Hot Plate Wattage – How Does It Affect Cooking?




You’ve seen hot plate wattage information but are not sure how much you’ll need to prepare meals?

Do you even need a higher wattage depending on which purpose you’ll use a hot plate?

Our article begins you with all the needed answers about wattage and the difference between electric models.

What Wattage On a Hot Plate Present?

Wattage actually presents how quickly it can heat up the surface of the burner so you can boil the water, prepare the meal or reheat leftovers from lunch.

cooking on a hot plate

How Many Watts Does Hot Plate Have?

It depends on which type of model you’ll pick. Coil and infrared models have between 900 and 1500 watts, depending on the size and number of burners, while induction hot plates have around 1800 watts.

We can separate the strength into low, medium, and high:

  • Low – 750 – 1000 W
  • Middle – 1000 – 1200 W
  • High – above 1200 W

Electric models have low to medium strength, depending on the number of burners, while induction model is usually with high wattage.

cooking on a high temperature

How Hot Hot Plate Gets?

It depends on the wattage, of course, and many other features like the size, number of burners, etc. Models under 1000 Wats can reach the temperature from 220°F to 800°F, while models above 1000 Watts can reach from 250°F to 932 °F.

Do Higher Watts Affect Consumption?

As we have already mentioned, the higher the power, the faster the burner will heat up, so yes, high power means consuming more energy which will affect monthly consumption, which means a higher bill.

Is There a Higher Risk of Having a Model With Higher Wattage?

There is always the risk of fire, burn, electrical shock, and injuries if the device is not used properly according to the safety instructions.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick The Right Wattage

Here are some of the tips which will help you pick a model with a wattage you’ll need for daily use.

cooking vegetables

Simple Meals

If you will use a hot plate occasionally only to reheat the meal or prepare some simple meal like eggs or steak, you can go with a device that has a lower wattage.

Portable Use

If you’re planning to use the hot plate for camping with RV, we recommend picking a model with a high wattage so you can quickly make a meal or reheat it.

Long Cooking

For meals that need to be cooked for more than 1 hour, there is no sense to choose a model with low wattage. Pick the model with the highest wattage which has knobs so you can safely cook while regulating the temperature.

cooking on 2 burners

Split Wattage

If you’re planning to buy a double-burner hot plate that has 1800 watts, wattage is actually split between, which means each one provides only 900 watts. This is one of the main tips to know, so you don’t get surprised why it takes so long to cook the meal.

Energy Efficient

If you’re looking for an energy-efficient model, we recommend buying an induction hot plate. They are more energy-efficient than other types of hot plates. According to experts, 85-90% of the heat energy generated is used for cooking.

To Wrap It Up

The wattage on a hot plate is one of the main specifications to consider when buying a device so you can be sure it will satisfy your needs while cooking. The higher the wattage, the quicker the heater will get. If you’re looking for an energy-efficient model, induction models are one of the most popular, even if they cost a lot more than other models.



Diana
Diana writes educational articles for those who want to learn more about this area. Everyday cooking experience, as well as online research, help her gather all the knowledge needed to complete articles. She is a food lover who likes to spend time preparing meals for friends. Diana’s favorite food is pasta, but she also adores sweets such as pancakes, and cakes. In her free time, she loves to spend time in nature walking her dogs. Also, she loves researching quick and healthy recipes.