Get One of These Hot Plates and Enjoy Delicious Dorm Room Cuisine All Year Long

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If there’s one thing any college freshman is going to miss about home, it’s access to a stocked fridge and a full-size kitchen courtesy of mom and dad. While you might not be able to take care of your college kid once they’re on their own, there are a few small-space cooking hacks you can give them to make their lives a little easier. One of the easiest tools to add to a dorm room for delicious cuisine all year long is one of the best hot plates. 

The best hot plates provide electric burners, so your student can cook full meals in their teeny tiny dorm room. They aren’t smart kitchen appliances, but they work just as great as any high-tech kitchen item your kid might be used to at home. And there’s no need to worry, with no open flames and a variety of built-in safety features, these hot plates are perfectly safe. Just don’t forget to send them with a good pot and pan as well as a cookbook written with students in mind.

There are a few things to consider when buying a hot plate. They include:

• Heating Type: Generally hot plates are electric, but they can also come with induction or gas heating elements.

• Number of Burners: Do you need one or two burners on your hot plate?

• Wattage: Hot plates normally range from 500 to 1500 watts.

• Temperature Control: Some hot plates only offer a single temperature, while others have a thermostat with several settings.

• Portability: Ensure your hot plate has handles and is lightweight if you want to carry it to your dorm room and back.

After you’ve considered the above, scroll through the list below and discover the 14 best hot plates for creating quick meals à la dorm room.

1. Cuisinart Cast-Iron Double Burner

BEST OVERALL

Cuisinart is the brand you’ll see on some of your favorite competitive cooking shows, so it’s without a doubt that they make one of the best hot plates you’ll ever see. Sturdy cast iron powers up to high heat fast, while six settings allow for precise temperature control. The Cuisinart Cast-Iron Double Burner is a durable appliance that may wind up in use long after the dorm days are over.

2. SUNAVO Hot Plate Single Burner

RUNNER UP

The SUNAVO Hot Plate Single Burner is compatible with a range of different cookware. From woks and frying pans to glass and aluminum pans, this 1,500W device provides all the power you could want for creating your favorite dishes. The precise dial allows you to choose the exact cooking temperature you want while the stainless steel surface makes your post-cooking cleanup easy. In addition, the non-slip feet and meter-long power cable provide plenty of flexibility for your kitchen setup.

3. Elite Gourmet Countertop Electric Hot Burner

AMAZON’S CHOICE

The Elite Gourmet Countertop Electric Hot Burner is one of the best-reviewed hot plates you can find on the internet. It’s got a 6.4-inch cast iron cooking plate to quickly heat contents in a matter of minutes with off, warm, low, medium and high temperature control settings. It has over 1,000 watts of power for impressive cook time and wipes down when done for an effortless clean-up. 

20,000+ REVIEWS

4. Aroma Housewares Single Hot Plate

BEST BUDGET

Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a hot plate for your dorm room or apartment. For just under $20, the Aroma Housewares Single Hot Plate offers a single, electric burner powered by 1,000 watts of electricity. With four temperature settings, you can easily boil water, heat up leftovers or stir fry vegetables using this device. In addition, the curved design of the burner means it makes more contact with your cooking pot and provides quick heating. This is a great gift option for new college students who like to cook.

5. Techwood Hot Plate

BEST PORTABLE

Looking to take your cooking appliance on the go? This is the best hot plate to do it with. With heatproof handles for holding and moving the hot plate, the Techwood Hot Plate is the easy choice for the safety-minded. This device uses an attractive stainless steel design for durability so it can be used time and time again. The infrared cooktop is powered by an impressive 1,500W to heat up food faster than conventional stoves. Cook up sauces, veggies or even a grilled cheese just about anywhere.

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6. Maxi-Matic Elite Cuisine Electric Hot Plate

LIGHTWEIGHT PICK

Whether you’re heading off to college or you want to take a hot plate with you on a camping trip, you probably want a device that’s easy to carry from point A to point B and doesn’t weigh a lot. If that’s the case, consider the Maxi-Matic Elite Cuisine Electric Hot Plate. This device uses a lower 750 watts of power but is still hot enough to cook simple meals. The adjustable dial boasts three heat settings, and the electric coil is positioned over a chrome drip pan for easy cleaning. Plus, the hot plate has non-skid rubber feet for your safety.

