The Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet review is a good place to start if you want one appliance that can handle more than just breakfast.
It is built for big batches, simple cleanup, and compact storage.
Presto 06857 Skillet Review Summary
If you want a countertop skillet that can roast, fry, grill, stew, bake, and even serve buffet-style meals, the Presto 06857 Skillet is a strong all-around pick.
It is especially appealing for families, holiday cooks, and anyone who likes the idea of one large pan doing the job of several pieces of cookware.
What stands out most is the balance of large capacity, PFAS-free ceramic nonstick, foldaway storage, and automatic temperature control.
That combination makes the Presto 06857 Skillet a smart buy for practical home cooks who care more about convenience and versatility than restaurant-level precision.
It is not the smallest or most specialized electric skillet on the market, and it will not replace every stovetop tool.
But if your goal is a dependable, roomy, easy-to-store electric pan for everyday meals and entertaining, it makes a compelling case.
Scorecard
| Category | Score | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Versatility | 9.0 | Works for roasting, frying, grilling, stewing, baking, and casseroles. |
| Capacity | 9.0 | The 16-inch pan and high sidewalls support family-sized portions. |
| Temperature Control | 8.0 | Control Master heat control helps maintain temperature automatically. |
| Nonstick Performance | 9.0 | Ceramic nonstick inside and out with PFAS-free coating supports easy release and cleanup. |
| Cleanup and Storage | 9.0 | Removable base and fold-down handles make cleanup and storage much easier. |
| Build and Handling | 8.0 | Aluminum construction, tempered glass cover, and cool-touch features are practical for daily use. |
Bottom line: the Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is best for buyers who want a versatile, high-capacity, low-fuss cooking solution that can also tuck away more neatly than a traditional large pan.
Key Features and Specifications of Presto 06857 Skillet
The Presto 06857 Skillet is designed like a hybrid between a large sauté pan, a shallow Dutch oven, and a buffet warmer.
Those design choices make more sense once you look at the details.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Presto |
| Model | 06857 |
| Type | Electric foldaway skillet |
| Pan Size | 16-inch |
| Dimensions | 12″D x 20″W x 8.1″H |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Wattage | 1500 watts |
| Voltage | 120V |
| Item Weight | 8.6 pounds |
| Color | Black |
| Included Components | Skillet, removable base, cover, heat control |
| Special Features | Ceramic nonstick, cool touch, PFAS-free, temperature control |
- 16-inch cooking surface for bigger meals and entertaining.
- High sidewalls to support deeper cooking and reduce splatter.
- Foldaway design with handles that fold down so the skillet can detach from the base.
- Removable base for easier washing and more compact storage.
- Base stores inside the pan when the handles are folded in, which is a clever space-saving choice.
- Tempered glass cover lets you monitor food without lifting the lid.
- Stay-cool cover handle and cool-touch features help make handling safer.
- PFAS-free ceramic nonstick surface inside and out for easier food release and cleanup.
- Control Master heat control designed to maintain cooking temperature automatically.
- Dual-purpose utility as a skillet and buffet server.
From a buyer’s perspective, the specs point to a very specific kind of appliance: one that is built for easy everyday use, flexible meal prep, and simple storage.
The 1500-watt power rating is typical for this class and should be enough for steady countertop cooking in a normal kitchen setup.
Pros and Cons of Presto 06857 Skillet
Before deciding if the Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is right for you, it helps to look at the Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet pros and cons in plain terms.
Pros
- Very versatile for multiple cooking methods, not just frying.
- Large capacity makes it practical for family meals and guests.
- Nonstick ceramic surface should support easy food release and less scrubbing.
- Foldaway base design improves storage convenience compared with many bulky electric pans.
- Can double as a buffet server, which is especially useful for holiday meals and gatherings.
Cons
- Still takes up counter space while in use, so very small kitchens may feel crowded.
- Not a perfect replacement for stovetop cookware if you need absolute heat precision or specialty pan shapes.
- Automatic heat control is helpful but not surgical; it is convenient, not laboratory-level exact.
- Large size may be inconvenient if your cabinet or drawer storage is limited.
The pros are especially strong if you care about one-pan convenience.
The drawbacks mostly come down to the reality of any large electric skillet: it is a great helper, but not the only pan you will ever need.
Who Should Buy Presto 06857 Skillet?
The Presto 06857 Skillet is a good fit for buyers who want a reliable countertop pan for real-world cooking.
It suits people who need to make bigger portions without heating up the whole kitchen.
- Families who cook large batches for weekday meals.
- Hosts and holiday cooks who want a serving-friendly appliance.
- Apartment or small-house cooks who want countertop flexibility, provided they have the space for it.
- Meal-prep buyers who value an easy-to-clean, wide cooking surface.
- Buyers who dislike clutter and want a skillet that stores more efficiently than many full-size pans.
It is less suitable for people who want very compact cookware, or for cooks who prefer the control and familiar feel of a dedicated stovetop burner.
If you need exact flame-style responsiveness, this is not the same experience.
Best fit: shoppers who want a large, versatile electric skillet with simple cleanup and smarter storage.
How the Foldaway Design Works
One of the smartest parts of the Presto 06857 Skillet is the foldaway construction.
The handles fold down so the pan can detach from the base, and the base fits inside the pan for more compact storage.
That matters because many electric skillets are useful in theory but annoying in practice when it is time to put them away.
This model solves a real kitchen problem: how to store a large appliance without dedicating a huge shelf to it.
