Top 5 Best Hot Pots 2023:
- Zojirushi EP-PBC10 Gourmet d’Expert Electric Skillet
- Zojirushi Micom Water Boiler & Warmer
- Proctor Silex 32oz Adjustable Temperature Electric Hot Pot
- Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
- Aroma Housewares ASP-137 3-Quart
Everyone who shares our passion for cooking has to agree that we are living in one pretty sweet time. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at the wide range of utensils and appliances designed to make even the most specific kitchen tasks easy, fast, and streamlined.
If you are in love with Chinese food, you have a wide assortment of electric woks that will allow you to prepare your favorite dish even when your stove is stacked with other things. The same goes for modern microwaves that make reheating a breeze.
But, what happens if you are in love with hot beverages and simply can’t live without a sweet taste of broth? It’s simple – you get yourself some of the contemporary electric hot pots and make this task effortless as well.
So, let us quickly breeze through some of the most popular units on the market and try to find the best hot pot that deserves a place in your kitchen collection.
5 Best Hot Pots In 2023: Detailed Reviews
1. Zojirushi EP-PBC10 Gourmet d’Expert Electric Skillet – Best Hot Pot Overall
At first glance, this unit may not look much. The design, for instance, is pretty bland, and advanced features we can expect are nowhere to be seen. But, give yourself some time to experience all this utensil has to offer, and we promise you will change your opinion.
Let us start with the fact that this unit is very spacious. Not gigantic in any sense of the word, but with 10-1/2-inch in diameter, you will be able to prepare a meal for a small family in one run without breaking a sweat.
Also, the durable cooking pan graced with a ceramic surface and titanium handle can be easily removed from the base and used elsewhere, which alone lends a lot of convenience to this product. Of course, everything is dishwasher-friendly and easy to clean, so no problems here.
But, these are only building blocks. The real power of this hot pot lies in its versatility. You see, this bad boy can heat up to temperatures ranging from 176 to 430 degrees Fahrenheit. But that’s not all. The unit can be used not only for boiling but stewing, grilling, and sautéing.
If we could change one thing, that would be the controls that are as convoluted as they are hard to read. But, you can’t have it all.
Pros
- Well-built
- Durable materials
- A lot of versatility
- Removable saucepan
- Great price-value ratio
Cons
- Controls are all over the place
2. Zojirushi Micom Water Boiler & Warmer – Best Premium Hot Pot and Dispenser
If versatility was one of the greatest strengths of the previous contender, this one is an entirely different beast. Yes, grilling, stewing, and other things are gone. If you, however, enjoy your dose of hot beverage early in the morning, you will hardly find a better product than this one.
But, what makes this unit so unique?
Well, pretty much everything. First of all, the thing is a beauty to watch. You can’t go wrong with black on top steel gray. This fact is greatly helped by the fact that the dimensions of this thing are ample as well. The jug can hold up to 135 ounces or 4 liters of liquid.
And you do get a pretty big water gauge that always gives you a clear idea of how much water is left in the jug.
Let us now talk about the functions. It turns out they are not as bare-bones as they seem. Namely, the unit is able to dechlorinate the water before boiling and keep it warm, one of the four temperatures you get to choose from (160 – 208 degrees Fahrenheit). All these things are more than easy to set up with a bright LCD display and neat controls.
Throw into the equation a capable, slow dispenser, and you get a real treat.
Pros
- Looks great
- Holds a lot of beverage
- Works like a charm
- Easy to use
Cons
- A bit too pricey
- Limited functionality
3. Proctor Silex 32oz Adjustable Temperature Electric Hot Pot – Best Affordable Hot Pot
If you are a regular reader, you know just how impressed when we see the quality at a bargain price. Sure, this quality always comes with an asterisk. But even so, some of these products offer a tremendous value for the price range they are sold in.
We are happy to report that this small hot pot serves as a poster boy for everything we described above.
