Picture a family meal where your bacon doesn’t get in the way of the pancakes and no one ends up with a crispy hat on their egg. Before I had the extra large electric skillet, mornings were like a late-night comedy show, with food all crammed together and me flipping and dodging like a chef doing acrobatics. What now? There’s enough space for everyone, and I’m finally in charge instead of scurrying around.

This item is huge in the kitchen. Have you ever tried to fit brunch for five onto a normal frying pan? Putting a circus in a phone booth is like trying to fit a circus into a phone booth. The extra-large electric skillet is a different kind of cooking surface. It has a lot of room, so every piece of French toast and every sausage gets its own patch of sunshine. Pancakes don’t have to worry about dying anymore. You never feel like you’re playing Tetris with your tater tots, and nothing spills on the burner.

And let’s speak about cleaning up. Cleaning charred bits off of several pans used to feel like a workout. Those days are over. A quick wipe with a moist cloth will make everything look new again. This thing really is nonstick. Did you get unexpected guests at the door? While you talk, throw in a stack of grilled cheese or quesadillas. Everyone will be full and satisfied before you even discover the take-out options.

It’s also strangely pleasant to dial in the heat. Grill vegetables on one side and sear fish on the other. Or cook onions next to potatoes that are browning. Everything is done at the same time, hot and flawless. No more sides that make you shudder or pieces that are over cooked.

You might be throwing in leftovers or making a huge stir fry on busy weeknights before you have time to think about what you’re doing. Family supper goes more smoothly all of a sudden—there are less dirty dishes, less frenzied energy, and a little more talking. The youngsters might even stay at the table longer.

An extra-large electric skillet can be used for more than one thing at parties, camping vacations, or when the neighbors come over and want more food. It’s the difference between flipping burgers in shifts and serving a whole pile at once. To give your new gear a workout, you’ll pull out recipes that feed eight instead of two.

It won’t turn you into a chef overnight, but it will make you feel like you could feed an army without breaking a sweat. Dinner gets easier. Breakfast gets more exciting. And the best part? You can always fit one more person at your table.