Brunch used to be like a circus act, with pancake batter flying around, bacon awkwardly folding next to eggs, and me cooking flapjacks with one hand while evading wayward sausages. Next was the huge extra large electric skillet. A game changer. Picture trying to fit everything into a few small frying pans. Now, imagine a big, gleaming, plug-in griddle that looks like a big street map. That’s the trick.
These skillets don’t care about “batch cooking.” You can put hash browns, eggs, and sausage on top of each other, and there’s room for each. Too many people? I’ve never heard of it. Your omelets won’t let bacon fat take over their edges. Your mushrooms sizzle a long way from the pancake brigade.
Cleaning up doesn’t hurt. Most extra-large electric skillets have nonstick coatings that keep burnt food from sticking. Unplug it, clean it down, and you’re done. You may blink and miss it because the surface is so easy to clean. Do friends come over without warning? Don’t freak out. Plug it in, turn it on, put grilled cheese on for six minutes, and act like you planned this all day.
When you change the heat on a big surface, everyone gets their toast golden. You can get crispy, fluffy, and melty all in one gadget. Did you save any tacos from last night? Just throw everything in and—boom—nachos for a crowd, gooey, crunchy, and fun.
Not just for parties. On Tuesday nights, we eat shrimp and peppers stir fry. Mornings turn into pancakes for a soccer team. It gives you power. Dinner comes together quickly. Afterward, you don’t have to look at as many pots and pans in the sink.
Do you really need all the eggs in one basket for your camping trip? A big electric skillet. Are you cooking for the PTA meeting? You’re safe. You’ll even say yes to new recipes just because you have the room to make them bigger. Casseroles that aren’t interesting should be careful; there’s a new sheriff in town.
You don’t need big tools to be a good cook. But they definitely make things more enjoyable, lighter, and brighter. And if you want to cook more than you can handle, no one will stop you from having breakfast for supper twice a week.