Review of Coleman InstaStart Portable Skillet

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Coleman InstaStart Portable Skillet - Blue
By: Coleman Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 5
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Coleman skillet

On: 2008-12-01

Very pleased w/product !! Exactly what was wanted for XMAS "gift", thanks.Good seller, shipper, etc.

excellent buy, does great job

On: 2007-12-18

The skillet is used when we tailgate, gets really hot which is needed outside, and easy to cleanup

Excellent Camp Cooking

On: 2007-05-31

This Portable Skillet is a must have for camping. It heats up quickly and burns evenly. I used it Memorial Weekend and its size is perfect for family cooking or a complete one pan meal for two. Its a great extra cooking tool for the serious camper. I am well satisfied with the purchase and will be using it frequently along with my cooking stove. Great product.

Great breakfast skillet for a small crowd!...

On: 2007-02-06

I purchased this unit primarily for cooking breakfasts when camping. For one or two people, I use the old fry pan, but for a small crowd, this skillet is phenominal and a real cooking time-saver. It allows for ecomomy of fuel and you can serve breakfast to all, not having to wait as additional portions are cooked up. Eggs, potatoes, bacon and sausages... you name it, even French Toast. The Teflon surfaces are a snap to clean-up. The surface heats evenly and on low heat, allows you to keep food warm without burning or scorching for the sleepy arrivals.

The instastart ignition has worked fine with one or two clicks. I agree with another reviewer about storage. Not many people would willingly want to detach the legs so it would fit into its shipping box after each camping trip, if they had a choice. I have a carry bag that holds my Coleman propane stove with propane bottle pouches, and Coleman should create a similar carry bag for the skillet. I have not been able to find one. Coleman, this is a major inconvience for users and needs to be corrected!

Cook Like A Pro

On: 2006-07-26

I purchased two of these skillets for a recent camping trip.

First let me complain (but please notice that I still gave this item a five-star review). You need a long-shafted screwdriver to put them together. I decided to assemble them at the campground (so they didnt get damaged in transport) and I ended up having to go buy a screwdriver because mine was too short. Next, it would be nice if companies like Coleman would make boxes that would hold the item in its assembled form. I mean, people dont use many of these things on a daily basis, so to keep these items from being damaged, they should have a box that fits the assembled item or maybe even a plastic storage case.

Now, onto the good stuff... I was really impressed with items functionality, durability, and quality.

First, I was cooking for a small army on this recent camping trip. One skillet was able to hold 3 dozen scrambled eggs (with room to spare) and I was amazed at how quickly and evenly it cooked. I also used it to melt butter for corn-on-the-cob. On High, it melted quickly and on Low, it kept the butter warm without burning it. Continuing on with functionality, the InstaStart was a good idea, but I think it needs some refinement. It took three or four clicks before the skillet would fire up, but it did work well overall. Additionally, the skillet was designed in such a way that you could very easily use a match if the ignitor ever broke.

Second, the durability... One of the skillets was knocked off the picnic table that it was perched upon. The propane tank immediately popped off which was a nice safety feature. The skillet itself was totally unharmed. I didnt see a single scratch or dent on it. The cover is made of thin metal, so I could see where it could be damaged; however, it seemed to withstand this three foot drop very well.

Third, the quality... The skillets cooking surface itself is fantastic. It is truly "non-stick" and the clean-up was unbelievably quick. For one meal, I even used a metal spatula to turn the eggs. Of course, I was gentle because I didnt want to scratch the surface. It was very smooth and just feeling the metal spatula gliding across the surface of the skillet. I wouldnt suggest using a metal spatula (I did because I forgot to bring a plastic one), but I would suspect that it would take a good deal of cooking before the metal-on-metal would cause some damage.

I would highly recommend these skillets. Not only did they work well for cooking, theyre also very useful for warming. Additionally, while researching these, I was unable to determine the depth of the skillet pan from any of the websites that sell this product. Its approximately 2 inches deep, so it can hold a good amount of food. I was cooking for 20 people and two of these skillets held more than enough eggs for everyone. Also, we diced up 10 pounds of potatoes with 5 onions and a package of bacon. We cooked it in 2 skillets, but once it was cooked down, it all fit into one skillet (heaping - but allowed the cover to be placed on with no problem). We also had quite a bit left over even after 20 people had eaten.

For the price, these skillets are a fantastic deal! Considering the outstanding functionality, diversity, durability, and quality of this product, I couldnt imagine anything comparable at this price.

Cook Like A Pro

On: 2006-07-25

I purchased two of these skillets for a recent camping trip.

First let me complain (but please notice that I still gave this item a five-star review). You need a long-shafted screwdriver to put them together. I decided to assemble them at the campground (so they didnt get damaged in transport) and I ended up having to go buy a screwdriver because mine was too short. Next, it would be nice if companies like Coleman would make boxes that would hold the item in its assembled form. I mean, people dont use many of these things on a daily basis, so to keep these items from being damaged, they should have a box that fits the assembled item or maybe even a plastic storage case.

Now, onto the good stuff... I was really impressed with items functionality, durability, and quality.

First, I was cooking for a small army on this recent camping trip. One skillet was able to hold 3 dozen scrambled eggs (with room to spare) and I was amazed at how quickly and evenly it cooked. I also used it to melt butter for corn-on-the-cob. On High, it melted quickly and on Low, it kept the butter warm without burning it. Continuing on with functionality, the InstaStart was a good idea, but I think it needs some refinement. It took three or four clicks before the skillet would fire up, but it did work well overall. Additionally, the skillet was designed in such a way that you could very easily use a match if the ignitor ever broke.

Second, the durability... One of the skillets was knocked off the picnic table that it was perched upon. The propane tank immediately popped off which was a nice safety feature. The skillet itself was totally unharmed. I didnt see a single scratch or dent on it. The cover is made of thin metal, so I could see where it could be damaged; however, it seemed to withstand this three foot drop very well.

Third, the quality... The skillets cooking surface itself is fantastic. It is truly "non-stick" and the clean-up was unbelievably quick. For one meal, I even used a metal spatula to turn the eggs. Of course, I was gentle because I didnt want to scratch the surface. It was very smooth and just feeling the metal spatula gliding across the surface of the skillet. I wouldnt suggest using a metal spatula (I did because I forgot to bring a plastic one), but I would suspect that it would take a good deal of cooking before the metal-on-metal would cause some damage.

I would highly recommend these skillets. Not only did they work well for cooking, theyre also very useful for warming. Additionally, while researching these, I was unable to determine the depth of the skillet pan from any of the websites that sell this product. Its approximately 2 inches deep, so it can hold a good amount of food. I was cooking for 20 people and two of these skillets held more than enough eggs for everyone. Also, we diced up 10 pounds of potatoes with 5 onions and a package of bacon. We cooked it in 2 skillets, but once it was cooked down, it all fit into one skillet (heaping - but allowed the cover to be placed on with no problem). We also had quite a bit left over even after 20 people had eaten.

For the price, these skillets are a fantastic deal! Considering the outstanding functionality, diversity, durability, and quality of this product, I couldnt imagine anything comparable at this price.