Hot plates have come a long way from the wobbly gas models and unevenly heated electric burners your mother used to use. In fact, today’s hot plates harness cutting-edge technology, like induction magnets, to bring you space-saving, ultra-powerful, and uniform burners that act as perfect pinch-hitters when you need some extra heating space.
When searching for a hot plate, pay attention to wattage – the higher, the more powerful. Look for highly adjustable power and temperature controls, which allow you to pick your wattage and vary from simple low-medium-high to models with infinite temperature controls.
There are energy-efficient models and easy-to-clean cooking surfaces, slim profiles and digital countdown timers. Depending on your use (and your existing cookware), you may also want to invest in an induction cooktop hot plate, which uses electromagnets to heat food and liquids in just seconds.
Here’s a rundown of the 25 best hot plates available today.
The Cuisinart CB-30 is a combination cast-iron and stainless-steel single-burner hot plate offering 1300 watts of power, for quick-heat up and efficient heat-retention during cooking. We like the coil-less cast-iron plate, which makes for fast & easy cleaning, we love the premium brushed stainless-steel finish, which looks good on the countertop. Bonus points for the on/off indicator lights, which let you know when the hot plate is on (and therefore dangerous to touch).
Key Features:
- 1300 watts of power
- 6-setting temperature controls
- 1-year limited warranty
This single-burner electric hot plate from Eleganceinlife is made for anything from cooking at the office, to adding an extra burner in the kitchen, to glamping in the camper, and even to cooking outdoors. We appreciate the cool-touch end panels, which keep the hot plate safe and comfortable to touch and reposition, even when in use. The slim, space-saving design is a definite plus.
Key Features:
- 1000 watts of power
- Space-saving slim design
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
The Duxtop 9600LS is a high-powered, portable induction cooktop: magnetic field cooking on the go, wherever you need it. It’s tricked out with all the tech you’d expect from an induction cooktop, including a super-adjustable 20 temperature ranges and 20 power levels. We absolutely appreciate the child lock safety system, which keeps your kiddos safe(r), even if you place the cooktop on easy-to-reach kitchen counters.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- Built-in count-down digital timer with 1 minute increments up to 10 hours
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
Rosewill RHAI-15001 is another induction cooktop – this time, with a stainless-steel pot guaranteed to work with your cooker. We like the crystal plate surface, which is beautifully polished for use and aesthetics, and the elegant design that looks good in your kitchen. We love the 1800 watts of power, which heats up to 450º F in a flash. You could be braising, roasting, frying, stir frying or boiling in just seconds!
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- 5 Pre-Programmed Settings: Warm Milk, Soup, Stir Fry, Fry, Hot Pot
- 1-year warranty on all parts and labor
This portable induction cooktop from EurKitchen gets points for being so easy to use: simply adjust the precision temperature controls via the touch sensor buttons, and you’ll be cooking a minutes. We love how adjustable and versatile this cooker is, with 17 power levels and 20ºF temperature increments swinging from 140º to 460ºF. The 3-hour time and LCD digital read-out are super handy, giving you the freedom to walk away until your food is ready.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- 17 power/wattage levels (from 140-460º F, 200-1800W)
- 1-year money-back guarantee/warranty
This high-powered single-burner hot plate from Cadco offers a large 8” tubular element, to accommodate medium to large pots on an extra burner. We really appreciate the adjust-how-you-please Robertshaw thermostat, which allows for infinite incremental heat controls. 1500 powerful watts don’t hurt, either, as they’re all devoted to one burner for ultra-powerful, fast-to-heat cooking.
Key Features:
- 1500 watts
- 8-inch, high-speed burner
- 1-year warranty
This single-burner, solid-top hot plate from White is perfect for all those times you just need an extra burner. At just 6” in diameter, it’s ultra portable, and with a generous 32” cord, it’ll go almost anywhere you can find a place for it. We give it two thumbs-up to the four rubber feet, which provide added stability and surface protection, and applaud the ultra-adjustable heat controls, which guarantee perfect results, every time.
Key Features:
- 1000 watts
- Burner measures 6” in diameter; sized for pan diameters of 6-7.5”
- Generous 32” long coil-less cord, for maximum convenience and easy cleanup/storage
This stainless-steel, single-burner portable cooktop uses ceramic infrared heating – no electromagnetic radiation and completely harmless. With high thermal efficiency, it’ll reach top temperatures in just a few minutes, and it retains heat well, perfect for when you need to finish cooking at low temperatures. We also like the multi-function options, which can be set to barbecue, hot pot, hot milk, soup, stir and simmer.
