Hot plates are versatile kitchen appliances that allow you to cook, simmer, sauté, or boil anywhere there's an electric power source. These appliances help you expand your cooking space when all four of your conventional stove burners are in use. Hot plates are also great for small-space living without a stove because you can set it up on the counter or a flat surface and then store it away when you're done. Keep reading to discover the best hot plates for you, or jump ahead to a section of interest.

Best Overall
Best Budget
Most Versatile
Best Induction
Best Gas Stove Burner
Best Single Burner
Best Double Burner
Best for Boiling Water & Handling Large Cookware

Best Overall

Nuwave PIC Flex Electric Burner

The Nuwave PIC Flex electric burner takes the spot for best overall on our list of best hot plates because it offers so many useful features in a compact, user-friendly design. It has an amazing temperature range from 100°F to 500°F, which gives you the versatility to cook a range of foods to perfection. The Nuwave also has 100 hours of memory, which allows you to set your go-to cooking settings for ease and convenience. To add to its list of benefits, the Nuwave also comes equipped with a digital timer (so you don't have to use your phone!) and it has an auto-shutoff feature in the event you accidentally leave it on. It also works well with different electric wattages (600/900/1300) so you can operate it in dorms, while RV camping, or virtually anywhere there's a compatible plug-in!

Best Budget

Emerald Electric Burner

The Emerald electric burner takes the spot for best budget hot plate because it's priced at under $20! This simple yet effective model has an adjustable temperature control with three setting options and it has a power light indicator to let you know if it's still on/hot. The Emerald is the perfect size to take with you on vacation, whether you're staying at a hotel without a stove or going camping. It plugs into a standard 120V outlet so you can also make it a staple cooking appliance at home.

Most Versatile

Costway Electric Hot Plate Ceramic Double Burner 1800w Infrared Cooktop

The best hot plates accommodate a wide variety of cookware materials so you can still use your go-to pots/pans and that is exactly what the Costway electric hot plate offers! This hot plate is compatible with all cookware including cast iron, copper, and aluminum while maintaining its heating efficiency and cook time. It also comes with an overheat protection mechanism, which makes it ideal for cooking in small spaces like a studio apartment or dorm where safety is key. To add to its versatility, this hot plate has two burners to maximize your cooking space and features insulated cool handles for easy portability when not in use.

Best Induction

Salton Induction Hot Plate

The Salton is the best induction hot plate because of its efficient cooking technology, cool-to-the-touch cooking surface (around the burner), and its versatile eight temperature settings, which gives you the ultimate flexibility when it comes to cooking. The induction surface is made of solid crystal glass, which is super easy to clean, and the hot plate can accommodate pot sizes up to 10" in diameter. To add to its appeal, the Salton hot plate also has a digital timer and an auto shut-off feature. This hot plate is compatible with any cookware that a magnet will stick to the bottom of.

Best Gas Stove Burner

XtremepowerUS Gas Double Burner

We couldn't leave out a gas stove burner option on our list of the best hot plates because of gas cooking's efficiency and versatility. As implied by the name, the XtremepowerUS gas double burner offers the best of the best when it comes to gas cooking. It comes with twin burners that each have their own temperature controls so you can cook different food items at the same time. The gas burners themselves have inner and outer flame rings to provide an even heat distribution for pots or pans (this means an equal cook time for meats and other items!). Perhaps its best feature, the XtremepowerUs has whirlwind burner designs for less gas consumption in the air. This makes it perfect for indoor or outdoor cooking alike and even for cooking in small spaces. For reference, this gas stove hot plate is compatible with liquid propane fuel.

Best Single Burner

Cuisinart Countertop Single Burner

The Cuisinart countertop single burner may look simple, but it's actually super versatile. It has 1300 watts, which makes it heat up fast and maintain the same level of heat as you cook (hello evenly cooked through dishes!). It also has six cooking settings that are accessible via a user-friendly temperature control. The burner itself is made of cast iron and is super easy to clean after use. Overall, you can use the Cuisinart countertop single burner hot plate anywhere there's a 120V outlet available.

Best Double Burner

Cuisinart Countertop Double Burner

The Cuisinart countertop double burner offers much the same as its single-burner counterpart but with even more cooking space. It features two, easy-to-heat cast iron burners; a large 1300W burner and a smaller 500W burner for a total of 1800W. Its wattage capabilities makes it one of the best electric hot plates for versatile cooking. Each burner has its own temperature controls so you can easily cook two different dishes at the same time. An added bonus, this double burner features no-slip rubber feet, so you can rest assured that your hot plate will stay put even as you maneuver saute pans or stir pots of stew. The Cuisinart countertop double burner plugs into a standard 120V outlet to make at-home cooking a breeze.

Best for Boiling Water & Handling Large Cookware

Zavor Portable Induction Cooktop

The Zavor portable induction cooktop provides a spacious cooking surface for larger cookware. Any pots and pans less than 12" in diameter can heat efficiently on this hot plate. Being an induction model, the Zavor heats up and cooks 50% quicker than other hot plates, which is especially helpful when sauteeing, seering, or boiling large quantities of food. It also features boil and rapid boil settings which is why the Zavor is also the best hot plate for boiling water. In total, this hot plate model features eight touch-friendly buttons that allow you to set the temperature you prefer or choose from one of its pre-designed settings (boil, rapid boil, sear, warm, saute, stir fry, and more). The induction surface itself is made of tempered glass to make for easy cleaning and no burning when spills occur.

Browse your way to versatile cooking!