Aroma Housewares AHP-303 Single Burner Hot Plate, Metal, Black

The Aroma Housewares AHP-303 Single Burner Hot Plate is a practical addition to any kitchen, especially for those seeking a portable and affordable cooking solution. Its compact design makes it ideal for small spaces like dorm rooms, studio apartments, or as an extra burner during gatherings.Performance & Heating:Equipped with a 1000-watt cast iron heating element, this hot plate offers four temperature settings: Warm, Low, Medium, and High. Users have found it effective for tasks like boiling water, cooking simple meals, and keeping dishes warm. However, some have noted that it may take longer to heat up compared to traditional stovetops, and the heat distribution might not be as even.Design & Build Quality:Constructed with durable die-cast metal, the AHP-303 is built to last. Its solid surface design prevents food from spilling inside, making cleanup straightforward. The unit's compact size doesn't compromise its stability, and it's compatible with various cookware types, including glass and aluminum, up to 6 inches in diameter.User Experience:Many users appreciate its simplicity and ease of use. The absence of an on/off switch means it starts heating as soon as it's plugged in, which some find convenient, while others would prefer a dedicated switch. A few users have reported an initial odor during the first use, which typically dissipates after a short period.AmazonFinal Thoughts:For those in need of a straightforward, portable, and cost-effective cooking solution, the Aroma AHP-303 delivers commendable performance. While it may not replace a full-sized stove for heavy-duty cooking, it's a reliable companion for light meals, travel, or as an auxiliary burner.

I purchased this burner 9 years ago and was on Amazon today to purchase a second one so I can have two pots going at once. The one I bought 9 years ago is still a work horse. Yes, it does have it's limitations but they are not deal breaker limitations for me.Perhaps since Covid everything is just not the quality it was years ago so I'm unclear if that might be the case with this unit as I read the bad reviews. IMHO people have too high expectations for such a lower end product. It's not the $2500 stove you just bought and will never cook like that.I have read negative reviews stating it turns on and off constantly. Well duh! That's the nature of this type of product. It has to turn on and off constantly to maintain the temperature you chose.Some state in their negative reviews that the outside gets too hot. Again, duh! It's an inexpensive small unit that used to be made in metal and I suppose it still is, so yes, the metal will get hot. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that will happen. When I'm finished cooking I unplug it. After I'm finished eating and am cleaning up if it's cooled off enough I put it on my shelf where it stays. I have many times used that priceless invention called a pot holder when I'm in a hurry. In case you have not heard of them they are used to pick up hot pans, or in this case an Aroma Single Burner Hot Plate.....that gets hot....what a concept!Again, with all the new lower quality items out there since Covid, cause everything is blamed on Covid of course, perhaps this unit is not as good as it used to be and perhaps some have stopped working after a year...or maybe two. However, when you spend around $20 or less for this item and it quits after a year or two.....trust me.....you definitely got your money's worth.

Stay away from this item.We purchased one about a year ago and if failed after 1 month - I disassembled it and made some repairs. It then worked for about another four months before failing again. We used it almost every day during the winter time. So, I ordered two more (they are cheap) for this winter, and the first one failed within a week. I haven't tried to fix that one. The other is on the shelf, emergency use only.ISSUES - they don't event check them out at the factory!! You should plug them in somewhere OUTSIDE and turn it on HIGH for about 20 minutes in order to burn off all the smelly oils that are used during manufacture. Sort of a shock to see white smoke coming from under the unit the first time we plugged one in!!The temperature control knob is plastic and the control shaft gets hot so this fails within a couple of months. I used gorilla glue to repair it for a while - good for another month until heat caused it to fail again. There are not hard stops on the thermostat so you have to sort of guess how to glue the knob on the shaft - i.e. find the OFF point and glue it so OFF is UP.The wiring inside is connected with wire crimp spade connectors like you might use in your car - but it's carrying 10-15 amps!At least they tell you in the accompanying documents that the housing gets hot - and it DOES!! There is very little to isolate the hot plate (which can get to a dull red color) from the supporting black housing/base. AND the hot plate holds heat for a very long time - still almost to hot to hold after 20 minutes.

Works well. Takes a while to heat up but once it's heated up it works great! Seems to be pretty durable. Very simple to use. Easy clean up. It's compact size makes it easy to store just about anywhere. Satisfied with purchase!

Used it twice yesterday. Works great! Was easy to use. Was able to boil water in less than an hour. Even cooking surface, with a good, solid burner.

Bought this hotpot hoping to deep fry outdoors and keep the kitchen odor-free, slightly disappointed. It heats up but not nearly enough to deep fry properly. Takes a while to get hot and even then I had to fry in small batches. It is good for boiling and light cooking, but not really for deep frying.