Customer Reviews

Zojirushi EP-EVC25 Electric Gourmet d' Expert Electric Skillet

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my third Electric Skillet. I work 100 miles from home and live in a trailer during the week (the commute is terrible around here, but I can't afford another or even a different house). My propane Stove went out a couples years ago now and I started using my BBQ, A toaster over and/or an electric skillet instead. My first skillet was "Silver stone" coated. First time I burnt something in it was the last. I then bought a Stainless Steel pan but didn't like the temperature control and it can be hard to clean. This Zojirushi pan not only can be used to higher temperatures (460F instead of the usual 400F), it's a dream to clean and the temperature control is great. I've already burnt something (on Purpose) Blackened peppercorn Rib Eye. Great!!! (anyone got a good air purifier, next time I'll do it on the porch, another advantage, its portable) But nothing sticks to it, don't even need oil or butter. I like it so much I've ordered the larger Sizzler and started using it too. It's got a larger surface and the sides aren't as deep so it's easier to get a spatula into. Also it goes to 480F (call the Fire Department, yee hah). The design is different, but it's a great pan too.

I've had mine for over 6 mos now. I originally bought this to replace a small portable gas burner (using cans of gas) which I used for shabu-shabu & sukiyaki. It takes some time ~12-15 min. to come to a boil on high. And it quickly comes to a boil after adding addtl meat & veggies. Works well to make stews and teppanyaki. Clean-up is a breeze and the non-stick coating is thick (they call it Titanium coating) so it should last a long time. My only complaint is they should have made temp a little higher so it comes to a boil faster. But overall I'm very satisfied and would recommend this item and the brand.

I use mine everyday. It's a handy extra burner beyond the four on the stove. I have prepared a delicious stew using it as a slow cooker and I have turned it up high and used it as a grill. Cleans up so easily, too.

We travel in a RV 6-7 months a year. Both of us love to cook. This is one of my most valuable items. I can blacken fish or slow cook a roast. No hot spots like other electric pans. Perfectly even heat. The non-stick surface does not have a mark on it. I can use it on the picnic table in hot weather. Temperature controls are accurate. I LOVE IT.

I don't usually write reviews but I love this appliance. I'm using it 2 to 4 times a week. I've only been using it for a couple of weeks so am sure I will be using it more as I try cooking more things in it. I very rarely fry foods but I have cooked pot roasts, used it as an oven for cooking frozen food and tonight I used it to cook fresh pasta, drained off the water, put it a bowl, made my sauce and then put the pasta back in for a little reheating. It worked great. Before this I would have cooked my pasta in a pasta pot and my sauce in another and had 2 pots to clean. The water came to a boil in the pan much sooner than it would have in my pasta pot. This appliance is so quick and easy to clean I don't even mind doing it by hand. The more I use it, I find I have less use for other pots and pans in my cupboards, making the things I do use more easily accessible. I looked at several less expensive frying pans before I decided on this and am glad I spent the extra money--it was well worth it. So far I haven't found one con, all pros.

This electric skillet is well made. The pan, which sits inside the heating unit, is heavy and heats evenly. Unlike the previous electric skillet I purchased this one can be kept on a low temperature without having it intermitently go into a furious boil to keep the correct temperature.

I have another Zojirushi product (a bread making machine) which is also a quality product.

I am very pleased with both Zojirushi products.

I bought this for Chinese / Japanese style hotpot. It turned out to be a fabulous hotpot (fast boiling time) and an excellent grill! Although there are no grill grids, my Korean BBQ and Cajun shrimps turned out wonderful!!! I have used this pot extensively (once or twice a week) for the past three months and it continues to perform superbly.

We looked at this one and the Cuisinart CSK-150 1500-Watt Nonstick Oval Electric Skillet and chose this one due to it's extremely high quality and virtually indestructible nonstick surface, slightly smaller size and overall quality of construction we've experienced with this brand. It also happens to be cheaper.

The cuisinart is rumored to heat up somewhat more quickly because of its higher power, but that will also pop circuit breakers more quickly. And we honestly have had more problems with this thing heating up too fast than too slow. We've learned to adjust the temp DOWN over time when repeating the same dishes. So the one advantage the cuisinart would have had over this one is really a non issue.

Complaints from cuisinart Amazon reviews indicate the nonstick surface wears out over time - who needs that - and the thing is just too big. This one is pretty large - about the size of a dinner plate and plenty big enough for two people. And although we own two of their food processors and are thrilled with them, we've been disappointed with other items cuisinart has made (due to generally poor design) so we really hesitated to buy anything else from them.

The quality of this item is unsurpassed - we have All Clad everything and Shun knives and so we expect the best. We're really happy with this piece. I'd recommend it without hesitation.

UPDATE 3/8/08: We've used this to cook lunches in an office for two people about every other day for about a half a year. I'm probably happier with this product than just about any other product I've ever bought. It's the perfect size for two or three people and the nonstick coating has been bulletproof. I can't say enough good things about this thing.

One of the things that we really like is the fact that the heating element in the base unit is under a very heavy plate, that the pot rests on and lifts off of. This makes the pot that you might want to lift off very lightweight (about 2 lbs), yet the heat is evenly distributed about the heavy plate of the top of the base unit. It also means that you can preheat the base unit while you have the pot off of it, so that you can use the pot as a mixing bowl, then just set it on the preheated base unit and get started cooking faster and not have anything to clean up.

We've made rice pudding (the fine temperature control is better than using a stovetop), broccoli beef and other stir frys (note the unit never gets as hot as a real wok), quesadillas that we top with lettuce and meat, and other similar dishes. We couldn't be happier with this product for an office, where space and power is limited.

If you need more capacity, look for the Lodge Color Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice. It fits this piece almost exactly and adds a significant amount of capacity. Plan on adding about 10-20 minutes to the pre-heat, but it does the job. We use it to make soups and stews.

Finally, for Chinese stir frys, this is the wrong unit for the job. You'll need the hotter Breville EW30XL Electric Gourmet Wok. It's a bit larger in diameter and deeper (more capacity, but it has a bowl shape, instead of the flat bottom this one has), uses more electricity, and is a bit more difficult to use (the pan doesn't lift off like this unit) and to clean, but the heat difference is noticeable, and a better fit for the job. We own both, but if you can only get one, I'd probably start with that one. Just as well made, but the extra heat caramelizes onions, which makes stir frys taste much better and it heats up faster. This unit won't do that because it just lacks the punch. We're very happy with both.

Update 1/2011: We still have the same unit, it still works like the day we bought it and the nonstick coating works perfectly. This is one of the best kitchen purchases I have ever made.

This has to be the best counter-top cooker EVER! Versatile in every respect. Perfect for a batch of prunes. Bacon does not splatter, eggs perfect every time, fried or poached. The heat control is excellent and even over the whole pan, unlike the usual fry pan item with hot spots and heat "surge" every time the thermostat kicks in. The Titanium no stick, magnetic cord socket, micro adjustments of temperature control, over-all superior build quality make this item a value when compared to anything else available. My 10" Cusinart frypan is now on a back shelf, destined for a new home with a deserving Grand Kid.

I love this electric skillet. It is easy to clean. The temperature is easy to control and set so that the food comes out perfectly each time. I use mine almost daily. I'd also like to comment that I always look for the Zojirushi brand name first when I want to add a small appliance to my kitchen. I find their products are superior and hold up to constant use. I have the 'fuzzy logic' rice cooker and the 4L hot water dispenser. These are all in constant use at my home.