From a design perspective, the foldaway system also makes cleanup simpler.
You can separate components more easily than with fixed-base countertop pans, and that usually means less hassle around the sink.
For buyers who like organized cabinets, this is a meaningful advantage, not a gimmick.
The tradeoff is that any foldaway appliance has more moving parts than a basic pan.
That is a fair exchange if you value storage efficiency, but it is worth understanding before you buy.
Cooking Performance Across Meals
The biggest reason to consider the Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet review is performance across different meals.
It is not built to do one thing perfectly; it is built to do many things well enough for everyday home cooking.
For frying, the wide surface gives food room to cook more evenly than a crowded skillet.
For stews and casseroles, the high sidewalls are useful because they help contain liquid and give ingredients room to simmer.
For roasting and baking, the covered pan format can create a more oven-like environment than a shallow griddle.
That versatility is where this model earns its keep.
You can use it for breakfast hash, chicken thighs, sautéed vegetables, one-pan pasta-style meals, or baked casseroles.
The 16-inch footprint is especially helpful when cooking for multiple people because it reduces the need to work in small batches.
What it does best: straightforward home meals, batch cooking, and dishes that benefit from a broad, even cooking surface.
What it does not do best: highly delicate techniques that depend on exact burner response or specialized cookware geometry.
Temperature Control and Heat Consistency
Temperature control is one of the most important decision factors in an electric skillet, and the Presto 06857 uses Control Master heat control to automatically maintain cooking temperature.
For everyday cooks, that is a very practical feature because it reduces constant fiddling.
In buyer terms, this means less babysitting.
Once the skillet reaches the right range, the control system is meant to help hold it there more consistently.
That is especially useful when you are cooking larger quantities or preparing food for guests and do not want to keep adjusting settings.
Still, it is important to keep expectations realistic.
Automatic heat maintenance is not the same as the pinpoint control of a high-end range.
If your recipes depend on very specific heat swings, you may still prefer stovetop cookware.
But for most home cooking, the balance here is convenient and dependable.
The 1500-watt design is a sensible match for this appliance class.
It suggests enough power for solid everyday use without moving into unnecessary overkill for the average kitchen.
Cleaning, Detaching, and Storage
If easy cleanup is high on your list, the Presto 06857 Skillet is easy to appreciate.
The PFAS-free ceramic nonstick surface inside and out is intended to reduce sticking, and that usually translates into less scrubbing after dinner.
The removable base matters just as much as the coating.
Once detached, cleaning becomes more manageable because you are not trying to wash around a fixed electrical setup.
The foldaway design also helps it fit into tighter storage spaces than many large electric pans.
There is one buyer caution here: as with any nonstick surface, you should use utensils and cleaning methods that protect the coating.
That means avoiding abrasive tools and being thoughtful about heat and storage habits.
If treated well, this kind of surface can be a big time saver.
Storage advantage: the base fitting inside the skillet is a genuine practical benefit, especially in kitchens where shelf space is always at a premium.
Using It as a Buffet Server
This is one of the more useful features for entertaining.
The Presto 06857 Skillet is designed to double as a buffet server, which means you can cook in it and then use it to help keep food ready for serving.
That can be especially helpful for family gatherings, brunch tables, potlucks, or holiday meals where food needs to stay warm while everyone serves themselves.
The tempered glass cover is a smart complement here because it lets you keep an eye on food without constantly opening the lid.
For buyers who host often, this dual-purpose role is a real value driver.
It reduces the need for separate warming dishes and keeps service more streamlined.
If entertaining matters to you, this feature is a meaningful plus.
Just remember that the skillet is still an electric appliance, so you will need a suitable counter or table setup and a safe place to position it.
This is convenient serving support, not a full replacement for a buffet warmer system built for commercial use.
Presto 06857 Skillet Alternatives to Consider
Depending on how you cook, a few alternative product types may be worth comparing before you commit to the Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet.
- Presto electric griddle if you want a flatter surface for pancakes, bacon, and breakfast cooking.
- Large electric skillet if you want to compare similar countertop pans from multiple brands.
- Smaller electric skillet if kitchen storage is tight and you do not need a 16-inch size.
- Stovetop sauté pan if you prefer range cooking and want more heat precision.
- Dutch oven if your cooking style leans toward braises, soups, and long simmering on the stove or in the oven.
- Multi-cooker if you want pressure cooking, slow cooking, and sauté functions in one appliance.
Compared with those options, the Presto 06857 Skillet makes the most sense when you want a large, simple, versatile, easy-to-store cooking pan rather than a gadget with a long menu of specialized modes.
Is Presto 06857 Skillet Worth It?
So, is Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet worth it?
For the right buyer, yes.
It is worth considering if you want a roomy electric skillet that can handle everyday family meals, batch cooking, and buffet-style serving without becoming difficult to clean or store.
The strongest reasons to buy are clear: versatility, capacity, nonstick convenience, and a foldaway design that respects kitchen space.
Those benefits matter most in real homes, where cooking often has to be fast, flexible, and easy to clean up afterward.
The main reasons to skip it are also clear: if your kitchen is very small, if you mostly cook on a stove, or if you need the precision of dedicated range cookware, this may feel like an extra appliance rather than an essential one.
In that case, a stovetop sauté pan, a Dutch oven, or even a smaller electric skillet may fit better.
Final verdict: the Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is a smart buy for practical cooks who want size, convenience, and flexibility in one countertop appliance.
If that sounds like your kitchen, it earns a strong place on the shortlist.