Are there cheap hot plates with precise controls?
May 6, 2010 1:55 AM Subscribe
Is there a hot plate or other portable cooking product with precise controls that I can set to an exact temperature, but doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
I'd like to find a simple hot-plate-like device that I can set (preferably with digital controls) to a specific temperature (plus or minus a few degrees). It needs to be able to reach at least 350 degrees F. I don't want to have to do any complex installation or build the device DIY-style.
I see there are some scientific models out there, but they are very expensive and I do not need any kind of stirrer function (which many of them seem to include).
I'm looking for something around $100 or so, but cheaper would be better. Is there anything like this out there?
I'd like to find a simple hot-plate-like device that I can set (preferably with digital controls) to a specific temperature (plus or minus a few degrees). It needs to be able to reach at least 350 degrees F. I don't want to have to do any complex installation or build the device DIY-style.
I see there are some scientific models out there, but they are very expensive and I do not need any kind of stirrer function (which many of them seem to include).
I'm looking for something around $100 or so, but cheaper would be better. Is there anything like this out there?
Yes, induction plates. They work amazingly well, and the prices for them have dropped substantially.
This one is one example just doing a very very quick search, so I don't know if it has all of your requirements, but they do come in varying wattages and with varying degrees of ability to maintain precise tempuratures.
The burner itself never gets hot, and you have to use the right type of pan with them (any pot or pan that a magnet will stick to will work), but they work like a charm.
posted by newpotato at 5:02 AM on May 6, 2010
This one is one example just doing a very very quick search, so I don't know if it has all of your requirements, but they do come in varying wattages and with varying degrees of ability to maintain precise tempuratures.
The burner itself never gets hot, and you have to use the right type of pan with them (any pot or pan that a magnet will stick to will work), but they work like a charm.
posted by newpotato at 5:02 AM on May 6, 2010
A cheapo hotplate with a simple temperature controller (such as this one from Cole-Parmer) will work. I realize you prefer not using a DIY approach, but we're talking about minimal work (wire the hotplate through the relay. The majority of the work consists of cutting the plug off the hotplate.)
posted by JMOZ at 5:06 AM on May 6, 2010
posted by JMOZ at 5:06 AM on May 6, 2010
plinth writes "Electric griddles have thermostat controls, albeit very coarse, but they are cheap enough that you could get a decent IR thermometer to tweak it and still stay under $100."
Those types of controls have a very wide temperature swing; 20-40F ins't unusual between turn off and turn on.
posted by Mitheral at 12:49 PM on May 6, 2010
Those types of controls have a very wide temperature swing; 20-40F ins't unusual between turn off and turn on.
posted by Mitheral at 12:49 PM on May 6, 2010
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posted by plinth at 3:05 AM on May 6, 2010 [1 favorite]