Seriously, when you take a look at the price that hangs on this package, you can’t be anything but impressed with the sheer level of versatility on display here.
And you do get a lot of versatility. For instance, the unit is not only designed only to boil water but also to allow you to prepare noodles, heat up tomato soup, and much more.
All these things are made easy by a convenient dial that offers the choice between Warm and Boil regime and
a couple of intermediate steps for an even more nuanced performance. The capacity of 32 ounces is not that shabby either.
Of course, there are some drawbacks. The materials are not that great, craftsmanship is average, and the lid will most certainly pick up some steam burns. But hey, at this price point, we can live with that.
Pros
- Killer price
- A lot of available space
- Decent versatility
- Easy to use dial
Cons
- The build quality is a bit sloppy
4. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker – Hot Pot with Best Features
We have talked a lot about versatility in this roundup. Deservedly so – if you are going to invest a lot of money in some kitchen appliance, you better squeeze out every feature that is offered on the market.
This hot pot has a couple of drawbacks, but it stands as an absolute champion in available features. At least in this price segment.
So, what does 7-in-1 in the name of this product mean? Well, you will get the opportunity to pressure cook, slow cook, cook rice, steam, sauté, warm, and even prepare yogurt. Yeah, this unit is going some places. And all these features will be readily available by clicking on one of the 14 available setup buttons. Only one click and you are good to go.
Another thing we would like to point out is that this thing is huge. With six quarts on disposal, you will be able to quickly prepare a meal for the entire household.
Now, let’s talk about the drawbacks. And, unfortunately, there are a couple of things we can talk about.
The prime concern is that the built-in electronic components are not the most stable on the market. We have even noticed some sparks from time to time. If you are experiencing frequent power surges, just skip it.
Pros
- Well-built product
- An abundance of features
- Spacious unit
- Numerous safety features
Cons
- Sensitive electronic components
5. Aroma Housewares ASP-137 3-Quart – Best Hot Pot with Grill Plate
Finally, we have a unit that could just as easily compete on the list of indoor grills. But, this is not only an indoor grill. It is also a slow cooker. And it works just as efficiently as a steamer. Therefore, it does qualify even if it doesn’t make the most fortunate pick for preparing your Earl Grey.
But on the other hand, myriads of hot pots out there do not feature a built-in grill plate, so let’s call it even.
How does the unit stand on its own?
Pretty darn good, we have to admit. In spite of its small-ish size (only three quarts), the pan packs a surprising amount of space, and its inside is covered with a non-stick surface that will make maintenance a breeze. The temperature is controlled by an easy-to-use knob that allows you to easily set the temperature between 300 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
We would like the opportunity to go a bit lower, though.
In terms of design and build quality, everything works ok, but we see some room for improvement. For instance, we would like to get handles on the plate. But hey, at least the cord is detachable and all non-electric parts are dishwasher safe.
Overall, a more than solid effort worth your attention (and money).
Pros
- Affordable price
- Versatile performance
- Grill plate
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not so much a hot pot
- Narrow temperature range
Things You Should Consider To Get The Best Hot Pot
And these were our top contenders for the title of the best hot pot on the market. And now, we are going to quickly cover some essential features you should take into consideration before making your final decision.
Why?
Well, different people have different habits, and there is a chance that the three units we will highlight further down below won’t fit your needs at all. Also, some features simply work better than others, and you have one long culinary journey ahead of you.
Learning more about the available options will help you handle your future purchases much faster. No one can fool an educated buyer.
That leads us to our short, but thorough hot pot buying guide. Brace yourselves, we’re taking off.
1. Capacity
Capacity is, by far, one of the most important features an electric hot pot can ever have. So, do your best to appropriately assess your personal needs. If you are living alone and can’t start your day without a kick of green tea, smaller units (let’s say 32 ounces to a liter) will prove to be more than up to the challenge.
