Cuisinart CSK-150 1500-Watt Nonstick Oval Electric Skillet,Brushed Stainless 18 IN

I have only had my Cuisinart Electric Skillet for approx. two weeks, but have used it almost every day since receiving it! I love it! Very easy to clean, nothing sticks to it. I have fried chicken twice in it, and it did a wonderful job of it. The chicken fried evenly and got very brown and crusty but no burning. I have fried pork chops in it, and it was the same, cooked perfectly. I have found it fries bacon much better and more evenly than trying to do it on my stove and so much easier to clean up because it doesn't spatter as badly as cooking in a more shallow skillet. Plus, my stove top is smooth glass and frying on it is always messy and causes the grease to burn onto it and then has to be cleaned with special glasstop cleanser, so I don't make a mess on my stove when I use the skillet. I cooked hamburgers in it yesterday and they were delicious, browned on the outside but juicy inside. The best I have cooked in a long time. I cannot praise this skillet enough! I have been searching for a 16-in. electric skillet for the past year but every one that I would find listed on Amazon (which is the same selection, or even better selection) than I would find in a local department store, and as I always read customer reviews before I buy (I feel this is the best way to find out about any product before actually buying and using it, from people who have it and have used it) they all had some bad features, either in the design or workmanship, and in the case of Rival, not good customer service. So I stayed away from every brand that I read about for the 16 in. elec. skillets. Then, just recently, I was checking out the food network website and noticed this oval shaped one by Cuisinart that they offered, and though the price was the same as on amazon, I went with amazon because of the free shipping. I was also hoping that amazon would have a few customer reviews for me to read so I could see how others either liked or disliked the skillet, but alas, there were none! I guess it is too new yet to have many customer reviews. Though it is not quite the 16 inches that I was looking for, the 15"X12" size has proven to be just as good, it easily holds a whole chicken without crowding. The one inch differenc wasn't enough to stop me from buying it. I knew Cuisinart was a very good brand, so I trusted the name, and took a chance and I am so happy that I did. It is pure joy to cook in this skillet. I haven't even put it away since I have had it, as I use it almost every day, I just keep it sitting on the end of my counter in the kitchen, where I use it. The only criticism I could offer is the shortness of the cord, but I have found this is true with every electric skillet that I have looked at, and was true with my old one that I gave my daughter when I purchased this one. It seems you can't wear electric skillets out, as I had that one for about 25 years! But back to the short cord. I think it is a safety feature so that you won't get caught in the electric cord and pull the skillet off the counter or table and cause burns to yourself or damage the skillet. And thankfully, the cord is just long enough to reach the outlet on the down-side of my counter top without having to use an extension. If I used it close to a wall with a wall socket, it would reach even better. But since I don't have a lot of counter space and the counter top range takes up so much of my space, it is more convenient for me to have it at the end of the counter top. And it is worth every penny of the hundred dollar price! I highly recommend it.

Even though all 3 of its handles heat up during use to where some form of hand protection is required just to lift its lid (a design defect that could easily have been avoided) & even though its delicate non-stick cooking surface requires those specially coated tools & means you can't cut anything up in the pan, I give this piece of kitchen hardware full marks for its overall utility, sizable cooking surface, thermal sensitivity, and handsome appearance. Of course I've had it for only a month & used it only a few times, so it's possible that it won't last as well as the 47-year-old Sunbeam it replaced. But I'm happy with it so far.It's now July, 2010, 5 years after the above comments, and I can now say for sure that it won't last 47 years. I've not had the temperature regulation problems some other users have experienced. The unit has been fully reliable in all of its mechanical functions. Its habit of "spitting" liquid out under its lid onto the kitchen counter, even if set only to simmer, is annoying. But what sounds its death knell is the deterioration of its non-stick surface. Knowing how sensitive such surfaces are, I've been meticulous in avoiding the use of any utensils that could scar it, or even rub it the wrong way. Always hand-washed it with gentle detergents so as to make sure than no chemical action could cause the coating to degrade. Still, after 5 years, the surface is clearly wearing out. I'm not savvy enough to know if this particular synthetic can be "renewed" in any acceptable way, but I suspect that I'll be in the market for a new electric skillet soon. Whether this product is an example of "planned obsolescence" I'm also in no position to say, but I am seriously disappointed that a cooker that cooked so well for 5 years should have to be abandoned just because its non-stick surface gave out.

I recently purchased this skillet to replace an old cheapee I'd had since college. Having since become accustomed to quality, I research every purchase before making a decision, and never regret spending a bit more to get what we want. I also considered a Zojirushi, but decided it was too small for an all-purpose skillet (I still may purchase that one too though!) Based on the reviews and my experience with Cuisinart, I decided to order when Amazon had a little price drop. It arrived quickly and in perfect condition. This is a large skillet but I solve my storage issue simply - I don't! It is a beautiful oval stainless steel with curved glass top that looks lovely on display in a modern kitchen! I find that having it on the counter has made this my most used appliance - everything from eggs and bacon or pancakes for a weekend breakfast, to quesadillas or hot sandwiches for lunch, to a 2-3 course dinner for a small family (or a big serving of meat, veggies, rice or pasta for a large gathering), this skillet is perfect! It heats quickly and evenly so it is even a good choice for one or two grilled cheese sandwiches rather than pulling out a pan for the stove, yet there is plenty of room for cooking to feed a group. I love that I can see the cooking without removing the lid since it is glass - and that it is vented (a lot of glass lids are not!) to let steam escape. The non-stick works flawlessly, and is great for low-fat healthy meals; cleanup is a breeze. Warm feature works nicely to keep food at a nice temp once it is done. What a fantastic wedding gift this would make. I can't comment yet on the longevity, but so far I give it 5-stars!**EDIT Aug 2009: I have now owned this appliance for over 2 years and it is still as fabulous as ever!