Hot Plates

Cooking and reheating food when you’re not at home can be tricky, especially if you’re camping or in a room without a proper stove. In these situations, you can either opt for cold foods or you can rely on a hot plate for cooking. Hot plates are convenient small kitchen appliances that make cooking in unfamiliar areas easier. Learn more about them below.

What Are Hot Plates?

A hot plate, also known as a heating plate, is a small, portable electric burner with one or two heated surfaces meant for cooking. Hot plates are also used for keeping things warm after cooking. They are usually used in spaces that lack full stovetops, like hotel rooms, cabins or at a campsite. Heating plates are common to pack alongside camping supplies, because most campsites only provide firepits.

Electric hot plates are available in three heating styles: coil, infrared and induction. The style of heating can impact how evenly and how quickly your food cooks.

Coil Hot Plates

Usually the most affordable option, coil hot plates heat up quickly because the cookware comes into direct contact with the heated coils. One drawback with this style of hot plate is that it can be hard to clean if food falls between coils. Some coil hot plates are covered by cast iron plates which prevent food from falling but the material takes longer to heat and is much more costly.

Infrared Hot Plates

Infrared hot plates are a more costly option, but they heat more quickly and evenly than coil styles. They also tend to be more energy-efficient.

Induction Hot Plates

Induction hot plates are the most costly, but they are considered to be the best in terms of temperature control and efficiency. They also do not get hot to the touch. The only downside is that they can only be used with heat magnetic cookware and not with glass or aluminum.

What Features Should I Look for in a Hot Plate?

Hot plates have a lot of desirable features that make them appealing to a wide variety of people. Read more about their most sought after features below.