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What is a Fajita Skillet?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

When it comes to preparing mouth watering ingredients for fajitas and quesadillas, the fajita skillet is a must. Perfect for stir frying meats and vegetables for use in various types of Mexican dishes, the fajita skillet is easy to use. Here are some facts about the fajita skillet, how it is constructed, and ways to use the fajita skillet to prepare all sorts of tasty dishes.

Like most skillets, the fajita skillet features a construction that employs a flat cooking surface that is surrounded by short walls. It is not unusual for the fajita pan to have an oblong design, with the walls ranging from a quarter inch to around one inch in height. Typically, fajita skillets are made from sturdy cast iron and are usually seasoned before they are ever used. More recently, fajita skillets made of stainless steel and coated with a stick resistant coat on the cooking surface have been introduced. At present, the cast iron types still are preferred by most restaurants as well as persons who love to prepare fajita meals at home.

Kale cooks well in a fajita skillet.
Kale cooks well in a fajita skillet.

The purpose of the fajita skillet is to sear meats and vegetables. Generally, strips of meat that are meant for use in fajitas are marinated overnight in various ingredients, so they are infused with flavor. The meat and a small amount of the marinade are placed into the fajita skillet and allowed to slowly cook through, searing the meat slightly so that there is a texture to the meat. In some cases, persons who like to include some seared vegetables with the meat will add strips of onion and peppers shortly before the meat is finished. This allows the vegetables to absorb some of the taste of the spices and the meat as they cook, while still retaining a slight amount of crunchiness.

Skillets with baked enamel or porcelain interiors provide a nonstick surface for cooking.
Skillets with baked enamel or porcelain interiors provide a nonstick surface for cooking.

Aside from using a fajita skillet for fajitas or quesadillas, many people find the weight and dimensions of the skillet are ideal for other purposes as well. For example, a fajita skillet works very well when searing vegetables like sections of squash, zucchini, or even selections of green leafy vegetables such as collards or kale. Searing thin sections of fish, roast beef, or chicken is also easy with a fajita skillet. Sautéing vegetables in a light sauce is also another use for the skillet, as well as making a light gravy from meat drippings. Like many kitchen utensils, the fajita skillet can easily perform several different tasks, as well as the job it was designed to perform.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon293852

@simrin: I use my fajita skillet for all kinds of cooking. Although I have two larger cast iron skillets, there's no point in heating up a huge surface just to fry a couple of eggs.

Enter the cast iron fajita skillet. It's perfect for smaller cast iron cooking applications. Remember, like any cast iron surfaces, it must be seasoned first and make sure the cooking surface is hot before you begin cooking. I used my fajita skillet to fry eggs, make pancakes and omelets and to pan-sear fish or meats.

After cooking, remember to never wash your cast iron in the dishwasher or with soap (unless you're planning on having to re-season the pan). Simply wash with hot water and a plastic scrubbing tool. Make sure it's immediately dried and rub all surfaces with oil.

Cast iron surfaces, when properly seasoned, make a fantastic non-stick cooking surface. The metal heats and cooks evenly and maintenance is a breeze.

SteamLouis

@turkay1-- I also don't usually buy kitchen devices and cookware that can only be used to do one thing. Good quality cookware always costs a lot and it doesn't make sense to pay all that money for one piece of cookware that's going to be used once or twice all year. The cookware I get has to be multi-purpose and capable of being used for many things.

I'm glad to know that a fajita skillet can be used to cook different veggies, meats and to heat up bread. Are there any other uses for a fajita skillet? Is it good for making eggs for example, or pancakes?

bear78

I love grilled fajitas, anything cooked on an open-flame is delicious, I love that smoked flavor that meat gets from the fire. I saw a really nice fajita skillet at my friend's place last week. This skillet was made to be placed on the grill or directly on fire. I had never seen one of these before but it made the job of cooking those veggies and meats so easy.

Usually, it's difficult to cook fajitas on a grill because the meat and veggies can fall through into the fire. If you use a regular pan, and the meat is fatty, then you're going to end up eating all that fat.

But this skillet is built to be placed on fire so it holds up well to heat and it also has thin slots underneath it that allows the oil and fat to drip out. So it makes really healthy fajitas that taste super good. I also loved that the handle wouldn't heat up, so you don't burn your hand when you pick it up.

I have to get one of these right away. I think it's time for a fajita barbecue.

candyquilt

My mom, knowing how much I love fajitas gifted me a fajita skillet recently. It's a stainless steel one with non-stick surface, which is the best kind of material for this skillet I think.

I used to make fajita fillings on a regular pan or skillet before and it did not come out as tasty. I think the fajita skillet heats up more quickly and distributes the heat really effectively and evenly across the skillet because the meat and veggies are always perfectly cooked, but never dry or burned.

I heat up tortillas and flat breads on the skillet as well and it toasts them nicely. It's really a great skillet. I used to doubt cookware for particular dishes before, but now I realize what a difference it makes.

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    • Kale cooks well in a fajita skillet.
      By: forevergreen
      Kale cooks well in a fajita skillet.
    • Skillets with baked enamel or porcelain interiors provide a nonstick surface for cooking.
      By: FirstBlood
      Skillets with baked enamel or porcelain interiors provide a nonstick surface for cooking.
    • Fajitas are often made in cast iron pans.
      By: canadapanda
      Fajitas are often made in cast iron pans.
    • Fajita skillets can be used to sear squash.
      By: zigzagmtart
      Fajita skillets can be used to sear squash.