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

I used Amazon.com because the website made it easy to find the particular hot plate I wanted -- from amongst many, many others. For my review of the Aroma AHP-303 hot plate (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007QCRNU/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img), I must first admit that I'm probably flying under false colors, here. All I wanted was a simple hot plate...more precisely: a one cup coffee warmer. However, since I prefer those larger mugs (often used for soup), I've never been able to find a single mug warmer which would hold the larger sized coffee mug. I had no interest in cooking or reheating food...or even boiling water, for that matter. I just wanted a 'large-enough' coffee mug warmer. Hence the sledgehammer approach. I ordered two of these hot plates and both do exactly what I needed: they keep a large mug of coffee warm. I have one in my computer room, upstairs, and use the other in my basement workshop. Being retired and largely without competent adult unsupervision throughout the day, I thought I'd indulge myself. Yes, it is overkill, but it does exactly what I needed. The Aroma AHP-303 has a nice, clean, compact design. The single control operates as it should and the electrical cord is just the right length (not so long it has to be coiled up; not so short that I'd have to hunt down an extension cord). Finally, by some quirk of fate, the design of the hot plate manages to make a nice techie-looking addition to my computer room and yet also fits in with the "man-stuff" in my work shop. I'm a happy camper. I would recommend the Aroma AHP-303 -- even if you only plan on using it to cook something.

I bought two of these for my shop and they work great for me. I have them running about 6 hours at a time and they hold the temperature well at a low boil. The rubber feet make for a secure footing. The temperature is completely adjustable (not just low/med/high) and is easy to reach even with a larger pan. As noted in a lot of reviews the whole unit does get too hot to touch (150 to 180 degrees?). Since I'm running mine for 6 hours at a time I set them on a piece of tile. These do turn off without having to unplug but it takes awhile to cool down. I have only had them a short while so I can't speak to how long they will last. So far it was money well spent.

Given what I paid for it, I wasn't expecting much. I got it because I was tired of eating out every time I stay at a motel and this gave me yet another excuse to use the cheap camping pots and pans I have lying around - plus, for $16.99, if this didn't work out... meh, right? I just finished cooking some spaghetti with Italian sausage with this and, to its credit, it got the job done. When I first fired it up, something started smoking on the burner - I attacked it with a wet washcloth and that seemed to get the worst of it off. It never set off the fire alarm. The dial offers a range of heat settings; in practical use, these can best be described as "just hot enough to boil water" (High) and "warm enough to burn your hand but not much else" (everything else). In short, this is not a substitute for a household range element. Even so, it did what I needed it to do. It boiled water. It cooked sausage. Tomorrow, it'll cook pancakes. It didn't light on fire, set off the fire alarm, trip a breaker, or otherwise annoy management. It's not the strongest unit in the world, it's not the fastest unit in the world, but it's remarkably affordable and it still works. Given all of that, I'm not going to complain. Would it last more than a month if you used it on a daily basis? I kind of doubt it, but I don't need it to. It just needs to work for a couple days every couple of months, and, based on what I've seen so far, I have considerable faith that it'll do that.

Works great ! Affordable. Using it almost everyday.

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. Sleek design. Easy to clean. but takes a very long time to heat up, and when it does is barely hot enough to maintain a boil on water, or a frying pan hot enough to brown the contents. Don't try to bring water to the boil on this hotplate. It will take an incredibly long time. I resorted to boiling water in a microwave and then transferring it to a pan to steam vegetable on this hotplate.

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. Amazon Final 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 the Aroma AHP-303/CHP-303 Single Hot Plate (Black) on Amazon exactly a year and 3 days ago. So far so good, very convenient, easy to use (when you know how to use it correctly), powerful enough for cooking. To those complaints in other reviews, here are some tips: 1. USE A POT WITH THE RIGHT SIZE! The heating surface is 15cm (5-3/4") in diameter. The FLAT part of your pot bottom must be larger than that! Otherwise, there ill be part of the heating suface not in complete contact with the pot, and that will cause overheat. If the heating surface is covered completely (in direct contact) under the pot flat bottom, the heat will be absorbed efficiently by the pot content, you will get faster cooking and no overheating. Here are the tests (1a and 1b) to compare: 1a) 18cm (in diameter) pot, but the bottom is rounded on the edge, the actual flat part that can get in full contact with the heating surface is 12cm, 3cm SMALLER than the heating surface. Bring 1QT (32Oz) water to boil: 13.5-14 minutes continued to boil a second pot of 1Qt: 10 minutes, the burner started to turn itself on and off because it was getting too hot. There is about 1.5cm around the edge of the heating surface not covered by the pot. The heat dissipates into the air which is not a good thermal conductor, and that causes heat buildup in the burner. 1b) 20cm (in diameter) pot, the flat part of the bottom (the actual contact area) 16cm, 1cm LARGER than the heating surface. Bring 1QT (32Oz) water to boil: 11.5 minutes (more efficient cooking compare to the smaller pot in test 1a) continue to boil a second pot of 1Qt: 7.5 minutes, No overheating, the burner did not turn itself on and off. 2. Cool down: It took 50 minutes to cool down to a temperature that you'll feel comfortable to put it in your luggage bag. You can speed it up by putting the pot back on it with cold water, change the water when it gets warm. I made it in 20 minutes by changing water twice. 3. Smoke and smell: yes, the first time to use it, you'll see smoke and smell paint burning. After several uses, it will be OK. 4. The only improvement I wish for a new version is to make the four legs longer (for more clearance under the burner) and foldable (for easy pack). With longer legs, the burner can be rasied higher so there will be more clearance between its bottom and the surface that it sits on (for example a table surface). Currently, the clearance is not enough, the table surface can get really warm or even hot. I put a competely soaked towel under the burner to prevent burning the table. Overal all, I am happy with my purchase.