7. Courant Electric Burner

BEST COIL

The Courant Electric Burner is available in both one and two-burner setups. It’s ideal for camping, offices, man caves and student digs. It also works well as an extra stove in the kitchen when it’s needed. The thermostat control knob ensures your burner is the temperature you want, while the indicator light lets you know when power is running through the burner. In addition, the 6.1-inch plate provides plenty of space for all kinds of cookware, including woks and frying pans. There are also rubber feet to help keep your burner steady when in use.

8. OVENTE Electric Infrared Burner

SMALL OPTION

With its high-quality crystallite glass, metal housing and precise temperature control dial, the OVENTE Electric Infrared Burner ticks all the boxes for your hot plate needs. It also weighs only three pounds and sports a slimline design, making it easy to transport and store when it’s not in use. The 1,000W device uses advanced infrared technology to provide even heating and sports non-slip rubber feet to prevent any unwanted shifting during use.

9. Cusimax Electric Countertop Burner

EASIEST TO CLEAN

Make everything from scrambled eggs to stir-fry with seven heat settings and 1,500W of power. The simple, straightforward design of the Cusimax Electric Countertop Burner accommodates all types of cookware, from glass to aluminum pots and pans. Plus, this burner’s non-slip feet means it’s safe to use on a flat surface without worry of knocking a hot pan around. And thanks to its stainless steal housing, this hot plate is a dream to clean.

10. Maxmartt Electric Mini Stove

BEST MINI

As one of the smallest hot plates on our list, the Maxmartt Electric Mini Stove is ideal for making single-serving meals. The electric burner can be used in a dorm, office or RV. In addition, it can heat up to 570-degrees, which can serve food wildly hot. Just make sure you equip the user with a pot and pan small enough to fit on the burner. In addition to dorm room cooking, this hot plate is ideal for warming butter, frothing milk and making espresso using a Moka pot.

11. Better Chef Double Burner

BEST DOUBLE-BURNER OPTION

If you have friends to feed in the dorm or are using this hot plate as a stove for a smaller apartment, having a double burner is a good idea. This hot plate will take up more space, but it will also be more efficient in cooking your meals. The Better Chef Double Burner boasts 1,500W of power with adjustable heating control and a safety thermal shutoff.

12. Cosori Coffee Mug Warmer

BEST FOR HOT DRINKS

Although this article is mostly about hot plates on which you can cook meals in a dorm room or other small living area, the smallest and least powerful hot plates also deserve a spot on this list. Mug warmers are low wattage hot plates designed to keep hot beverages at the perfect drinking temperature over several hours. The Cosori Coffee Mug Warmer is one of the most popular options thanks to its adjustable temperature controls and sleek stainless steel appearance. For new college students who will be doing hours of studying, a coffee mug warmer hot plate is one of the most practical gifts.

13. CUKOR Cast-Iron Electric Hot Plate

MOST ATTRACTIVE

If your studio apartment doesn’t have a stove or kitchen built-in, you likely rely on a hot plate to cook your food. But, that doesn’t mean you have to have an ugly burner on your counter. Make your makeshift kitchen attractive with the CUKOR Cast-Iron Electric Hot Plate. Where many other hot plates are purely built for function, this dual-burner appliance boasts a two-tone color scheme with a swirl design. On the practical side of things, the two cast iron burners on this hot plate take a total of 1,800 watts of power, and any type of flat-bottomed cookware can be heated by this device.

14. Duxtop Induction Cooktop

BEST INDUCTION

This induction cooktop doesn’t take up much space but still packs powerful output — up to 460 degrees Fahrenheit — for meals that rival your own home-cooked goodness. Best of all, its slim design and light weight mean it can be stored pretty much anywhere when not in use. To splurge on the best, invest in the Duxtop Induction Cooktop.

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