When it comes to choosing electric burners, there are many factors to consider. From size to price, there are dozens of models available. So what’s the best way to choose the right model for you?
Don’t be overwhelmed. In this article, I’ll help you narrow down your search and find the best electric burners for your home.
Choosing a Good Electric Stove
The electric cooktops we recommend here are great for small spaces, because they’re compact and don’t take up too much counter space. They’re perfect for use in hotels, dorms, apartments, and vacation homes.
And ideal for people who love to entertain and need to prepare large quantities of food at once. In fact, many of our readers report that these electric burners are their primary cooktops.
If you’re looking for a reliable, durable hot plate that won’t break the bank, consider the following models:
Best Single Burner – Elite Gourmet Electric Hot Plate
If you’ve got a kitchen that’s always cramped, then you need something that takes up less room. The Elite Gourmet Electric Hot Plate does exactly that.
This hot plate is perfect for those who don’t want to sacrifice any counter space when they cook. It heats up quickly and evenly, making it great for cooking eggs, pancakes, and pasta.
It comes with a powerful 1000 watt heater, so you can cook almost anything quickly and easily with a cool-touch base and non skid rubber feet for stability, so you can cook comfortably on any surface.
The Elite Gourmet Electric Hotplate is easy to clean, too. Simply wipe off the surface with a damp cloth and let dry before using again.
And since it’s electric, there’s nothing to worry about when you’re away from home.
If you’re looking for a compact, reliable, and convenient way to cook, then the Elite Gourmet Electric HotPlate is the answer.
The Best Induction Cooktop Single – Aobosi Portable Induction Burner
This Aobosi portable induction burner is designed to provide you with a convenient solution for heating food quickly and efficiently. Its sleek design allows you to carry it wherever you go, making it ideal for camping trips, picnics, tailgates, and any other outdoor activities.
This induction burner is designed to fit perfectly on any countertop, making it easier to cook wherever you happen to be. It’s also very easy to clean, thanks to the glass ceramic surface.
There are nine different power settings available, ranging from 200 watts to 1800 watt, which should cover most situations. When you’re ready to stop cooking, simply turn off the unit and put it away.
Finally, the burner comes equipped with a three hour timer, which allows you to set the burner to turn off after a specific period of time. This ensures that you don’t forget to switch off the burner before leaving the kitchen.
Overall, this Aobosi portable induction cooker offers you a safe, stylish, and effective solution for heating food.
Best Budget IMUSA USA Electric Single Burner
If you’re looking for a single cooking appliance that doesn’t cost the earth then check out this is a great little stove. Whether you want to cook outside, in the office or in your home you can use this anywhere there is a socket.
The IMUSA USA Electric Single Burners are great because they’re compact enough to fit in your kitchen, yet powerful enough to heat up your food quickly.
They have a temperature regulating knob and heat distribution coils. This lets you set the temperature exactly where you want it. So whether you’re making pancakes or boiling pasta, you can control the heat precisely.
And since this burner comes with non-slip rubber feet, it won’t slide around when you’re using it. Plus, it’s slim design makes it ideal for smaller spaces.
So if you’re looking for a single burner that does everything well, and fit’s into most budgets, then check out the IMUSA USA Electric Stove.
Best Infrared CUKOR Electric Single Hot Plate
If you’ve been searching for a single hot plate that cooks your food quickly, then the CUKOR Electric Single Hotplate is the perfect choice.
This electric hot plate is designed to heat foods quickly and evenly, which means you don’t need to spend hours prepping your meals before you start cooking.
The design of this hot plate allows it to be used in any small space, making it ideal for camping trips, tailgating parties, or even dorm rooms.
And since it’s completely safe, you can rest assured that you’re using a product that won’t harm your health.
Whether you’re looking for something to cook for yourself or someone else, CUKOR Electric SingleHot Plate is sure to impress.
Best Double Burner – Elite Gourmet Double Cast Iron Burner
The Elite Gourmet Double Cast Iron Burner is designed to be used on the countertop. The 6.5 inch cast iron plate heats quickly and evenly, making it perfect for quick cooking and baking. The 5 inch cast iron plate is great for slow cooking and roasting.
The dual power indicator lights allow you to adjust the heat setting on either side of the burner. The low, medium and high heat settings allow you to choose the right amount of heat for your recipe.
Both plates feature a nonstick surface which makes cleaning faster and easier. And the compact design of this cooker makes it ideal for taking on the go.