Key Features:
- 1200 watts
- High thermal efficiency means the burner reaches its highest temperature in just a few minutes
- 30-day money-back guarantee and 18-month warranty
Cuisinart is back, this time with the CB-60, a cast-iron and stainless-steel double hot plate – a two-burner answer to the single version above. This handy little device is perfect for anywhere you lack a kitchen – boats, campers, RVs, patios, or even dorm rooms – with coil-less cast-iron plates that heat quickly and evenly, and are a total cinch to wipe clean. We appreciate the high-low burners (one at 1300 watts, the other at 500), for fast heat and low-simmer options.
Key Features:
- 1800 total watts: 1300 on primary burner; 500 watts on secondary burner
- Two separate 6-setting, adjustable temperature controls
- 1-year limited warranty
This stainless-steel, single-burner electric hot plate from Homeleader can squeeze into small spaces, to provide easy and adaptable cooking where you wouldn’t normally have room. Adjustable temperature controls provide the right ranges to increase intensity from simmering, to gentle heating, to pan-frying, and then back down to back down to keep-warm. The 1000 watts of power deliver fast, if not the fastest heating on the market.
Key Features:
- 1000 watts
- Even-heating design with versatile settings, from keep-warm to max heat
- 30-day money back guarantee,12-month replacement warranty, and a lifetime support guarantee
The Secura 9100MC is a powerful, portable induction cooktop and extra burner, robust enough to use every day in your kitchen and yet lightweight enough to take on the road. We appreciate the versatile settings, which range over 15 power levels and 15 temperature settings, plus the built-in timer that keeps you on track for up to 170 minutes. The very helpful diagnostic error message system make for easy troubleshooting, if a problem occurs.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- 15 power levels from 200-1800 watts, with 15 temperature range from 140ºF to 460º F
- 1-year warranty
The Duxtop 8100MC brings another portable induction cooktop to the table, this time with a unit that stands out for its superior 90% energy efficiency. We’re intrigued by the self-adjusting burners, which detect the size of your cookware base and automatically adjust accordingly. We also like the stylish and solid-surface cooktop – easy to clean, even if your dish boils over – and the compact size, which makes for very easy storage.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- Built-in count-down digital timer with 5 min increments up to 170 minutes
- 1-year warranty
The Cusimax CMHP-C180 is a stainless-steel double hot plate, designed to cook anywhere you have access to a 120V outlet. If you regularly cook both burners on high heat, you’ll love this one, which splits its 1800 watts equally between its burners: powerful enough to fry, boil and simmer on both burners, at once. And speaking of, the 11 thermostatically-controlled heat settings make for precise cooking – no more burned meals!
Key Features:
- 900 watts
- Works with all types of cookware and with pans from 6.1” to 7.4” in diameter
- 30-day money-back guarantee and 18-month warranty
This portable induction cooktop from Avalon Bay is highly efficient, lightweight and portable: square-shaped to take up little space and fit into any corner, it’s unobtrusive but powerful. The induction technology, which places a ceramic-plate burner atop an electromagnetic coil, heats your food quicker and more efficiently – a boon, thanks to a versatile eight power settings and eight different cooking temperatures.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- Cooking surface fits pots between 5” and 10” in diameter
- 30-day money-back guarantee
This portable induction burner from Cosmo is perfect for small homes and parties: weighing just 6 pounds and measuring 14 x 11.5 x 2.5, it’s lightweight and small enough to store out of the way when you no longer need it. 1800 powerful watts deliver fast-heating and high-powered cooking: boil water in just 50 seconds! We also like the child safety lock and touch prevention, to keep even the tiniest cooks safe.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- 9 power levels (200W, 400W, 600W, 800W, 1000W, 1200W, 1400W, 1600W, 1800W) and 10 temperature levels (140 to 464°F: 140°F, 176°F, 212°F, 248°F, 284°F, 320°F, 356°F, 392°F, 428°F, 464°F)
- 1-year limited warranty with U.S.-based support
This portable induction cooktop from NuWave offers a versatile 12.3-inch heating surface (and 12.3-inch pan width!) – larger than most standard hot plates on the market, to give you plenty of wiggle room with your simmering, boiling, and other cooktop needs. It’s so big, it can even accommodate your 12-quart stockpot or 12-inch French skillet, and withstands up to a 50-pound food load. Talk about big power in a small(ish) package!