On the other hand, larger units that extend all the way up to four quarts won’t only keep an entire family full but also allow you to experiment with different cooking methods like stir-frying, steaming, simmering, and even grilling.
Like we already said – this one is really up to you.
2. Available Functions
Do you like the prospect of using your hot pot for a wide variety of different functions? Well, you need to know that large capacity definitely makes this possible (bigger pieces of meat can’t fit the smaller pots), but it doesn’t grant it in itself.
To get all this variety of options, you need to look at the unit with a set of according built-in functions. Some of the options that usually find a way into the products of this type are:
- Grilling
- Sauteing
- Slow cooking
- Stir-frying
- Steaming
Obviously, the more of these you get, the better.
3. Materials
Surprisingly enough, in the case of hot pots, materials are not that crucial of consideration, but they are still worth mentioning. Most units out there feature a casing made of durable plastic, so this should be your option number one as well.
In the case of the removable pot, it should be dishwasher-friendly and feature a non-stick surface. Our preferable options are Teflon and ceramics that are easy to clean and handle temperature distribution rather well.
4. Temperature Settings
Most of the lower-end hot pots you can find in the nearby store have only one fixed temperature setting, and that is the temperature necessary for boiling the water – 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although this is an acceptable option (especially if you are using pot only for a limited set of tasks), you should look for a bit more variety to tackle any other semi-complicated culinary task. For instance, electric hot pots equipped with a rich set of features can achieve temperatures as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, that is something you can actually work with.
5. Feedback
Any culinary task is way more comfortable if you know what you are doing. In the case of hot pots, this feedback is provided by two essential features:
- LCD display – You get the picture (literally). An LCD display is a neat tool that allows you to quickly go through the pot’s settings as well as always know the inside temperature.
- Water gauge – This feature is irreplaceable if you are buying the pot primarily for your beverages and oatmeal. What does it do? It allows you to always know how much water is inside. Of course, broader gauges are a lot easier to read.
6. Auto Shutoff
This feature is priceless. We have experienced way too many cases of letting our pots boil dry to let them slip away. If you want to avoid this problem and extend the lifespan of your unit to a great extent, choose the product that auto shuts off. This function will simply turn the pot off when there is no more water inside and prevent any eventual damage.
7. Detachable Cord/Power Base
Last but not least, let us mention this small but precious piece of convenience. All hot pots need a power supply in order to work, which implies they have to have a power cord. If you buy a unit that will allow you to remove it, either by detaching the very cable or removing the pot from the base, you will make serving much, much easier.
Final Thoughts And Recommendations
And that’s it. We have come to the very end, which means it’s finally the time to see what is the best hot pot you can buy for your hard-earned money. The units we chose to cover haven’t made our job easy. They were all so special and unique in their own way that comparing them head to head was near impossible.
But, eventually, we managed to find some common ground to let them duke it out.
So, here are the top three best hot pots currently sitting on the market.
Best hot pot overall: Zojirushi EP-PBC10 Gourmet d’Expert Electric Skillet
- What to say? Although we were a bit disappointed by the look of this unit, our opinion turned 180 degrees as soon as we found our way through controls. This is one well-made and versatile hot pot that performs all the duties one hot pot should perform with ease and grace. Nothing but recommendations.
Best premium hot pot: Zojirushi Micom Water Boiler & Warmer
- Now, this product is a bit more niche – its primary purpose is to satisfy the needs of hot beverage aficionados. So, we couldn’t give it the number one place. But, the somewhat spicy price situated it ideally as our premium pick. If you can live with the price so hefty, you will find a dispenser that works as close to perfect as it gets.
Best affordable hot pot: Proctor Silex 32oz Adjustable Temperature Electric Hot Pot
- Proctor’s contender may not be the best put-together product we had the opportunity to use. But, its price is so low it’s bordering ridiculous. And when you take this simple fact into consideration, you will see that this pot packs more than enough features and options for one incredibly enjoyable kitchen experience.