Two cooking plates allow you to cook more food at one time. So whether you’re feeding your family or entertaining friends, this Elite double burner is sure to be a hit.
Electric Cooktop Buying Guide: Top 9 Features to Look For
When shopping for the best electric burners, there are several factors to consider:
Type
When electricity is your power source of choice, there are four styles of cooking plates to choose from: induction, infrared, coil and cast iron.
Induction cooking heats up the pan directly rather than the hob. It’s fast to respond and allows precise temperature control. Because of this, you’ll be able to cook faster than before.
Infrared technology works similar to microwaving because it cooks by radiating heat and vibrating the molecules inside the food. It uses a glass cooktop and is quick to heat up.
A coil burner is an electrical heating element wrapped in metal that generates heat when turned on. Convection moves the heat to the pan which then heats the.
A cast iron burner plate has a thin metal heating coil within it which heats up the plate for cooking. The coil is placed evenly around inside which keeps the temperature even over the whole plate.
Power
The higher the watts of power of your cooker, the more heat it will produce and therefore the faster it will heat food or be able to boil water.
Some single burners can have a higher wattage because there is only one plate or element. Double burners tend to have one plate with a higher wattage than the other so you can choose the right plate for the type of food you are cooking.
Safety Features
Safety features include adjustable temperature controls, auto shutoff, and stability.
A portable induction cooktop tends to have more safety controls, like a child safety lock, timers and auto shut off if there is no cooking vessel placed onto the cooking surface.
This will also happen if you don’t use compatible cookware as the magnetic field can’t get through the base of the pan.
Size
Size matters. If you plan to host parties frequently or just want to use your portable burner for everyday cooking, you may want a bigger cooktop like a double countertop burner.
Smaller cooktops are perfect for single cooks, people with small kitchens or even college dorm rooms. Great for quick heating or just keeping your food warm.
Portability and durability
The main benefit of a portable cooktop is that you can take it anywhere? Whether you just want to cook outdoors in the summer, take it on holiday or keep it for when you need an extra burner when you have a lot of cooking to do.
To carry it around with you, the weight and size is obviously a factor. A single coil burner can just fit in your bag. They are usually around 10 inches square and 3 or 4 inches deep, with a weight of a couple of pounds.
Most portable stoves have an aluminium or stainless steel housing making them very durable and able to stand up to daily use.
Price
Price varies depending on the brand, size, and warranty. A reasonable price is relative to what you can afford to pay, but in general, the simpler the burner the more modest price you will pay.
Induction burners tend to fall into a higher price bracket because of the technology and features included.
It pays to shop around, especially when there are holiday sales as you might have the opportunity to pick up what you want at a less than average price.
Temperature Control
Temperature control refers to whether you can adjust the temperature settings of your cooktop to any degree between low and high. Some models only allow you to set the temperature range low/med/high while others have better incremental temperatures to work with.
Induction hotplates have digital temperature adjustment so you can be extremely accurate. Especially useful when frying with oil. You can be sure it won’t exceed your target temperature
Ease of Cleaning
Depending on which type of burner you choose will dictate how much effort you will have to put in to keep it clean. Infrared burners and induction models have glass tops which usually just wipe clean. Any burnt on foods can be scraped off with a glass scraper tool.
The coil and cast iron electric stovetops can be a little more difficult to get off burnt food. Scrub with a mix of vinegar and baking soda which can move a variety of stains. If the coil burner lifts up it makes it easier to get any bits that have fallen into the stainless steel catcher beneath.
A stainless steel base can be buffed up to always make your cooktop look like new, but most have a wipe clean metal base.
Type of cookware used
The type of cookware you use will affect the quality of the food you produce. For example, cast iron pans hold heat well and retain it for long periods of time, making them perfect for searing meats and baking cookies. On the other hand, nonstick pans allow foods to brown quickly but they don’t retain heat as well, so they’re best suited for sautéing vegetables.
All cookware can be used on coil, cast iron or infrared burners. It helps for more efficient cooking if the base of the pan is the same size as the cooking ring.
For an induction cooktop you will need compatible cookware. That means it needs to be magnetic for heating of the food to take place. It’s easy to check if the pans that you already own are suitable with a simple kitchen magnet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right electric burner model for your needs isn’t always easy. There are many factors to consider when selecting a new stovetop appliance, including size, price, ease of use, and safety features.
Fortunately, we have done most of the work for you. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best electric burners available today, based on their overall value, design, and performance. Hopefully, this will help you find the perfect fit for your needs.
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