Above the Rest, December 24, 2000

By 

D. Hackett (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Circulon 45881 12" Electric Sauté Pan

The Circulon Saute Pan cooks evenly, heats quickly, and the ridged bottom doesn't crack, warp or shed its protective layer. One wipe of the sink sponge gets out material cooked into the ridged bottom. We love it as a primary cooking appliance. One minor beef: some of the legs haven't stayed tight and as a consequence keep rotating out of position; even retightening the screws doesn't solve this. But other than that, this is a slam dunk purchase for your skillet needs.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Shallow Beauty, October 27, 2001

By 

J Keistler "[e-mail]" (Lake Jackson, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circulon 45881 12" Electric Sauté Pan

I had a Presto 'dutch oven' for the past two years;it is essentially their electric skillet with higher sides. I loved this skillet and used it several times a week for everything from frying chicken to making spaghetti sauce to cooking pot roasts and briskets. I'd still be using it, and happy with it, except that the nonstack finish started coming off after a few months. I kept using it until I couldn't tolerate little black flecks in the food. There's no doubt that a nonstick finish can be a godsend for sticky things, but half a nonstick finish is much worse than none! They always say these finishes are nontoxic, but who can be sure?

I went to the store to buy a Farberware, only to learn that they'd been discontinued. I came across the Circulon skillet at a factory outlet kitchen store and decided to give it a try. I have a large flat round griddle/skillet in Circulon that I've had for years, and also the large and small woks.

I've been using this appliance for roughly six months for essentially the same things I used to do in my Presto. However, since the sides are much lower, I can't really do the soups I did in the Presto. For me, the greatest drawback right now is its inability to neatly fry chicken--sides are too low for the grease level without making a mess! And, no, I'm not talking about deep-frying, but instead Southern pan fry style with roughly an inch. However, it does great steaks, croquettes, etc. I haven't seen any wear on the finish so far, and always use the appropriate utensils. It's certainly the prettiest of the available choices.

With the excellent luck I've had with Circulon pans and woks, I'm looking forward to a long history with this pan.