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- 5 temperature range from 100º F to 575º F
- Built-in count-down digital timer with 1 min increments
The Toastess THP-433 is a double-coil electric cooking range perfect for cottages, man caves, she-shacks, dorm rooms, and anywhere else you want to cook without a stovetop. The powerful burners deliver high-speed heating, and the variable temperature controls make for versatile settings that adjust to your needs. We like the stay-cool base, which keeps the range safe to handle, even during use.
Key Features:
- Delivers fast, even heat
- Stay-cool base with red/green indicator lights
- independent temperature-control settings
is a single-burner portable hot plate that’s lightweight and compact enough to take anywhere you have access to a power outlet. Choose from three different heat settings, switching from a low-heat simmer to a high-heat fry with the turn of a knob. We appreciate the efficient coiled-burner design, which distributes heat evenly for superior performance at any temperature level.
Key Features:
- 750 watts
- Cool-touch handles for easy adjustments during cooking
- 1-year limited warranty
The NuWave 30242 is a second induction burner option from NuWave, this time offering a slightly more compact 10.5-nch cooktop. Your wallet will love that it uses 70% less energy than a convention over, and your inner gourmet chef will love the incredible 52 temperature settings, including 6 pre-programmed temperature settings to get you cooking in a flash. We also appreciate the safety-first 1-hour auto-off function.
Key Features:
- 1500 watts
- Save up to 70% on energy over a conventional oven
- 1-year warranty
This portable, single-burner electric induction cooktop offers portable, safe technology to take healthy cooking anywhere. Beyond an easy-to-clean crystal-plate design and sensor touch control, we love the highly versatile heat settings, which span nine power levels and eight temperature settings to stretch from braise to simmer, stir fry to deep fry, roast to sauté, steam to hot pot, and far beyond.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- 9 power levels (100W, 300W, 600W, 800W, 1000W, 1200W, 1400W, 1600W, and 1800W) + 9 temperature levels (140°F, 180°F, 260°F, 300°F, 340°F, 380°F, 420°F, and 460°F)
- 1-year warranty
The Broil King CSR-3TB is a single hot plate industrial-rated and designed for professional and home use. The sturdy, stainless-steel housing delivers commercial-quality heat from the high-speed, 8-inch tubular element and infinite heat controls, so you can achieve the exact level of desired heat. We like the power light indicators, which show you when the burner is on and therefore too hot to touch.
Key Features:
- 1500 watts
- Infinite heat controls to achieve desired temperature
- 2-year limited warranty
This induction cooktop from Rosewill offers five pre-programmed settings to handle all your hot pot, stir fry, warm milk, soup and fry needs. We like the polished, A-grade crystal-plate surface, which is super easy to clean, and the included 18-8 stainless-steel 3.5-quart pot, which perfectly fits atop the cooktop.
Key Features:
- 1800 watts
- 8 Power levels (from 300 to 1800 watts) and 8 temperature settings (from 150ºF to 450ºF)
- 1-year parts & labor warranty
This digital induction cooktop from Eco4us uses the power of magnets to heat your food faster than you ever thought possible; it will be ready before you are! It’s the perfect choice to pull out when cooking large meals or entertaining guests, and to put away when not in use, thanks to the low-profile and easy-to-store design. We (and our wallets) love that it’s an incredible 70% more efficient than conventional and glass cooktops.
Key Features:
- 1500 watts
- 4-digit LED display with auto-off function and 4-hour timer
- 10-level temperature adjust with overheat protection
The NuWave 30602 provides you with two additional countertop burners, expanding your cooking real estate when and where you need it most. We appreciate the super-precise temperature control, which increases by 5º increments, all the way from 100º up to 575º F – a wider range than most hot plates, making the cooktop suitable not only for cooking, but also for use as a warming station. We absolutely love that it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Key Features:
- 3600 total watts; 1800 per burner
- 100°F – 575°F temperature range
- 1-year warranty
The IMUSA GAU-80305 is a single electric burner, perfect for pulling out at sporting events, holidays, parties, and other times when you need extra cooking room. There’s a temperature-regulating knob with heat-distribution coils, to find your perfect temperature, as well as a power indicator light to tell you when the burner is unsafe to touch. The slim, space-saving design makes it easy to pack away when needed.
Key Features:
- 1100 watts
- Stay-cool handles for easy transportation
- 1-year limited warranty
