Home Cooks Online

Skillet review and grilled sandwich recipe. 

I tried out a new skillet the other day, the Lodge Logic Wonder Skillet, that was unlike
anything I've ever seen.  If you don't
believe me, just check out the photo. 
It's hard to talk about this pan without using the word
"cute," so please forgive me. 
It is the smallest skillet ever, just about the size of a slice of
bread.  We have lots of big skillets
here, but I hate using them when I just want to cook something small (like a
frozen veggie patty, or egg, or grilled sandwich).  This pan fit the bill.

It comes with a big red sticker in the
middle, which made me worry because I hate trying to remove stickers, but this
one peeled right off.  It is a cast iron
skillet, and there is no better surface for frying or browning things in.  Usually, they're awfully heavy, but this one
is light because it's so bitsy.  It's
pre-seasoned, so all you have to do is rinse and go.

I set it over a flame and added some olive oil. 
Then I tossed in a frozen vegetarian patty,
and it browned and cooked through nicely in about 3 minutes per side.  One warning -- the handle doesn't stay cool,
so a pot holder is definitely in order. 
It would be nice if one of those made-to-fit sleeves came with it, but I
guess I could get crafty myself.  

I took the patty out and put a slice of bread topped with
cheddar cheese in the hot pan, topped that with the cooked patty and put the
remaining slice of bread (spread with a bit of spicy mustard) on top of
that.  The bread toasted beautifully and
cheese melted in about 2 minutes per side. 
No further oil necessary in the pan.

I used a big fat wooden spatula to flip the sandwich, and
that wasn't terribly bright considering the size of the pan.  It worked, but was an effort.  A skinny spatula is the way to go. 

Overall, I loved this cute little skillet, and
it performs like a champ.  Everybody
needs a personal sandwich pan.  You can
purchase one for yourself here.  Also, it
makes a great gift idea for the small apartment dweller or dorm resident on
your shopping list.