Presto Foldaway Electric Skillet 06857 In-depth Review

Our first impression of the Presto Foldaway Non-Stick Electric Skillet 06857 was of a lovely thick pan and a sturdy base. Our out-the-box test had fried eggs leaving nothing stuck to the pan. However, it seemed a bit on the slow side when boiling water.

National Presto Industries, Inc., founded in 1905, is a US small electric appliance manufacturer. Their range of products include vacuum sealers, knife sharpeners, pizza ovens, air fryers, pressure cookers, waffle makers, and electric skillets.

9.0 Performance

The Presto Foldaway Non-Stick Electric Skillet 06857 is top-tier in terms of even heat distribution, maximum temperature, and temperature stability. This translated into some scrumptious pancakes and juicy steaks for our testing crew.

8.9 Analyzing Heat Distribution

The Presto had superbly even heat distribution outdoing most other skillets we tested. We put this down to its thicker than average cast aluminum pan and large rectangular heating element.

To detect the temperature differences across the skillet’s surface, we placed an oil absorbent sheet of saturated sugar water on top. We then heated the pan to 400°F and used an infrared thermometer to check key temperature points.

Between five points from the center of the pan to the edges, we noted a 5.7% difference in average temperatures. This number equated to an impressive 8.9/10 which was only slightly lower than the much smaller Nesco.

9.4 Making Pancakes

The Presto took 3 min 50 sec to preheat to 350°F, which was quite fast for such a large skillet (8.2/10). With our original electric skillet pancake batter ready, it only took 4 min 30 sec to cook a 3.17 oz pancake to a golden brown hue with a perfectly steamy and fluffy inside (9.5/10).

This skillet managed a perfect cooking time with 1 min 30 sec on the first side and double the time on the flip side. You may need to adjust the timing as per your recipe, and this 16-inch pan can do 3 to 4 pancakes at a time. 

We didn’t need to coat the pan with any butter or oil thanks to the non-stick coating. Nonetheless, adding oil to the pan is recommended to prolong the coating’s lifespan.

8.7 Cooking Steaks

To make sure our 8 oz, 1.38-inch top blade steak had the best crust possible, we first needed to preheat the Presto to 400°F. This took 6 min which was quite slow even for a large skillet, so we had to score it 6/10.

After seasoning the steak and inserting a meat thermometer, we seared both sides for 4 min. We then gave the edge with the fat cap 2 min and the other edges 1 min 30 sec each. Finally, we added some fresh rosemary and butter and seared each side for an additional 2 min.

The cooking process raised the steak’s internal temperature to 135°F which increased to 142°F after a standard 3 minute resting time. This hit the sweet spot for an excellent medium-rare steak that was both tender and juicy. The entire process took around 19 minutes.

The skillet’s heat was stable but didn’t reach 500°F like some other skillets, so the crust wasn’t the thickest nor the crispiest. Nonetheless, it was good enough to earn a 9/10 from our chef. Only the Hamilton Beach 38529K scored higher for its crispier crust.

8.4 Design

The Presto Foldaway Non-Stick Electric Skillet 06857 has 16 inches of great build quality. We loved the detachable base and fold-down handles. The thick pan spoke well to even heat distribution, but the metal edging of the lid was not the best fit. Additionally, we would have preferred a ceramic coating to the Teflon.

In the Box

• One electric skillet
• One pan lid
• One detachable thermostat
• One instruction manual
• Warranty: US 2-year limited

Inside the Presto box is one electric skillet, one pan lid, and one thermostat all secured in a large styrofoam pad. The useful manual includes safeguards, instructions on assembly and operating, care and cleaning, as well as cooking times and temperatures for different foods.

Dimensions

Out hand measurements matched well to the manufacturer’s 19. 81" x 12. 25" x 8. 06" and 8.55 pounds in weight.

9.0 Pan

The Presto skillet has a 0.12-inch thick cast aluminum pan which is more durable than just non-cast aluminum (+4). The pan’s extra thickness means more even heat distribution and less likelihood of the pan deforming under heat. Also, the surface is textured similarly to a cast iron skillet, although we’re not sure how much that helps with the cooking of food.

The 8.9-quart pan has a spout for pouring liquid which also acts as a steam or pressure vent which the lid doesn’t have (+1). The handles are part of the base which detaches completely from the pan (+1). At the bottom of the detached pan are four stands so that you can serve directly from the table.

The non-stick coating is Teflon. Although cheaper than ceramic coating, some people may see health concerns despite modern Teflon being free of PFOA (+1). Nonetheless, the pan is dishwasher-safe (+2).

7.0 Lid

The tempered glass lid is dishwasher-safe (+4). It has a steel handle but no steam vent since the pan has a pouring spout (+2). It has metal edging which is common enough, but it doesn’t fit the pan as tightly as some other skillets we’ve seen (+1).

9.0 Base

The detachable base with foldable handles is the best feature of the Presto (+4). You simply press the clips on the handles to release the pan and lift it up.

The base is made of thermosetting plastic which isn’t as durable as metal, but much lighter (+1). It has four anti-slip pads at the bottom and is dishwasher-safe (+4).

7.0 Thermostat

The detachable thermostat is pretty standard with a temperature range of 200 to 400°F (+3). The warm setting is around 150°F and does not maintain the set temperature like some other skillets.The thermostat fits the socket nicely, making it easy to remove (+2). It has an indicator light and isn’t dishwasher-safe (+2).

Power Cord

The power cord is a flat design and 31.1 inches long, which is a little short for our liking but long enough for cooking on a kitchen counter. It uses a two-prong plug which is typically not as safe as a grounded three-prong one.

9.5 Usability

The foldaway feature of the Presto 06857 makes it one of the easiest skillets to clean and store. Additionally, we found the rigid base and the sheer weight of the skillet to be very sturdy while cooking.

9.5 Ease of Use

It is always a great start when the thermostat fits nicely and the temperatures are precise (+3). However, the indicator light is below the surface of the thermostat so it can be slightly difficult to see under bright lighting.

The skillet’s exterior never gets hot in a way to risk burning yourself (+3). However, you shouldn’t carry a hot pan without it being attached to the base. Make sure you grip the handles well and be careful not to accidentally trigger the safety clips.

While cooking or stirring vigorously you don’t have to worry about the pan moving because the perfectly flat base has very sturdy anti-slip pads (+3). We did feel the lid to be slightly heavy, but easily manageable nonetheless.

9.5 Cleaning and Storing

As one can expect from a good non-stick pan, the food released easily and all that was required was a quick, mild-soapy hand wash (+6). Also, grease from the nooks and crannies along the textured surface cleaned out nicely too.

The coolest feature is how the base handles fold in and then the entire removable base just fits inside the pan —making storing quick and easy (+3).

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